Tax day 2011: Last-minute tips to keep the Internal Revenue Service away

Here are nine tips that tax experts (and the friendly Internal Revenue Service itself) offer to help keep you from getting audited, owing a penalty, paying more than you really owe, or having to file an amended return because of a mistake.

2. Have one more think about credits and deductions

Michael Bryant/Philadelphia Inquirer/Newscom/File
A graduate student at Villanova University in Philadelphia checks her booklist.

Have you checked your eligibility for newer credits (Like "Making Work Pay") or older ones (like the child and earned-income credits)? In addition to monetary gifts to charity, can you deduct in-kind gifts for example? The American Opportunity Credit is worth up to $2,500 for tuition, books, and higher-education fees.

2 of 9
You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.