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Your Individual Tax Return Checklist



 

This is a general checklist. Some items may or may not apply to you. Use this as a guide to gather applicable documents.


Personal Information

  • Your social security number or tax ID number

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

  • Information about your stimulus payment —also known as an economic impact payment (EIP) —if applicable —you may have IRS Notice 1444 or other records showing your EIP amount.

  • 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

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

  • Childcare records (including the provider's tax ID number) if applicable

  • Income 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


Employed: Forms W-2


Unemployed: Unemployment (1099-G)


Self-Employed:

  • Forms 1099, Schedules K-1, income records to

  • verify amounts not reported on 1099-MISC or new 1099-NEC

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

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

  • Office in home information, if applicable

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

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 the 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

Types of Deductions

Home Ownership

  • 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

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

Health Insurance

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

Childcare Expenses

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

  • Amounts paid to a baby-sitter or provider care of your child under age 13 while you work

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

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 K-12 Educator Expenses

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

State & 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

Retirement & Other Savings

  • Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions

  • Form 5498 showing IRA contributions

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

Federally Declared Disaster

  • City/county you lived/worked/had property in

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

  • Records of rebuilding/repair costs

  • Insurance reimbursements/claims to be paid

  • FEMA assistance information. Check the FEMA website to see if your county has been declared a federal disaster area


Every Client is different and unique!

This is not a comprehensive list, but the list is a good starting point for gathering the required documents. When you meet with your CPA Advisor, they will advise you of any other documents that may be required.



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Individual Tax Returns Filing Checklist
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