Tax document checklist

Whether you use a Tax Pro or file by yourself, many of these documents will be necessary to complete your return. Use our checklist tool to see which documents apply to you.

Personal

• Your Social Security number or tax ID number
• Your spouse's full name and Social Security number or tax ID number

Dependent(s)

•  Dates of birth and Social Security numbers or 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-MISC 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)

• 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)

• 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
• Record of alimony paid/received with ex-spouse’s name and SSN
• 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

• 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 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 so the taxpayer (and spouse) can work
• 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 showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid
• 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)

• 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