Preparing for Your Tax Appointment

Preparing for your tax appointment ahead of time is essential for ensuring a smooth and accurate tax filing process. To help you get organized, we’ve put together a checklist of the key documents and information you’ll need. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned filer, this list will guide you in gathering everything you need to make your tax filing easy and efficient.

Personal Documents

• Government-Issued Photo ID

• Social Security Information - Social Security Cards, Social Security Number verification letters, or Individual Taxpayer ID Number assignment letters for you, your spouse, and any dependents

• Birth Dates - For you, your spouse, and dependents on the tax return

• Bank Account and Routing Number or Voided Check - for up to three accounts for direct deposit of your refund

• Tax Returns of Prior Two Years - if you have them

• Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) - if you have one

• Childcare Records (including the provider’s Tax ID number) if applicable

• Form 8332 - when the child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim a child to the noncustodial parent (if applicable)

Sources of Income

Employment

• W-2 form(s) - For all jobs held in prior year; Your employer will have sent you this by January 31st by mail or email.

Self-Employment

• 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC and/or 1099-K

• Records of income not reported on 1099 forms

• Records of all expenses including receipts, check registers, credit statements, etc.

• Business-use asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

• In home office information, if applicable

• Record of estimated tax payments (Form 1040-ES)

Rental Income

• Records of income and expenses

• Rental asset information (cost, dated placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

• Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040-ES)

Retirement or Disability Benefits

• SSA-1099 form for Social Security benefits

• 1099-R for pension/IRA/annuity income

Unemployment Income

• 1099-G for unemployment benefits

Other sources of income

• 1099-G for state/local income tax refunds

• 1098-T for scholarships/fellowships

• Income or loss from the sale of stocks, bonds, or real estate (1099-B, 1099-S)

• Records for property sales - Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis (if basis is not reported on 1099-B)

• Health Savings Account and long-term care reimbursements (1099-SA or 1099-LTC)

• Income or loss from rental property

• Cryptocurrency Transactions (Virtual currency)

• Alimony received

• Statements for prizes or lottery/gambling winnings

• 1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-OID for Interest and dividend statements from banks

• Records for any other income or 1099s received

Expenses/Deductions

You may be able to claim tax deductions for some of the expenses you have depending on your life situation. These deductions can reduce the income you are taxed on. When preparing for your tax appointment, make sure to gather and bring documentation for all the following expenses you have.

• Retirement contributions, including 401(k) or IRA

• State and local taxes you’ve paid

• Mortgage statements and property tax bills if you are a homeowner (Form 1098)

• Real estate and personal property tax records

• College tuition (Form 1098-T) and student loan statements (Form 1098-E), including receipts that itemize qualified educational expenses.

• Childcare expenses, including payment records or receipts and provider’s name, address, and federal tax ID number (either their Social Security Number or Employment Identification Number)

• Receipts for charitable donations (Cash and non-cash donation)

• Receipts for energy-saving home improvements (e.g., solar panels, solar water heater, etc.)

• Electric vehicle information

• Medical and dental bills

• Records for supplies used as an educator (receipts for classroom expenses for educators in grades K-12).

• Amount of state and local income or sales tax paid (other than wage withholding)

• Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid and/or personal property tax on vehicles

• HAS and IRA contributions (form 5498-SA and/or form 5498)

• Profit and loss statements and balance sheets

• Expense information, sales totals and cost of goods sold 

Other Tax Documents or Notices

• Form 1095-A if you had coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace

• Documents from the IRS, Health Insurance Marketplace, your state tax agency, or anything that says “IMPORTANT TAX DOCUMENT”