Tax Prep Documents Checklist

Many of these forms won't be needed to file taxes every year. For example, you will only receive the investment forms you may need to file your taxes if you had distributions or other activity.

• Unemployment (1099-G)

• Forms 1099, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC

• Records of all expenses — check registers or credit card statements, and receipts

• Business-use asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

• Office in-home information, if applicable

• Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040-ES)

• Records of income and expenses

• Rental asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

• Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040-ES)

• Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)

• Traditional IRA basis (i.e., amounts you contributed to the IRA that were already taxed)

• Social security/RRB income: SSA-1099, RRB-1099

• Interest, dividend income (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV)

• Income from sales of stock or other property (1099-B, 1099-S)

• Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold (if basis is not reported on 1099-B)

• Health Savings Account and long-term care reimbursements (1099-SA or 1099-LTC)

• Expenses related to your investments

• Record of estimated tax payments made (Form 1040-ES)

• Transactions involving cryptocurrency (Virtual currency)

• Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions - 1099-K

• Gambling income (W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records)

• Jury duty records

• Hobby income and expenses

• Prizes and awards

• Trust income

• Royalty Income 1099-MISC

• Any other 1099s received

• Record of alimony paid/received with ex-spouse's name and SSN

• State tax refund

The types of deductions you can take depend a lot on your life situation. It's likely you won't need all of the documents listed below for your taxes.

• Forms 1098 or other mortgage interest statements

• Real estate and personal property tax records

• Receipts for energy-saving home improvements (e.g., solar panels, solar water heater)

• Electric vehicle information

• All other 1098 series forms

• Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations

• Records of non-cash charitable donations

• Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes

• Amounts paid for healthcare, insurance, and to doctors, dentists, and hospitals

• Amounts paid for qualified insurance premiums if paid outside of the Marketplace or an employer provided plan

• Form 1095-A if you enrolled in an insurance plan through the Marketplace (Exchange)

• Fees paid to a licensed day care center or family day care for care of an infant or preschooler

• Amounts paid to a baby-sitter or provider care of your child under age 13 while you work

• Expenses paid through a dependent care flexible spending account at work

• Forms 1098-T from educational institutions

• Receipts that itemize qualified educational expenses

• Records of any scholarships or fellowships you received

• Form 1098-E if you paid student loan interest

• Receipts for classroom expenses (for educators in grades K-12)

• Amount of state and local income or sales tax paid (other than wage withholding)

• Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid and / or personal property tax on vehicles

• Form 5498-SA showing HSA contributions

• Form 5498 showing IRA contributions

• All other 5498 series forms (5498-QA, 5498-ESA)