Written By Mark Sipos, LFG Tax Director
Tax filing season is quickly approaching. You can help achieve a quick, smooth, and accurate tax filing by gathering and organizing all your tax records for your preparer. We have put together a checklist of the most common items required for filing your taxes.
Personal and contact information
Start by collecting essential personal details, including:
- Full legal name
- Social Security number (SSN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Date of birth (DOB)
- Current address (and confirm any changes from their prior address)
- Phone number
- Email address
- A copy of your state’s driver’s license
Dependent information
For clients who have dependents, you’ll need the following details for each dependent:
- Name
- SSNs/TINs
- DOB
- Relationship (child, elderly dependent, etc.)
Income sources
- Form W-2
- Form 1099 (any version)
- Schedule K-1
- Social Security benefits
- Retirement income
- Investment income
- Gig or freelance income
- Tip income
- Overtime income – for 2025 you may need a separate reporting document from your employer if not available on your W2 form.
Deductions and credits
- Mortgage interest
- Property taxes
- Medical expenses
- Charitable contributions
- Education expenses
- Child care costsOther documents
- Any available prior-year tax returns if using a new tax preparer
- Records of estimated payments and their dates
- Any notices received from the IRS, state, or local agency
- Identity Protection PIN you may have received from the IRS
Be sure to let your tax preparer know of any significant changes in income, deductions, or dependents that may have occurred in 2025. This is also a good time to discuss 2026 planning if there will be a significant life event happening in 2026 such as retirement, children starting or graduating from college, losing a dependent, or starting Social Security.
As always, we are here to answer any questions that you may have about gathering the necessary tax documents you may need. Feel free to give us a call.
