8. Claiming non-existent dependents

The IRS watches people who are trying to scam them. In a lot of cases, some declare they have children but they actually don’t or claim pets as children in order to minimize their taxes. And that’s wrong! If you are not sure about the rules and everything related to the IRS, read their guidelines. It may differ from one state to another.

For example, split households can claim dependent children on both returns despite the fact that they no longer file jointly. On the other hand, you should be careful when it comes to child custody as well. Make sure you are well-prepared in case the IRS decides to audit you.