The 3 Mistakes That Delay Refunds—
#2 Is So Common It’s Scary
Tax season is stressful enough—you don’t want to wait any longer than necessary to get your refund.
But did you know that a few small mistakes can delay it by weeks?
Here are the top 3 mistakes that slow things down (and how to avoid them).
1. Inaccurate Personal Information
This one seems obvious, but it trips people up all the time. A wrong Social Security number, a misspelled name, or an outdated address can confuse the IRS and slow your return to a crawl.
Make sure to double-check:
Social Security Numbers for everyone on your return
Names spelled exactly as they appear on Social Security cards
Your current address, especially if you moved recently
Why it matters: The IRS verifies your info with the Social Security Administration. If it doesn’t match, your return might get flagged.
2. Math Errors (This One’s Everywhere)
This is the silent killer of tax refunds. A simple miscalculation—adding up deductions wrong, getting a number off by one digit—can send your return into manual review.
Common mistakes:
Miscalculating totals or credits
Typing numbers wrong when inputting data
Forgetting to carry over amounts from one section to another
Pro tip: Use reliable tax software or have a pro check your numbers.
3. Deduction & Credit Documents
You might think, “I’ll just file now and fix it later.” Bad move. Leaving out even one 1099 or W-2 can delay your entire return.
What to watch for:
Freelance or side gig income (Form 1099-NEC)
Interest or dividend income (Form 1099-INT / 1099-DIV)
Unemployment income (Form 1099-G)
Tip: Wait until you receive ALL income forms before filing.
How Shore Tax and Insurance Helps
At Shore Tax and Insurance, we catch the little things before they become big problems. We:
Review your info for accuracy
Double-check calculations
Make sure no income is missed
File fast and securely so you can get your refund quicker
Let’s get that refund moving—without the delays.