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Avoid These Common Tax Day Mistakes

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's crunch time to file your taxes. This Monday is April 15 -- Tax Day.

The Internal Revenue Service says 97 million American taxpayers had already submitted their tax forms by the first of the month.

About 90 percent were done electronically, and the average refund is $2,755. That's down about $40 from last year.

Personal finance experts suggest you use that money to pay down debt, invest in a rainy day, college or retirement fund.

The IRS says some of the most common mistakes include failing to sign and date your return, checking the wrong filing status,             messing up social security numbers, overlooking the earned income credit, and forgetting about the alternative minimum tax.

Your tax return has to be postmarked by April 15 or it's considered late. The St. Paul Main Post Office closes at 5 p.m on Monday. The last collection from the box on 5th Street outside that post office will be 7 p.m.

The retail window at the Minneapolis Main Post Office will be open until 8 p.m. tonight. They will be collecting mail from outside the main Minneapolis Post Office until midnight.

The Post Office at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will have a counter open and collect mail until midnight. So you have some options.

Also, many businesses are offering Tax Day freebies, such as free curly fries or potato cakes from Arby's, free Cinnabon bites, free popcorn at AMC Theaters, and much more.

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