INTERNACIONAL
Tax Day is this week: Avoid these 5 common mistakes that can cost you money
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With Tax Day arriving this week, millions of filers are rushing to submit returns—often increasing the chances of simple but costly mistakes. Even minor errors, like incorrect personal details or overlooked income, can delay refunds, trigger IRS notices, or lead to penalties that take time and money to fix.
The good news is that most of these issues are entirely avoidable with both extra attention and preparation.
Here are five common filing missteps to watch out for and how to avoid them:
1. Selecting the wrong filing status
A couple going over tax paperwork. (iStock)
Your filing status is one of the most important choices on your tax return because it helps determine your tax rate, your standard deduction and which credits you may be eligible to claim. Pick the wrong one, and you could end up paying more than you owe, getting a smaller refund or triggering delays if the IRS flags the return for review.
For many taxpayers, the confusion comes from life changes that happened during the year, like getting married or divorced, having a child, moving in with a partner, supporting an aging parent or sharing custody. Even if your situation feels straightforward, the IRS rules can be less intuitive, especially for taxpayers who aren’t sure whether they qualify as «head of household» or whether they can still file as a «qualifying surviving spouse» after a spouse has died.
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Head of household, in particular, can be costly to get wrong. It typically comes with a larger standard deduction and more favorable tax brackets than filing as single, but it has strict requirements tied to paying more than half the cost of keeping up a home and having a qualifying dependent. If you don’t meet the rules and claim it anyway, you may have to pay back tax benefits later, plus penalties and interest.
When in doubt, the IRS has an online filing-status tool, and many tax software programs will walk you through the questions to help you choose the right category.
2. Missing key deadlines
Experts say filing taxes early can protect your money and your identity. (Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images)
An extension can buy you time to file your paperwork, but it doesn’t give you extra time to pay. For most taxpayers, the IRS deadline to pay what you owe is April 15, 2026 — even if you request an extension to file later.
«Remember that even if you claim an extension, the money is owed on April 15,» said Mike Faulkender, co-chair of American Prosperity at the America First Policy Institute.
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Faulkender, a former Treasury official and IRS commissioner, said taxpayers who need more time should still estimate their bill and pay by the filing deadline to help avoid added costs.
«You have to actually send in a check or have the payment deducted from your account by the filing deadline,» he said.
If you can’t pay in full by April 15, pay what you can to help limit penalties and interest that accrue on top of your tax bill.
3. Leaving credits on the table
A woman preparing her tax paperwork. (iStock)
One of the biggest and most expensive tax-season mistakes is failing to claim every credit or deduction you qualify for. That can mean a smaller refund or a higher bill.
«I think the top mistake people make is not fully understanding or taking the time to really research what are all the different deductions and the ways that you can put a little bit of extra money in your pocket that are available to you,» said Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs at AARP.
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Sweeney also warned taxpayers not to rely on last year’s return as a blueprint for filing because of recent changes to the tax code from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
«This would be a good year, given that there are these changes to the tax code, to make sure not to assume that what you did last year will convey over to this year. Really take a fresh look at your tax situation and see if there’s money that you’re leaving on the table,» he said.
4. Filing before all your tax forms arrive
A sign for the Internal Revenue Service outside its building on Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Timing matters when it comes to filing your taxes. Submitting your return before you’ve received all your key paperwork, like W-2s or 1099s, can lead to errors, missing income or a return you have to amend later.
Faulkender said there’s a simple way to double-check what’s been reported under your name before you file.
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«One of the things that I learned last year when I was IRS commissioner was that if you create an account on irs.gov, you can see everything that’s been filed under your tax ID,» he said.
«We’re supposed to receive all of our W-2s and our 1099 forms in the mail in January and February. But if you’re missing one, or you misplaced it, rather than requesting it again, you can actually go and see what was filed under your taxpayer identification number if you create an account on IRS.gov.»
5. Entering bank account details incorrectly
If you choose direct deposit for your refund, the IRS relies on the routing and account numbers you provide. One wrong digit can lead to delays.
If you pay what you owe by direct debit, incorrect banking details can also lead to a rejected payment and potentially result in penalties and interest.
Filing late can also cost you extra money, especially if you owe. The goal is to wait until you have what you need, then file as soon as you’re ready, without rushing prematurely.
taxes, economy, politics, congress
INTERNACIONAL
María Corina Machado afirmó que los venezolanos están listos para participar en elecciones libres: los detalles del plan
La Plataforma Unitaria Democrática (PUD), principal coalición opositora de Venezuela, detalló este domingo su plan para alcanzar una transición política que permita la celebración de elecciones libres en el país.
El secretario general de la PUD, Roberto Enríquez, explicó que la estrategia contempla tres fases: estabilización institucional, recuperación económica y reconciliación, y finalmente la realización de comicios en todos los niveles del Estado.
Enríquez describió la primera etapa como clave para restablecer las garantías políticas y jurídicas necesarias para un proceso democrático genuino. Subrayó que para ello se requiere el funcionamiento autónomo de las instituciones, el respeto al Estado de derecho y el ejercicio pleno de los derechos políticos y civiles.
“Es imprescindible la restitución efectiva de las garantías constitucionales y la creación de un Consejo Nacional Electoral independiente, transparente y profesional”, señaló.
La PUD exige que se levanten todas las inhabilitaciones políticas, que se devuelvan los símbolos y tarjetas electorales a los partidos legítimos y que se desmonten los mecanismos represivos que limitan la participación ciudadana.
El plan opositor también demanda la liberación de todos los presos políticos y la garantía de que no habrá represalias contra quienes participen en la vida pública.
Enríquez insistió en que solo con instituciones imparciales y la devolución de derechos políticos se podrá avanzar hacia una transición efectiva. La PUD considera indispensable la formación de un “CNE provisional e independiente” y la revisión de las decisiones administrativas y judiciales que han afectado a partidos y líderes opositores.
Superada la fase de estabilización, la hoja de ruta contempla la recuperación económica y la reconciliación nacional. De acuerdo con la coalición, este período debe centrarse en restablecer la confianza pública y sentar las bases para la gobernabilidad.
Se plantea la adopción de políticas para mejorar el bienestar social y productivo, así como la promoción de una convivencia democrática fundada en el respeto, la justicia y la no persecución. La PUD subrayó que la reconciliación se basa en la justicia y en la ausencia de acciones que perpetúen divisiones.
La etapa final del plan es la convocatoria a elecciones libres, competitivas y reconocidas nacional e internacionalmente, en un contexto donde se hayan restablecido las garantías políticas y las instituciones funcionen con autonomía.
“Venezuela necesita un proceso electoral impecable que sea ejemplo para el mundo”, afirmó la coalición en su presentación. La PUD también enfatizó la importancia de un proceso de negociación política capaz de generar garantías para todos los actores y permitir acuerdos que restauren la institucionalidad del país.
La líder opositora y Premio Nobel de la Paz, María Corina Machado, participó de manera virtual en la presentación de la hoja de ruta y subrayó la urgencia de un proceso electoral libre como única vía para el cambio político.
“Queremos elecciones para elegir a todo, legitimar con nuestra participación en unas elecciones impecables que van a ser un ejemplo para el planeta. Y el país las quiere ya”, declaró ante la militancia.
Machado remarcó que solo un gobierno legítimo y democrático podrá restaurar el Estado de derecho y atraer inversiones que impulsen el desarrollo económico. “Nuestros niños crecen sin educación, nuestros ancianos no tienen qué comer, nuestros jóvenes no sienten futuro. Esto hay que pararlo. Y esa es la urgencia ética que solo se va a saldar con un proceso electoral en Venezuela. Es lo que Venezuela entera exige porque es nuestro derecho”, enfatizó.
La dirigente opositora también reconoció el trabajo de los presos políticos y la resistencia de la sociedad venezolana.
“No hay una sociedad en el mundo mejor preparada para conquistar la libertad y avanzar en la transición que la venezolana. Estamos unidos y estamos organizados. El país está unido y clama por su derecho a elegir libremente”, afirmó.
Machado anunció que su retorno a Venezuela es inminente y se comprometió a recorrer cada municipio para promover un gran acuerdo democrático. Cerró su intervención asegurando: “Venezuela será libre. Traeremos a nuestros hijos de vuelta a casa, a un país orgulloso, luminoso y alegre. Seguimos de la mano de Dios hasta el final”.
Durante la rueda de prensa, el opositor Edmundo González Urrutia recalcó que Venezuela no está en una transición y que las estructuras de control siguen vigentes.
“Las estructuras de control no desaparecen solas, todo eso sigue ahí, adaptándose, buscando sobrevivir”, expresó. González Urrutia advirtió que para alcanzar la reconciliación es necesario que quienes causaron daños respondan ante la sociedad y que el país necesita memoria y verdad.
(Con información de EFE)
Business,International Relations,Corporate Events,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,North America
INTERNACIONAL
Donald Trump le ordenó a la Marina de Estados Unidos bloquear el estrecho de Ormuz y volvió a amenazar con destruir Irán en un día: «Volarán al infierno»
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Israeli forces say they discovered a Hezbollah weapons stash inside a hospital in Lebanon this weekend.
The Israel Defense Forces carried out the operation in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil municipality. Images shared with Fox News show weapons, ammunition and explosives that Israel says were found within a hospital in the area.
The IDF says it eliminated «approximately 20 terrorists» inside the hospital compound after Hezbollah was detected conducting surveillance and firing upon IDF troops from a window of the hospital.
«The Hezbollah terrorist organization systematically and repeatedly used the hospital compound and its immediate surroundings for military purposes, constituting a serious violation of international law,» the IDF said in a statement.
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Israeli forces uncovered Hezbollah forces using a hospital for cover in Lebanon. (IDF)
«The IDF operates in accordance with international law, and clarified prior to the operation to the relevant Lebanese authorities that all military activity within hospitals in Lebanon must cease, and disseminated these warnings through various channels. Despite this, Hezbollah continued to use the hospital for military activity,» the IDF said in a statement.
Israel has continued operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon amid a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran this week.
GEN JACK KEANE ‘SKEPTICAL’ THAT IRAN CEASEFIRE WILL HOLD, WARNS TEHRAN WILL ‘DELAY AND OBFUSCATE’
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on a building in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
The operation comes after U.S. talks with Iranian officials failed to make progress this weekend in Pakistan.
Speaking during a press conference from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance said Iran has «chosen not to accept our terms.»
«The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,» Vance said. «And I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.»
Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks on April 8, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary. (Jonathan Ernst – Pool/Getty Images)
The vice president said talks with Iranian officials lasted 21 hours, describing them as «substantive discussions,» but adding the U.S. was unwilling to compromise on its «red lines.»
«So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement. We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on,» Vance added. «And we’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms.»
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Fox News Digital asked Vance if he had been in contact with President Donald Trump during the talks, and the vice president said he had been «consistently.»
«I don’t know how many times we talked to him — a half dozen times, a dozen times over the past 21 hours,» Vance said, adding that the U.S. team was also communicating with other members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Fox News’ Preston Mizell contributed to this report.
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