Tax Checklists

Individual Tax Checklist

Your Personal Information

Your full name, date of birth and Social Security Number (including children and spouse)
Childcare provider records if applicable (including name, address, tax ID or Social Security Number)
Amount of alimony paid and ex-spouse's Social Security Number
Approximate income of other adults in the home (but not your spouse if you are filing jointly)
Form 8332, copies of your divorce decree or other documents showing that your ex-spouse is releasing their right to claim a child to you
Your 2011, 2010 and/or 2009 tax returns as your Tax professional can review them for accuracy

Your Employment Information

Your Retirement Income

Your Self-Employment Information

Records of all expenses including check registers, credit card statements, receipts, other documents and your own records
Business income - Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1 & your own income records to verify any amounts not reported on 1099s.
Business-use asset information for depreciation, such as cost & date placed in service
Keogh, SEP, SIMPLE & other types of self-employed pension plans
Identify IRA, Keogh & additional retirement plan contributions as either for employees or for self
Employment taxes and other current year business taxes from your payment records
Farm-related expenses from receipts, other documents and your own records
Office in home information, if applicable

Your Education Payments

Bills from an educational institution or anything that itemizes what you paid or received for student loans, including interest, versus what was covered by scholarship, fellowship or other financial aid
Scholarships and fellowships
Education costs - Forms 1098-T and 1098-E if you received them

Your Homeowner/Rental Income

Residential address or addresses for the year
Mortgage Interest & Points Paid - Form 1098
Second Mortgage Interest Paid
Records of income & expenses, such as real estate taxes paid,rent paid during the tax year & moving expenses
Rental asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

Your Vehicle Information

Vehicle license fee based on value
Total miles driven for the year or beginning/ending odometer readings
Total business miles driven for the year other than commuting
Amount of parking and tolls paid
If you want to claim actual expenses, have receipts or totals for gas, oil, car washes, licenses, personal property tax & lease or interest expense

Your Savings and Investments

Broker transactions, including income from sales of stock or other properties - Forms 1099-B, 1099-S
Interest & dividend income statements - Forms 1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV
Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold
Penalties for early withdrawal on CDs and other time deposits.

Your IRA Information

Your Additional Income

Unemployment, state & local tax income refunds - Forms 1099-G
Miscellaneous income, including rent - Forms 1099-MISC
Amount of any alimony received and ex-spouse's name
Health care reimbursements - Forms 1099-SA or 1099-LTC
Gambling income - Forms W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records
Jury duty records
Hobby income and expenses
Prizes and awards
Other 1099

Your Itemized Deductions

Amount of federal, state & local income tax paid, not including wage withholding, or paid amount of state and localtax
Real estate and other personal property tax records
Forms 1098 or other mortgage statements
Records of noncash charitable donations, specifically qualified written statements from charities for all single donations of $250 or more
Cash amounts donated to schools, houses of worship & other charitable organizations
Unreimbursed expenses pertaining to volunteer work
Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to hospitals, doctors & dentists
Medical Savings Account contributions
Records to document casualty or theft losses
HUD statement showing closing date of home purchase
Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid
Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes
Amount paid for preparation of your 2011 tax return
Employment-related expenses, including subscriptions, dues, tools, travel, uniform cost & cleaning
Job-related training and education expenses
Job-search expenses
Investment expenses
Educator expenses
Advance child tax credit payment
Child care expenses - have provider's name, address, Tax ID & amount paid
Adoption expenses - have SSN of child, plus legal, medical & transportation costs
Alimony paid
Energy credits
Tax return preparation fees & expenses
Records for any additional deductible expenditures
Records for any additional revenue or property sales that may be taxable or reportable

Information Relating to a Federally Declared Disaster

City or county in which you lived, worked or held property
Records of rebuilding and/or repair costs
Insurance reimbursements and/or claims to be paid
Records to support property losses, such as clean up costs & appraisals
FEMA assistance information
Refer to FEMA guidelines to view qualification information for individual assistance by country