KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, SportsThings to keep in mind when filing your taxes

AMARILLO, Texas - Taxes can get complicated but a lot of us are eager to get our hands on our tax refunds. Before we do, there are some tax changes to keep in mind.

Certified public accountant Mike Connor says when we do not follow-up with tax changes, filing taxes can get a little tricky.

"It's just going to add complexity is what it comes down to," Connor said.

Yeshen Garner, an area manager for Jackson Hewitt, says to make sure you are not overlooking any tax credits, like a child tax credit some parents can take advantage of.

"You can get up to one thousand dollars per child as long as the child was under 17 years of age at the end of the year..." Garner said. "That's a non-refundable credit that will lower your tax credibility all the way down to zero so that can be very beneficial for the taxpayer."

And for homeowners who bought their first home last year, there is no longer a first-time home buyer's credit.

"The first-time home buyer that buys a home in 2011, they may think they are going to qualify for this new home buyer's credit that they've read about for three years. Well, it's gone so they're not," Connor said.

For anyone who is on the road a lot with their job, there have been some changes with mileage claims.

"As of January 1, 2011, the rate is fifty-one cents a mile..." Connor explained. "On July 1, 2011, it changed to fifty-five and a half cents a mile."

The deadline to file taxes has also changed this year. The deadline normally falls on April 15th, but this year it will fall on April 17th.

For more information on 2011 tax changes, you can click on the link provided.