Personal Tax Prep Checklist - Triton Tax Group

Personal Tax Prep Checklist

Here’s a summary of what you’ll need for a tax return checklist, whether you see a tax professional or prepare your own taxes.

Personal Information

Your social security number or tax ID number
Your spouse’s full name and social security number or tax ID number
Amount of any alimony paid and ex-spouse’s full name and social security number
Your tax returns for the previous three years. Your Tax Professional can check them for accuracy

Information About Other People Who May Belong on Your Return

Dates of birth and social security numbers or tax ID numbers
Childcare records (including the provider’s tax ID number) if applicable
Income of other adults in your home
Form 8332 showing that the child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim a child to you, the noncustodial parent (if applicable)

Education Payments

Employee Information

Self-Employment Information

Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, 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
Office in home information, if applicable

Business Use of Vehicle Information

Log showing total miles driven for the year (or beginning/ending odometer readings), total business miles driven for the year (other than commuting), and the business purpose of the mileage
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 Property Income

Retirement Income and Contributions

Form 5498 showing IRA contributions
Traditional IRA basis (i.e. amounts you contributed to the IRA that were already taxed)

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 (if basis is not reported on 1099-B)

Other Income

Affordable Care Act

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 (i.e. an employer, insurance company, government health plan such as Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, VA, etc.)
Marketplace exemption certificate (ECN) if you applied for and received an exemption from the Marketplace (Exchange)

Other Deductions and Credits

Receipts for classroom expenses (for educators in grades K-12)
Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions
All other 5498 series forms (5498-QA, 5498-ESA)
Record of moving expenses not reimbursed by employer
Forms 1098 or other mortgage interest statements
All other 1098 series forms
Amount of state/local income tax paid (other than wage withholding), or amount of state and local sales tax paid
Real estate and personal property tax records
Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid
Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations
Records of non-cash charitable donations
Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals
Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes
Expenses related to your investments

Other Deductions and Credits (con’t)

Amount paid for preparation of last year’s tax return
Employment-related expenses (dues, publications, tools, uniform cost and cleaning, travel)
Job-hunting expenses
Receipts for energy-saving home improvements
Record of estimated tax payments made

If you were affected by a federally declared disaster

City/county 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
Check FEMA site to see if my county has been declared a federal disaster area