Tax season feels routine until a small “I’m sure that’s fine” choice quietly shrinks your refund. For many seniors, the biggest losses come from habits that worked for years but don’t fit retirement income, Medicare changes, or new forms. The early 2026 rush can make it even easier to skip a detail, especially if you’re trying to file quickly. The good news is you don’t need complicated strategies to protect your money—you just need to challenge a few common shortcuts. Here are five filing assumptions that can cost seniors a refund and how to avoid them.
1. Filing Assumptions About Social Security Being “Not Taxable”
Many seniors assume Social Security never affects taxes, so they don’t report it carefully or plan for it. In reality, other income can make part of Social Security taxable, which changes your refund math. If you receive an SSA-1099, treat it as a “must-enter” document, even if you think it won’t matter. Also, look at pensions, IRA withdrawals, and even interest income, because those pieces can push the total into a new range. The safest move is to enter every form first, then decide what’s taxable instead of guessing.
2. Assuming All Retirement Withdrawals Are “Already Taxed”
One of the filing assumptions that’s easy to believe is that your IRA or 401(k) withdrawal is “your money,” so it shouldn’t create a tax bill. Traditional retirement account distributions generally count as taxable income, and early-year withdrawals can surprise people at filing time. Even if you withheld something, it may not be enough to match your final tax bracket. This is especially tricky when you take a one-time larger distribution for home repairs or medical costs. Before you file, add up all withdrawals and check whether the withholding matches what you actually owe.
3. Assuming The Standard Deduction Is Always The Best Choice
Many seniors default to the standard deduction because it’s simple and often the right call. But itemizing can still win in certain years, especially with large medical expenses, charitable giving, or state and local taxes. If you had unusually high healthcare costs, don’t assume you won’t qualify for any benefit. Keep a quick list of the big categories and run both options once, even if you usually take the standard deduction. A five-minute comparison can protect your refund when expenses spike.
4. Assuming Medicare Premiums And Medical Costs Don’t Matter On Taxes
Medical costs can be a major part of retirement spending, and some of them may help you at tax time when they’re high enough. Medicare premiums often come out automatically, so people forget they count as real expenses. If you pay for supplemental coverage, dental work, hearing aids, or frequent prescriptions, collect those totals instead of relying on memory. Also, track mileage for medical appointments if you drive often, because those trips add up. Don’t leave money on the table because of filing assumptions, especially if all that’s holding you back is that the paperwork is annoying.
5. Assuming A Simple Return Means You Can Skip A Final Review
Even “easy” returns can hide mistakes that reduce refunds, like wrong bank info, missing forms, or a mistyped Social Security number. Many errors come from filing too early, before all documents arrive, especially investment and retirement forms. If you changed address, switched banks, or started new benefits, double-check that your profile matches your current reality. A quick review also catches forgotten estimated payments or withholding that should increase your refund. The fastest way to protect your money is to slow down for a final accuracy pass.
The 10-Minute Refund Check Seniors Should Do Every Year
Treat your return like a checklist, not a memory test, and you’ll catch the issues that quietly cost you money. Gather every tax form first, then enter them all before you judge the result. Next, run one quick comparison, like standard deduction versus itemizing, so you’re not stuck in autopilot. Finally, verify the basics—names, Social Security numbers, banking details, and that every form you received appears in the return. If you do that consistently, you’ll stop paying for avoidable surprises and keep more of your refund.
Which of these assumptions feels most likely to trip someone up during early filing season?
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