Mistake 4: Filing on Paper (The “Black Hole” Warning)

This is arguably the most practical advice for 2026: Do not file a paper tax return unless you have absolutely no other choice.

With reports of IRS workforce reductions reaching nearly 27% in some processing departments, the agency is facing a potential backlog. Paper returns require manual data entry by IRS employees. In a year with staffing shortages, a paper return could sit in a warehouse for months, delaying your refund indefinitely.

“The drop affects every human function at the IRS, from answering the phone to resolving questions about the accuracy of a return… automated systems continue to handle electronically filed returns efficiently.” — Forbes Tax Guide 2026

The Fix: Use IRS Free File, tax software, or a professional tax preparer to e-file. Choose “Direct Deposit” for your refund. This combination is the only way to bypass the manual processing bottleneck.