Am I Ready to File?

 
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Before booking an appointment, review our checklist:

 

Collect all applicable documents. Not all may apply, documents will vary per tax filing situation.

Once done, book your appointment

Personal Information

Tax Identification Numbers are mandatory items on your checklist. All taxpayers will need the following to do their taxes.

  • Your social security number or tax ID number

  • Your spouse’s full name, social security number or tax ID number, and date of birth

  • Identity Protection PIN, if one has been issued to you, your spouse, or your dependent by the IRS

  • Routing and account numbers to receive your refund by direct deposit or pay your balance due if you choose

Dependent(s) Information

Parents and caregivers should gather this information as they review what they need to file their taxes.

  • Dates of birth and social security numbers or tax ID numbers

  • Childcare records (You may have multiple childcare providers. Providing this information may allow further tax savings.)

    • NAME OF PERSON/PLACE of childcare

    • SSN or EIN

    • phone #, address

  • Income amount of dependents and of other adults in your home

  • Form 8332 showing that the child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim a child to you, the noncustodial parent (if applicable)

Sources of Income

Many of these forms won’t be needed to file taxes every year. For example, you will only receive the investment forms you may need to file your taxes if you had distributions or other activity.

employed

  • W2(s)

Unemployed

  • Unemployment (1099-G)

Self-Employed / sole proprietorship business owner

  • Forms 1099, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC

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

  • Total Gross income collected

  • Profit/Loss statement (Record of year end totals for expenses). See Sample Expense Sheet for an example of expense information we need

    • (we discuss further expenses upon your appointment)

  • If using a bookkeeping software, provide itemized annual report from last year showing year-end totals

  • For LLC owners only: a copy of your LLC articles

Rental Income

  • Records of income and expenses

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

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

Retirement Income

  • Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)

  • Traditional IRA basis (i.e., amounts you contributed to the IRA that were already taxed)

  • Social security/RRB income (SSA-1099, RRB-1099)

Savings & Investments or Dividends

  • Interest, dividend income (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV)

  • Income from sales of stock or other property (1099-B, 1099-S)

  • Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold (if basis is not reported on 1099-B)

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

  • Expenses related to your investments

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

  • Transactions involving cryptocurrency (Virtual currency)

Other Income & Losses

  • Gambling income (W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records)

  • Jury duty records

  • Hobby income and expenses

  • Prizes and awards

  • Trust income

  • Royalty Income 1099–MISC

  • Any other 1099s received

  • Record of alimony paid/received with ex-spouse’s name and SSN

  • State tax refund

Possible Deductions

The types of deductions you can take depend a lot on your life situation. Deductions may help lower the tax burden on individuals, which means more money in your pocket. You’ll need the following documentation to make sure you get all the deductions and credits you deserve:

  • home owners

    • Forms 1098 or other mortgage interest statements

    • Real estate and personal property tax records

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

    • All other 1098 series forms

  • Charitable Donations

    • Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations

    • Records of non-cash charitable donations

    • Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes

  • Medical Expenses out of pocket- only if exceeding over 7.5% of your income

    • Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals

  • Health Insurance

    • Form 1095-A if you enrolled in an insurance plan through the Marketplace (Exchange)

  • Childcare Expenses (also explained above under dependent informaton)

    • Fees paid to a licensed day care center + EIN of business

    • Total paid to a family day care / baby-sitter + their SSN

  • Educational Expenses

    • Forms 1098-T from educational institutions

    • Receipts that itemize qualified educational expenses

    • Records of any scholarships or fellowships you received

    • Form 1098-E if you paid student loan interest

  • State & Local Taxes

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

    • Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid

  • Retirement & Other Savings

    • Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions

    • Form 5498 showing IRA contributions

    • All other 5498 series forms (5498-QA, 5498-ESA)