Items Need to Get Started

Personal

  • Your Social Security number or tax ID number
  • Your spouse’s full name and Social Security number or tax ID number
  • Your unexpired government issued ID
  • Your spouse’s unexpired government issued ID

Dependent(s)

  • Dates of birth and Social Security numbers or other tax ID numbers
  • Childcare records (including the provider’s tax ID number) if applicable.
  • Form 8332 when the child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim a child to the noncustodial parent (if applicable)

Income

  • Employed
    • Forms W-2
  • Unemployed
    • Unemployment (1099-G)
  • Self-Employed
    • Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-K
    • Income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099s
    • Records of all expenses – check registers or 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 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)
  •  

Small Business /Schedule C

  • Home Office (need to know sq ft.)
  • Utilities- Electric, Gas, Internet, Water bill, Cell phone
  • Health Insurance Premiums
  • Meals
  • Internet and Phone Bills
  • Travel
  • Vehicle Use
  • Interest
  • Publications and Subscriptions
  • Attorney fees, and accountant fees
  • Business Insurance
  • Supplies
  • Contract labor
  • Education
  • Advertising
  • Client Meals
  • Conferences/Trade shows
  • Repairs
  • Licenses
  • Contributions to Retirement account
  • Equipment Rental
  • Car Insurance
  • Oil changes
  • Gas
  • Office Expenses
  • Professional Fees
  • Membership dues
  • Any expenses incurred to make a profit

MISCELLANEOUS

  • IRS issued IP PIN. Identity Protection Pin. If you, your spouse or a dependent have been issued an identity protection PIN by this IRS, you’ll likely need to have this handy as well. 
  • Direct deposit information—routing and account numbers
  • Retirement Income
    • Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)
    • Traditional IRA basis (prior-year Forms 8606 showing amounts 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 basis is not reported on 1099-B)
    • Expenses related to your investments.
    • Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040ES)
    • 1099-B and/or 1099-DIV from cryptocurrencies, NFTs and all other similar type income or loss
    • Cost of all cryptocurrencies, NFTs and other similar type of income sales
  • Other Income & Losses
    • State refunds (Form 1099-G)
    • Income from K-1s either as investment or as active owner
    • Gambling income (W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records)
    • Jury duty records
    • Hobby income and expenses
    • Prizes and awards
    • Trusts
    • Royalties (1099-MISC)
    • Any other 1099s received i.e 1099-C Cancellation of Debt
    • Health Savings Account and long-term care reimbursements (1099-SA or 1099-LTC) Deductions
  • Home Ownership
    • Form 1098 or other mortgage interest statements
    • Real estate and personal property tax records
    • The Sales of a home 1099-S
  • Charitable Donations
    • Cash amounts donated to religious organizations, schools, other charitable organizations.
    • Records of non-cash charitable donations
    • Amounts of miles driven for charitable purposes
  • Medical Expenses
    • Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals.
    • Miles driven for medical purposes.
    • Travel expenses for medical, including hotels, planes, tolls, parking, etc
  • Health Insurance
    • Form 1095-A if you have health insurance through a State Marketplace (Exchange)
  • Childcare Expenses
    • Daycare paid for a child under age 13 
    • Wages paid to a babysitter.
  • Educational Expenses
    • Forms 1098-T from educational institutions
    • Receipts for qualified educational expenses
    • Records of scholarships or fellowships
    • Form 1098-E for student loan interest
  • State & Local Taxes or Sales Tax
    • Amount of state/local income tax paid (other than wage withholding), or amount of state and local sales tax paid
    • Invoice for large item purchases such as cars, boats, motorcycles etc.
    • Amount of real estate taxes paid.
    • Amount of personal property taxes paid.
  • Retirement & Other Savings
    • Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions.
    • Form 5498 showing IRA contributions.
    • All other 5498 series forms (5498-QA, 5498-ESA)
  • Other Credits
    • Residential Energy Credits – Solar, energy saving windows, furnace etc.
    • Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Purchase