Avoid These Common Errors to Prevent Delays and Keep Your Refund on Track

Every tax season, millions of refunds are delayed—not because of audits, identity theft, or complicated income issues, but because of simple filing mistakes. The IRS uses automated filters to scan every return, and even the smallest error can send your refund into a manual review that takes weeks or months.

If you want your refund issued as fast as possible, you must avoid the most common mistakes that slow the process down. Below are the top five errors that trigger IRS refund reviews, why they matter, and how to fix them before filing.

1. Incorrect or Mismatched Social Security Numbers

One wrong digit can stall an entire return.

The IRS validates every SSN against Social Security Administration records. Your refund will be delayed if:

• A taxpayer or dependent’s SSN is mistyped
• The name does not match SSA records
• A married filer enters a maiden name when SSA shows a married name
• A dependent’s birthdate is incorrect
• A child’s SSN was recently issued and not yet updated in matching systems

This mistake almost always triggers:

• TC 570 (Refund Hold)
• TC 971 (Notice Issued)
• A request for identity or dependent verification

How to fix it:
Double-check every SSN and name spelling exactly as shown on the Social Security card. For dependents, confirm birthdates and recent name changes with SSA before filing.

2. Wrong Routing or Bank Account Numbers

Entering incorrect direct deposit information is one of the fastest ways to lose time—and in some cases, lose your refund entirely.

Wrong banking information can lead to:

• Bank deposit rejection
• IRS reissuing the refund as a paper check
• Significant mailing delays
• Payment trace investigations

Mistyped numbers cause thousands of rejected deposits every filing season.

How to fix it:
Verify the routing and account numbers directly from your bank or a check. Do not rely on memory or mobile app screenshots. For prepaid cards, confirm the correct deposit account number, not the card number.

3. Choosing the Wrong Filing Status

Selecting the wrong filing status often triggers review flags because it affects credits, dependents, and income calculations.

Common errors include:

• Filing as Single instead of Head of Household
• Filing Married Filing Separately when MFJ is correct (or vice versa)
• Claiming dependents that qualify you for HoH without meeting residency tests
• Recently divorced taxpayers using the wrong status

A wrong filing status impacts eligibility for:

• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Dependent credits
• Standard deduction amounts

This is one of the most common reasons the IRS sends CP87A or CP75 notices.

How to fix it:
Use the IRS filing status tool or software questions to ensure the status matches your household situation. When in doubt, Head of Household rules require proving that a qualifying dependent lived with you more than half the year.

4. Forgetting to Sign the Return

It seems simple, but unsigned returns cannot be processed. For paper filers, this is one of the most frequent errors.

Unsigned returns are treated as:

• Invalid
• Not officially filed
• Ineligible for refund release

The IRS will not continue processing until the missing signature is resolved, which can take several weeks through mailed correspondence.

How to fix it:
If filing electronically, use e-signature PIN verification. If filing on paper, sign every required spot, including spouse signatures for MFJ returns.

5. Mistakes on Wage, Income, or Withholding Amounts

Income mismatches cause automatic refund holds. The IRS compares your reported income to:

• W-2s
• 1099s
• 1095-A forms
• Social Security records
• Employer payroll filings

Simple mistakes include:

• Mis-typing your W-2 wages
• Entering federal withholding incorrectly
• Forgetting to report a 1099-NEC or 1099-INT
• Incorrect Marketplace (Form 1095-A) entries
• Wrong repayment or credit amounts on Form 8962

Any mismatch may trigger:

• TC 570
• A letter requesting supporting documents
• A manual review lasting 8–12 weeks or longer

How to fix it:
Use exact numbers from your W-2s, 1099s, and 1095-A forms. Do not estimate. Review each form twice, especially line-by-line withholding amounts.

Bonus: Software Autofill and Guessing on Numbers

Many delays happen because taxpayers trust software autofill, estimates, or 1099 totals imported from financial apps. These tools are helpful but not always exact.

Always confirm imported data matches official IRS documents.

How to Fix Refund-Impacting Filing Errors After Submitting

If you already filed and realized you made one of these mistakes:

• If the return has not been accepted yet: resubmit with corrections
• If the return was accepted but not processed: wait for the IRS to request corrections
• If the refund is frozen: expect TC 570, a notice, and a delay
• If the return is wrong: file Form 1040-X only after the IRS fully processes your original return

Correcting errors early prevents long refund delays later.

Most IRS refund delays are caused by simple mistakes, not complicated tax issues. By double-checking SSNs, filing status, income entries, signatures, and bank information, you dramatically increase your chance of a fast, smooth refund.

Avoid these five errors and your return is far more likely to pass IRS filters without triggering a review.