Personal Information

Tax Identification Numbers are mandatory items on your checklist. All taxpayers will need the following to do their taxes.

  • Your social security number or tax ID number
  • Your spouse’s full name, social security number or tax ID number, and date of birth
  • Information about your stimulus payment — also known as an economic impact payment (EIP) — if applicable — you may have IRS Notice 1444 or other records showing your EIP amount
  • Identity Protection PIN, if one has been issued to you, your spouse, or your dependent by the IRS
  • Routing and account numbers to receive your refund by direct deposit or pay your balance due if you choose

Dependent(s) Information

Parents and caregivers should gather this information as they review what they need to file their taxes.

  • Dates of birth and social security numbers or tax ID numbers
  • Childcare records (including the provider’s tax ID number) if applicable
  • Income of dependents and of other adults in your home
  • Form 8332 showing that the child’s custodial parent is releasing their right to claim a child to you, the noncustodial parent (if applicable)

Sources of Income

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.

  • Employed
    • Forms W-2
  • Unemployed
  • Unemployment (1099-G)
  • Self-Employed
    • Forms 1099, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099-MISC or new 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)
  • Rental Income
    • 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)
  • Retirement Income
    • 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)
  • Savings & Investments or Dividends
    • 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)
  • Other Income & Losses
    • 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