Tax Preparation Checklist.

Below is a general tax checklist to get you ready for preparing your taxes for the past year. You can download a copy of this checklist here. 

Use the information in the checklist as a guide, since every individual situation is different. Contact us so we can help with your particular tax situation and better prepare you for maximizing your tax refund.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Name
• Address
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• Spouse Information (same as above)

 
DEPENDENT(S) INFORMATION 

• Name of dependent(s)
• Social Security Number(s)
• Date of Birth(s)

 
SOURCES OF INCOME 
   
    Employed

• Forms W-2

    Unemployment                                                               

• State tax refund (1099-G)

    Self-Employed

• Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099’s
• Records of all expenses-check registers, credit card statements and receipts
• Business use asset information (cost, date placed in service etc.) for depreciation
• Office in home information
• Farming Income
• Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040ES)

    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 1040ES)

    Retirement Income

• IRA/Pension/Annuity income (1099-R)
• Traditional IRA basis (amounts you contributed to the IRA that were already taxed)
• Social Security/RRB income (1099-SSA, 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 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 1040ES)

    Other Income & Losses

• Jury duty records
• Gambling winnings
• Scholarships
• Hobby income and expenses
• Prizes and Awards
• Trusts
• Royalty Income 1099 Misc.
• Any other 1099s received
• Record of alimony paid or received with ex-spouse’s name and ssn

 
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
• 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 to doctors, dentists, hospitals

    Health Insurance

• Form 1095-A if you enrolled in an insurance plan through the Marketplace (Exchange)
• Form 1095-B and or 1095-C if you had insurance coverage through any other source (employer, insurance company, Medicare, Medicaid, LACHIP, TRICARE, VA etc.)
• Marketplace exemption certificate (ECN) if you applied for and received an exemption from the Marketplace Exchange

    Child Care Expenses

• Fees paid to day care center for care of an infant or preschooler
• Wages paid to babysitter

    Educational Expenses

• Forms 1098-T from educational institutions, receipts that itemize qualified educational expenses, Form 1098-E if you paid student loan interest
• Records of any scholarships or fellowships you received

    Job Expenses

• Employment related vehicle expenses (tolls, mileage, gas, maintenance, parking)
• Employment -related expenses (uniforms, cleaning, travel, tools, dues, costs)
• Moving expenses not reimbursed by employer

   State & Local Taxes

• Amount of state/local income tax paid
• Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid

    Federally Declared Disaster

• City/parish you lived/worked/had property in
• Records to support property losses (appraisal, cleanup costs etc.)
• Records of rebuilding/repair costs
• Insurance reimbursements/claims to be paid
• FEMA assistance information

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• Foreign Bank Account Information
• Prior Year Tax Refund Amount
• Previous Tax Preparation Fee
• Copies of Previous Tax Return Documents