What To Bring
Getting organized to prepare for your tax appointment can save you a ton of time, and is well worth the effort.
If it’s just after tax season, this list will help you know what documents to keep an eye out for throughout the year and set aside. If your tax appointment is right around the corner, this list is a great resource to help you track down the right documents.
With all of the changes every year (and, of course, that’s especially true THIS year), filing your taxes on your own is not for the faint of heart. That’s even with nice-looking software on the market which purport to make it easy for you.
But that’s what we’re here for.
Let us be your easy button in Leander.
Filing your taxes on your own is not for the faint of heart. That’s even with nice-looking softwares on the market which purport to make it easy for you.
But that’s what we’re here for. Let *us* make it easy for you.
Below is a list of what you will need during the tax preparation process. Not all of them will apply to you — probably MOST will not. Nonetheless, it’s a useful checklist.
Before you get overwhelmed: yes, this is a long list — but it’s the unfortunate reality of our tax code that it’s not even comprehensive! But these items will cover 95% of our clients. Really, this is for ensuring that we’re able to help you keep every dollar you can keep under our tax code.
Also note: Certain deductions went away this year, that we’re used to handling on behalf of our clients. And some that you might be used to as well. This list has changed a little, and I’ve notated additional changes coming down the pike.
But again … we will be your guide. That’s what we’re here for.
Even if for some strange reason you won’t be using our cost-effective services this year, feel free to use this list as a handy guide…
Tax Preparation Checklist
How does inflation impact my standard of living?
How does inflation impact my standard of living?
Personal Data
- Social Security Numbers & DOB (including spouse, children, and dependents)
- Identity Protection PIN (if issued by the IRS)
- Last year’s or most recent federal and state tax returns (if not on file)
- Residential address(es) for this year
- Childcare provider’s name, address, and tax ID (if claiming dependent care credit)
- Dependent information: dates of birth, relationship
- Any IRS or state tax notices received this year
- Copy of driver’s license or state-issued ID (required for e-filing in some states)
Employment & Income Data
- W-2 forms from all employers. Includes regular wages, overtime pay, and tips reported to employer (boxes 1, 5, and 7)
- Last pay stub or year-end pay summary (for breakdown of overtime vs. regular pay)
- Daily tip record (IRS Form 4070A or similar) or credit card slips
- Records of unreported tips (for Form 4137)
- Allocated tips (box 8 of W-2)
- Non-cash tips (fair market value of tickets, passes, or other items)
- 1099 Forms
- 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC (independent contractor, side work)
- 1099-K (third-party payments like PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, etc.)
- 1099-INT (interest), 1099-DIV (dividends), 1099-B (brokerage sales)
- 1099-B: Brokerage Statements
- 1099-R (pensions, IRA, retirement distributions)
- 1099-G (unemployment or state refunds)
- 1099-Q (529 plan distributions)
- 1099-DA (digital asset/cryptocurrency transactions)
- SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
- K-1s from partnerships, S-corporations, or trusts
- Records of cryptocurrency sales/trades
- Form 3922 (transfer of stock options exercised)
- Other income: jury duty pay, gambling winnings (W-2G), prizes, awards, or rental income, alimony received (including payer’s SSN) if divorce finalized prior to 1/1/2019
Health Insurance Information
- All 1095-A Forms (Marketplace health insurance)
- Records of credits and/or advance payments received from the Premium Tax Credit (if claiming)
- Any corrected 1095-A (if received)
- Form 1095-B (if provided by employer or insurance carrier)
- Form 1095-C (employer-provided health insurance offer and coverage)
Homeowner/Renter Data
- Residential address(es) for this year
- Form 1098 (mortgage interest statement)
- Records of any interest paid on home equity loans, lines of credit, or second mortgages
- Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions)
- Settlement or closing statement for any real estate purchased or sold during the year
- Records of real estate and personal property taxes paid
- Records of rent paid
- Unreimbursed moving expenses (active-duty military only)
Financial Assets
- Form 1099-INT & 1099-OID (interest income statements)
- Form 1099-DIV (dividend income statements)
- Form 1099-B (proceeds from broker transactions)
- Form 1099-R (retirement plan distribution)
- Schedule K-1 (partner’s share of income, deductions, credits)
Financial Liabilities
- Auto loans and leases (account numbers and car value) if the vehicle is used for business
- Form 1098-E (student loan interest paid)
- Early withdrawal penalties on CDs and other fixed-time deposits
- Form 1099-C (canceled debt or loan defaults)
Automobiles
- Vehicle registration fees
- Personal property tax information
- Sales tax on purchase
- Business use of vehicle
- Total miles driven for the year
- Total business miles driven for the year
- Receipts for all actual car expenses (gas, repairs, oil changes, insurance, etc.)
Expenses
- Documentation for medical and dental expenses paid out-of-pocket
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)
- Form 1099-SA (for distributions to your account)
- Form 5498-SA (for contributions you made to your account)
- Gifts to charity (receipts for single donations of $250+, and non-cash donations of $500+)
- Childcare provider information (name, address, and Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN))
- Documentation for adoption expenses
- Receipts for donations to charity
- Unreimbursed expenses and mileage related to volunteer work
- Alimony received or paid (including payee’s SSN) if divorce finalized prior to 1/1/2019
Self-Employment Data
- Estimated tax vouchers for the current year
- Self-employment income (1099s, cash, or electronic payments)
- Itemized receipts or documentation for business-related expenses
- Business use of home
- Square footage of your home and the dedicated business-use portion
- Home-related expenses (utilities, rent or mortgage interest, insurance, etc.)
- Date of purchase, cost, and description of large business assets (equipment, machinery, furniture)
- Self-employment SEP plans, Simple IRA, Solo 4019(K)
- Self-employed health insurance
- K-1s on all pass-through entities
- Rent income and expenses
Deduction Documents
- Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
- Student loan interest
- Gifts to charity
- Mortgage interest
- State and Local Taxes (SALT)
- Retirement plan contributions
- Medical and dental expenses
- Casualty or theft losses in a federally declared disaster area
- Educator expenses
Credits
- Information for children under age 17 (including SSN)
- Name, address, and Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN) of your childcare provider
- Energy improvements made to your home
- Purchase and installation of major residential clean energy systems
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and final purchase date of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles prior to September 30, 2025
- Form 1098-T: Education expenses (tuition and fees)
- Adoption expenses