Tax Checklist

Overview

Collecting the items that you need should be easy if you have been maintaining records of your financial information. Even when you're organized, preparing for your taxes can be overwhelming. Sort through this checklist, see which items apply to you, and do your best to compile all of the required information. If you're not too comfortable filing your own taxes, you may want to seek a preparer. Otherwise, there are different types of software available, such as TurboTax.

Personal Information

• Social security numbers for yourself, spouse, and dependents
• Address & contact information for yourself, spouse, and dependents
• If you were married as of Dec. 31, 2010, you must file as married or head of household. If you were single, then you can file as single.

Employment

• Forms W-2 from all employers

Self-Employment

• Form 1099 for earnings $600 and above
• Schedules K-1
• Additional records of income (credit card statements, business logs, receipts)
• Home office expenses
• Record of all business costs

Investment Income & Forms

• Interest income (Form 1099-INT)
• Dividend income (Form 1099-DIV)
• Stock & bond sale information (Form 1099-B)
• Receipts for sold stock
• Schedule K-1 (Form 1065): Investment partnerships
• Schedule K-1 (Form 1120S): Investments in S Corporations
• Foreign investment income
• Capital gains

Rental Income

• Landlord income
• Expenses (advertising, property maintenance, travel to and from property site)

Other Income

• Unemployment, state tax refunds (1099-G)
• Gambling income (W-2G & expense records)
• Alimony
• Health care (1099-SA/1099-LTC)
• Jury duty records

Vehicle for Company Purposes

• Total miles driven
• Total business miles (commuting is not included)
• Parking & tolls
• Receipts for gas, maintenance, car washes, registration, and other payments

Retirement Savings

• Pension, IRA, or annuity income (1099-R)
• Social security income and retirement benefits (1099-SSA, RRB-1099)

Stock Purchase and Sales

• Stock options & sales
• Stock price (grant date)
• Stock price (purchase date)

Home Office

• Show that you use part of your home exclusively for business
• Show that your home is your principal place of business
• IRS Form 8829
• Profits and losses of business (Schedule C)
• Records of time that you spent working at home
• Square footage of your entire home
• Square footage of the portion of your home that you use for an office

Information for Deductions

• Forms 1098/mortgage statements
• State & local income tax paid
• State & local sales tax paid
• Real estate records
• HUD statement for closing date of new home purchase (first-time homebuyers)
• Vehicle sales tax
• Cash donations
• Non-cash donations
• Medical expenses (healthcare, doctor visits, dentists, hospitals)
• Miles driven for medical or charitable purpose
• Amount spent to prepare 2008 tax return
• Employment expenses
• Job search expenses

Federally Declared Disaster Areas

• City/county of employment and property
• Documents that show property-related losses
• Repair and renovation costs
• Insurance payments and claims
• FEMA subsidies and programs