Tax Planning and Preparation Document Checklist

As you prepare for tax season, this checklist can help you gather necessary tax documents. And while this checklist is intended to serve as a general resource, your tax team can provide detailed guidance and direction specific to your personal tax situation.

Personal information

• Your Social Security number (SSN) or tax ID number
• Spouse’s full name, SSN or tax ID number, and date of birth
• Identity Protection PIN (if issued by the IRS)
• Routing and account numbers for direct deposit or payment
• Foreign reporting and residency information (if applicable)

Dependent information

• Dates of birth and SSNs or tax ID numbers
• Childcare records, including the provider’s tax ID number (if applicable)
• Income of dependents and other adults in your home
• Form 8332 (if applicable)

Sources of income

Employed: Forms W-2

Unemployed: Unemployment income (1099-G)

Self employed

• Forms 1099, Schedules K-1, and income records
• Expense records (check registers, credit card statements, receipts)
• Business-use asset information (cost, date placed in service) for depreciation
• Office in-home information (if applicable)
• Record of estimated tax payments (Form 1040-ES)

Rental income

• Records of income and expenses
• Rental asset information for depreciation
• Record of estimated tax payments (Form 1040-ES)

Retirement income

• Pension, IRA, and annuity income (1099-R)
• Traditional IRA basis
• Social Security income (SSA-1099)
• Railroad retirement benefits (RRB-1099)

Savings and investments or dividends

• Interest and dividend income (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV)
• Income from sales of stock or property (1099-B, 1099-S)
• Acquisition dates and cost basis records (if not reported on 1099-B)
• Health savings account (HSA) and long-term care reimbursements (1099-SA, 1099-LTC)
• Expense records related to investments
• Record of estimated tax payments (Form 1040-ES)
• Transactions involving cryptocurrency (virtual currency)

Other income and losses

• Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions (1099-K)
• Gambling income (W-2G or 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

Types of deductions

Home and vehicle ownership

• Forms 1098 or other mortgage interest statements
• Real estate and personal property tax records
• Receipts for energy-saving home improvements
• Electric vehicle information
• All other 1098 series forms

Charitable donations

• Cash amounts donated to charitable organizations
• Records of non-cash charitable donations
• Miles driven for charitable or medical purposes

Medical expenses

• Amounts paid for healthcare, insurance, and medical services
• Amounts paid for qualified insurance premiums
• Health Insurance Form 1095-A (if applicable)

Childcare expenses

• Fees paid to daycare centers or babysitters
• Expenses paid through a dependent care flexible spending account

Educational expenses

• Forms 1098-T from educational institutions
• Receipts itemizing qualified educational expenses
• Records of scholarships or fellowships received
• Form 1098-E for student loan interest

K-12 educator expenses

• Receipts for unreimbursed classroom expenses (supplies, books, computer software and equipment, materials)
• Receipts for unreimbursed professional development courses

State and local taxes

• Amount of state and local income or sales tax paid
• Invoice showing vehicle sales tax paid and personal property tax on vehicles

Retirement and other savings

• Form 5498-SA showing health savings account (HSA) contributions
• Form 5498 showing IRA contributions
• All other 5498 series forms

Federally declared disasters 

• City/county information
• Records for property losses, rebuilding/repair costs
• Insurance reimbursements/claims
• FEMA assistance information (check FEMA website for declarations)