Bring these documents at tax time.
The Starting Point:
- Last year's tax return (if not prepared by our office)
- Social Security numbers and birthdates for children and other dependents
Income Documents:
- All W-2s from employers
- Any statements for miscellaneous income from odd jobs, contracts, etc.
- All interest statements from banks (Form 1099-INT)
- Dividend statements from investment companies (Form 1099-DIV)
- Statements of any unemployment insurance received (Form 1099-G)
- Statements of your last year's state tax refund if you received one
- Any Schedule K-1 received from a partnership, an estate, or S-corporation
- Gambling winnings/losses
- Alimony amounts received/paid
- Social Security statements
- Transaction statements for stocks/bonds you sold during the year (Form 1099-B)
- The purchase price and date of purchase for any stocks you sold during the year
- Information about any other income you received during the year
Business Records—If you operate a small business or rental properties:
- A copy of last year's business return (if not prepared by our office)
- An income and expenses (profit & loss) statement with all expenses categorized
- A list of all business assets including cost and date purchased
- A written record of miles driven for business
- Business-use percentage for assets also used for personal purposes, i.e. 75% for business
- Subcontractor names, addresses, SSN and amounts paid
- Amount paid for health insurance premiums
If you have an office in your home:
- Square-footage of your home and square-footage of your office
- Amounts paid for home utilities, insurance, repairs, and improvements
- Purchase date and cost of your home
Deductions:
- Mortgage interest statement (Form 1098)
- Real estate taxes paid
- Mortgage points paid on a new home, paid by the seller, or on a refinance
- The amount you paid for state taxes last year (if you owed state taxes last year)
- Irrigation tax if you do not have access to the water
- Vehicle taxes/registration fees
- Amount of interest paid on student loans
- Record of contributions to any IRA, college savings plan, or Health Savings Account
- Moving expenses if the move was job-related and more than 50 miles
- Expenses for classroom supplies (for teachers only)
- Alimony paid
- Medical expenses - insurance, physicians, hospitals, prescriptions, co-pays, eye exams/glasses
- Home improvements done for medical reasons
- Mileage driven for medical appointments
- Nursing home expenses where medical treatment is main reason for living at that home
- Cash contributions to churches and qualified nonprofit organizations
- A list, with the fair market value, of items donated to nonprofit organizations
- Mileage driven for charitable purposes, i.e. driving for church camp
- Job related expenses you were not reimbursed for, such as travel, supplies, education, tools, uniforms, dues, etc.
- Job hunting expenses such as resumes, travel, phone charges, and employment agency fees
- Expenses for safe deposit boxes, IRA management fees, investment advice, investment-related publications, and education
Other Items:
- Closing papers for real estate you bought, sold, or refinanced during the year
- Name, address, and Tax Identification Number (EIN or SSN) for child care providers along with amount paid
- Amounts paid for college tuition for yourself or your dependents