Having the right Having the right information at hand is half the battle when doing your taxes. Use this checklist to help you gather your important personal, employment, residential and financial information. You can avoid multiple trips to your tax professional by getting it all together now.
Printer-Friendly Tax Preparation Checklist
Personal Information
Your social security number
Your spouse's full name and social security number
Amount of any alimony paid and ex-spouse's social security number
Dependents
Dates of birth and social security numbers
Childcare records (including the provider's ID number) if applicable
Approximate income of other adults in your home (not spouse, if you're filing jointly)
Form 8332, copies of your divorce decree, or other documents proving your right to claim a child living with your ex-spouse
College/University Tuition
Bills from educational institution or anything else that itemizes what you paid or got loans for versus what was covered by scholarship or other financial aid
Forms 1098-T and 1098-E, if you have them
Scholarships and fellowships
Work Related Information
Forms W-2
Self-Employment Information
Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099s
Records of all expenses - check registers, credit card statements
Vehicle Information
Total miles driven for the year (or beginning/ending odometer readings)
Total business miles driven for the year
Amount of parking and tolls paid
If you want to claim actual expenses, receipts or totals for gas, oil, car washes, licenses, personal property tax, lease or interest expense, etc.
Rental Income
Records of income and expenses
Retirement Income
Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)
Social security/RRB income (1099-SSA, RRB-1099)
Savings and Investments
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
Other Income
Unemployment, state tax refund (1099-G)
Gambling income (W-2G or not, expense records)
Amount of any alimony received and ex-spouse's name
Health care reimbursements (1099-SA)
Jury duty records
Hobby income and expenses
Prizes and awards
Itemizing Deductions
Forms 1098 or other mortgage statements
Amount of state/local income tax paid (not withheld)
Real estate and personal-property tax records
Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations
Records of non-cash charitable donations
Amounts paid for health-care insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals
Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes
Expenses related to your investments
Amount paid for preparation of your 2004 tax return
Employment-related expenses (dues, publications, tools, uniform cost and cleaning, travel)
Job-hunting expenses
IRA Information
Amount contributed for 2005 (and 2006, if applicable)
Traditional IRA basis
Value of IRAs on 12-31-05
If you were affected by Hurricane Katrina
City/county you lived/worked/had property in
Records to support property losses
Records of rebuilding costs
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 916-833-0543.