Are You Ready For Your Upcoming Appointment?

Required Documents To Keep On File:

  • Copies of Drivers License or State IDs

  • Social Security Cards

  • Proof of Residence for dependents claiming EIC

Personal Records To Keep Forever:

  • CPA Audit Reports

  • Legal Records

  • Important Correspondence

  • Income Tax Returns

  • Income Tax Payment Checks

  • Investment Trade Confirmations

  • Retirement and Pension Records

Personal Documents To Keep For
Three Years:

  • Credit Card Statements

  • Medical Bills (in case of insurance disputes)

  • Utility Records

  • Expired Insurance Policies

Additional Tax Documents:

  • IRA contributions

  • Energy credits

  • Student loan interest

  • Medical Savings Account (MSA) contributions

  • Moving expenses (for tax years prior to 2018 only)

  • Self-employed health insurance payments

  • Keogh, SEP, SIMPLE and other self-employed pension plans

  • Alimony paid that is tax dedcutible

  • Educator expenses

  • State and local income taxes paid

  • Real estate taxes paid

  • Personal property taxes—vehicle license fee based on value

  • Estimated tax payment made during the year, prior year refund applied to current year, and any amount paid with an extension to file.

  • Direct deposit information—routing and account numbers

  • Foreign bank account information—location, name of bank, account number, peak value of account during the year

Income Documents:

  • Income from jobs: forms W-2 for you and your spouse

  • Investment income—various forms 1099 (-INT, -DIV, -B, etc.), K-1s, stock option information

  • Income from state and local income tax refunds and/or unemployment: forms 1099-G

  • Taxable alimony received

  • Business or farming income—profit/loss statement, capital equipment information

  • If you use your home for business—home size, office size, home expenses, office expenses

  • IRA/pension distributions—forms 1099-R, 8606

  • Rental property income/expense—profit/Loss statement, rental property suspended loss information

  • Social Security benefits—forms SSA-1099

  • Income from sales of property—original cost and cost of improvements, escrow closing statement, cancelled debt information (form 1099-C)

  • Prior year installment sale information—forms 6252, principal and Interest collected during the year, SSN and address of payer

  • Other miscellaneous income—jury duty, gambling winnings, Medical Savings Account (MSA), scholarships, etc.

Tax Deduction Documents:

  • Advance Child Tax Credit payment

  • Child care costs—provider’s name, address, tax id, and amount paid

  • Education costs—forms 1098-T, education expenses

  • Adoption costs—SSN of child, legal, medical, and transportation costs

  • Home mortgage interest and points you paid—Forms 1098

  • Investment interest expense

  • Charitable donations—cash amounts and value of donated property, miles driven, and out-of-pocket expenses

  • Casualty and theft losses—amount of damage, insurance reimbursements

  • Other miscellaneous tax deductions—union dues, unreimbursed employee expenses (uniforms, supplies, seminars, continuing education, publications, travel, etc.) (for tax years prior to 2018 only)

  • Medical and dental expenses