Tax Prep Checklist for Individual

• April 15:  Standard deadline for filing individual tax returns

• June 15:  Deadline for U.S. citizens and resident aliens living and working abroad

• October 15:  Extended deadline if you file for an extension​​

If you owe taxes, payment is still due by April 15, even if you file for an extension.

Income sources

New client:

• A copy of previous year tax return

 

Employed

• Form W-2

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Unemployed

• Unemployment (1099-G)

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Self-employed

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

• Records of all expenses — check registers, credit card statements, and receipts

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

• Home office information, if applicable

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

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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)

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Retirement income

• Pension, IRA, or annuity income (1099-R)

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

• Social Security or RRB income: SSA-1099, RRB-1099

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Savings and 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 (HSA) 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

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Other income and losses

• Payment card and third-party network transactions (1099-K)

• 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

• State tax refund

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Types of deductions

Homeownership

• 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

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Charitable donations

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

• Records of non-cash charitable donations

• Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes

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Medical expenses

• Amounts paid for healthcare, insurance

• Amounts paid to doctors, dentists, and hospitals

• Amounts paid for qualified insurance premiums if paid outside of the Marketplace or an employer-provided plan

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Health insurance

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

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Child-care expenses

• Fees paid to a licensed day-care center or family day-care center for care of an infant or preschooler

• Amounts paid to a babysitter or care provider for your child (under age 13) while you work

• Expenses paid through a dependent care flexible spending account at work

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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

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K–12 educator expenses

• Receipts for classroom expenses (for educators in grades K–12)

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State and local taxes

• 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

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Retirement and other savings

• Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions

• Form 5498 showing IRA contributions

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

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Federally declared disaster

• Proof of city or county you lived, worked, or had property in

• Records to support property losses (appraisal, clean-up costs, etc.)

• Records of rebuilding or repair costs

• Insurance reimbursements or claims to be paid

• FEMA assistance information