OK -- you have a week left. You 2008 tax return (or extension) is due by Wednesday, April 15, come hell or high water.  So buckle down and get it done.

And here are few last-minute tips to help you plow through.

1. Do-It-Yourself Doesn’t Apply Here

If you’ve decided to empower yourself and prepare your own return, please please please use a tax preparation, like TurboTax or TaxCut.  Do not prepare your return by hand. I don’t care about your high-tech calculator. There is still room for math errors and the last thing you want is bad addition to hold up your refund.

If your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less in 2008, then be sure to check out the Internal Revenue Service’s Free-File program and prepare and electronically file your federal tax return for free.

2. Check Your SSN

Make sure your Social Security number is accurate.  If the number on your return does not match the number on your Social Security card, the IRS can’t process your return.

Ladies, if you got married in 2008 and took your husband’s last name, make sure your new name makes it onto your Social Security card. If it doesn’t, go with your maiden name until your SS card is adjusted.

3. Copies

If you’re mailing your return, be sure you attach the necessary copies of your W-2 forms and any Form 1099s that have federal income tax withheld.

4. The Name on the Check

If you owe money, make the check out to the “United States Treasury,” not the “IRS.” Scammers in the past have intercepted tax checks and changed the "I" to an "M." Then the check could be made out to "MRS,” uh, Byrnes, and she gets the money instead of Uncle Sam.

5. Fund Your Retirement Accounts

Your IRA, Roth IRA or Coverdell education savings account contributions are all due by April 15.

6. Reporting Your Stimulus Checks

If you received a stimulus check, you don’t need to report it on your 2008 tax return.  If you did not receive one and your income fell from 2007, you may now qualify for you one.  So be sure to apply for the Recovery Rebate credit.

7. Account Info

If you are having your refund directly deposited into your bank account (and you should because you’ll get it faster) make sure you put the correct financial institution routing and account numbers on your Form 1040. Otherwise your money will end up in someone else’s account.

8. The Details

And please, sign and date the return your tax return. So many people forget to do this, and an unsigned tax return is like an unsigned check -- totally invalid.

9. If You Need an Extension

Last week we talked about filing an extension and what to do if you don’t have the money to pay your tax bill.  So be sure to check out that story. 

Big note: If you’re living or working outside the country as of April 15 -- this includes military personnel stationed outside the U.S. -- you get an extra two months to file. You need to File Form 2350 -- Application for Extension of Time To File U.S. Income Tax Return but then you’ll have until June 15 to file your tax return.

10. Copies, Part 2

Finally, keep copies of all the documents you send to the IRS and use certified mail when sending important pieces of information their way. 

And one more tip for the future…

As you’re crunching through your tax return this season are you realizing that you either owe a ton or are getting back a big refund?

Well, in an ideal world, you don’t want to be in either situation.  You don’t want to be in a position where you have to scrape up money to pay the IRS, nor do you really want to receive a big refund because that means the IRS got to use all YOUR money throughout the year.

So try not to avoid letting that happen again.  You’ll need to adjust your payroll withholdings so that you can come closer to breaking even on your taxes for 2009.

So go to your HR department and ask to recalculate your Form W-4 -- that’s the withholdings form.

It’s not the easiest form to fill out, so take your time and ask for help. 

But know this -- You'll have lower tax payments withheld by claiming Married versus Single. Each additional "allowance" that you claim will also reduce the amount of taxes withheld. 

So your goal is to break even in 2009.  Keep more of your money in your pocket.