Tax Season Is Here: What You Should (and Should NOT) Do Before You File

Tax season is officially here, and every year we see the same issue: people rush to file early and end up waiting longer for their refund.

Filing early sounds smart — but filing correctly is what actually gets your money faster.

Here’s what you need to know before filing your 2025 taxes in 2026.

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Filing Early vs Filing Right

Early filing only helps when your return is complete and accurate.

If documents are missing or income is wrong, the IRS will delay your refund — sometimes for months.

The goal isn’t to file first.

The goal is to file right the first time.

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What You SHOULD Do Before You File

✔️ Wait for ALL Your Tax Documents

Before filing, make sure you have:

• All W-2s from every job

• Any 1099s (1099-G, 1099-NEC, etc.)

• Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health insurance

• Your IRS IP PIN letter (if issued)

Missing even one document can slow your refund or trigger IRS review.

✔️ Save Your Last Paycheck Stubs (W-2 Workers)

Your final paycheck stubs help verify:

• Overtime pay

• Total wages and withholding

• Employer reporting accuracy

With new overtime reporting rules, this step matters more than ever.Some tax companies will skip this — we won’t.

✔️ Update Your Address If You Moved

If you moved in 2024, update your address with:

• USPS (mail forwarding)

• The IRS

• Current and former employers

This helps ensure you receive W-2s and IRS letters without delays.

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What You Should NOT Do

❌ Don’t Rush to Claim a Dependent

Filing first no longer wins.

The IRS now:

• Accepts both returns

• Pays the refund faster to the person who actually qualifies

• Flags the incorrect return for audit and repayment

  
  

❌ Don’t File with Pay Stubs

A pay stub is not a W-2.

Filing with pay stubs often leads to:

• Refund holds

• IRS verification letters

• Long delays or repayment later

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Why Rushing Can Delay Your Refund

Most delayed refunds happen because of:

• Missing documents

• Marketplace insurance issues (1095-A)

• Income mismatches

• Dependency conflicts

• Identity verification

Many people who filed early last year waited far longer than those who waited and filed correctly.

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File the Xpert Way

At Xpert Tax Service, we’ve helped families file the right way for nearly 20 years.

Our goal is simple:

• Get you the refund you actually qualify for

• Avoid IRS delays and audits

• Protect you now and later

📍 Two office locations💻 Nationwide virtual filing🌎 Serving all 50 states

👉 Get started at www.xperttaxservices.com