Basic information
1. Your legal name, SSN/TIN, and date of birth
2. Your Employer Identification Number (EIN)
3. Your tax return from last year
4. Total amount of quarterly tax payments you made this year, with dates
5. Bank information (account and routing numbers)
6. Last year’s Self-Select PIN (your IRS password)
7. Last year’s adjusted gross income
Government forms (if applicable)
1. W-2 payslips
2. 1095 forms
3. 1098 forms
4. 1099 forms
5. 2439 Notice to shareholder of undistributed long-term capital gains
6. Schedule K-1 Partnership, S-Corporation, and Estate Trust income
Self-employed business income and expenses
1. Income statement (including cost of goods sold, if applicable)
Financial Records
1. Home office
2. Travel expenses
3. Mileage records
4. Education expenses
5. Business meals
6. Alimony expenses / income
7. Charitable contributions / donations
8. Energy efficient property expenses
9. Foreign earned income and taxes paid
10. Household employee expense
11. Investments
12. Medical expenses
13. Mortgage interest paid
14. Moving expenses
15. Real estate taxes
16. Retirement contributions
17. Dependents and dependent care expenses
18. Vehicle payments and taxes
Always keep proof and documentation for any expenses claimed and forms filed
What to give your bookkeeper
If you work with a bookkeeper, here’s what you’ll need to give them, so they can prepare tax, ready books for your CPAs
1. Trial balance from your previous bookkeeping solution (only if this is your first tax season with your current bookkeeper)
2. Last year’s tax return – this helps your bookkeeper create an accurate balance sheet
3. CPA adjusting journal entries from last year – this also helps your bookkeeper create and accurate balance sheet
4. Lastly, notify your bookkeeper of any upcoming CPA meetings and deadlines – this helps them prepare your Year End Financial package on time.
This checklist is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. RL Mohl and Associates assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.
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