Preparing and filing income tax can be stressful and time consuming, especially for those not eligible to file a 1040EZ form. If you e-file, you'll save preparation fees but may also risk missing money-saving deductions and credits.

"Most people miss credits because they don't know what they don't know," said Jack Markley, general manager of the H&R Block (H&RB) that serves Spanaway, Lakewood, DuPont and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "People commonly overlook lifetime learning credits or education benefits, and earned income credit."

Military families who e-file often forget the latter credit, he said. Even if a Soldier is deployed, he or she is still eligible for this credit. Another missed deduction is when you have purchased a new vehicle - and savings on this deduction may place you in a lower tax bracket. Further, if you don't put tax information in the right category or enter incorrect data, you risk being ineligible for would-be benefits.

"Common mistakes new military brides make," said Markley, "(is that) they change their names on their driver's license but not on their social security card. You have to file under the name on your card."

Markley recommends using H&RB professionals to maximize potential tax returns. Military families receive a 10 percent discount, and H&RB now offers worldwide online services as well.

 The "Best of Both" service allows military families and deployed Servicemembers to email tax information, fax additional documents, and electronically sign (online), without in-store visits. The "approve-on-line" feature is another option, and an added benefit is that it allows separated or divorced persons to file online or in person and at different times, without having to communicate or see each other. Finally, "Block-live" allows video conferencing options while preparing taxes with no in-store visits required.

"If filing in-store," he said, "it's important that military spouses remember to bring a power-of-attorney that includes tax preparation in it."

Other things to bring: picture identification, W2 forms (for all jobs held during the year), dividends earned, educational and dependent-care expenses, and proof of your or your spouse's deployment during the tax year. 

"If you're not 100 percent satisfied, you don't have to pay," said Markley, "and with our standard guarantee and additional peace-of-mind coverage, you have nothing to lose."

H&RB also offers free second chance looks for up to three years of prior tax returns.

"Three out of five people miss credits or make mistakes that we catch," he said.

For more information, call H&RB at (253) 537-2880 or visit www.hrblock.com .