Time for Filing a Tax before Deadline

April 15th is quickly approaching. Do you have your taxes done? Nearly half of all tax returns are filed after April 1st. If you are one of the last-minute filers, here are five tips to maximize refunds, avoid errors and get a little something extra backing.

Review tax changes. There were plenty, especially for homeowners. If you made energy-efficient upgrades to your home, check to see if you qualify for a tax credit of up to $1,500. Non-itemizing homeowners are allowed to deduct an extra $1,000 in property taxes, and anyone who bought a car after February 16th of 2009 can deduct sales tax paid up to a certain extent.

Individuals who bought a home for the first time can take advantage of a tax credit for as much as $8,000. Homeowners who made energy-efficiency improvements can get a tax credit worth as much as $1,500. And individuals who collected unemployment benefits last year can exclude the first $2,400 of the benefits from their 2009 federal taxes.

Be sure to e-file. If you're owed a refund, filing electronically can get you your check up to a week sooner. Many taxpayers can also e-file for free. The Internal Revenue Service Web site, www.irs.gov, is a trove of tax help, tax forms and tax information for do-it-yourselfers. The site's Free File tax preparation software actually is free to those with an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less.

The federal government doesn't tax the first $2,400 in unemployment benefits, but the state of Illinois does. Take advantage of the earned income tax credit and more new tax credits and deductions.