A clean tax appointment starts with a complete file. Use this checklist to gather income, deduction, and identity records so your return is filed accurately the first time.
Identity and household
Photo ID and Social Security card (or ITIN letter) for every person on the return.
Prior-year federal return — helpful for carryovers, depreciation, and IRS matching.
Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit of any refund.
Income documents
W-2s from every employer, plus final pay stub if a W-2 is missing.
1099-NEC, 1099-K, and 1099-MISC for freelance, gig, or contract income.
1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, and year-end brokerage statements.
1099-R for retirement distributions and SSA-1099 for Social Security.
Deductions and credits
Form 1098 for mortgage interest and property tax records.
Childcare provider name, address, EIN, and amount paid.
Tuition Form 1098-T and student loan interest 1098-E.
Charitable giving receipts and mileage logs.
Self-employed and small business
Profit and loss summary or bookkeeping export (QuickBooks, Wave, spreadsheet).
Home office square footage and total home size for the simplified deduction.
Business mileage log with dates, destinations, and purpose.
Estimated tax payments made to the IRS for the year.
Written by Zaki Enterprise Advisors — Licensed Insurance & Tax Professionals.
Reviewed by the same Texas advisors who work with our clients on tax preparation, ACA, Medicare, and property & casualty coverage.