What Should I Bring to My Tax Appointment?

Below is a list of the most common items you should bring to your tax appointment. Since each person's tax situation is different, not all items below may apply to you.

• Social Security or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) cards for you, spouse and dependents. We also need birth dates for everyone. (Returning clients do NOT need to bring cards for anyone shown on last year’s tax return unless there is a name change)

• Copies of your federal and state tax returns for the past three years (2008 through 2010), if we didn’t prepare them

• A non-expired government issued Photo ID, such as a state issued driver's license, state issued identification card, Military ID, U.S. Passport, or Resident Alien ID card

• For a direct deposit of your tax refund or direct debit of your tax payment, please bring a check if using a checking account, or routing transit number (RTN) and account number if using a savings account

• ALL W-2's, 1098's, 1099's, plus a list of any other gross income including nontaxable income for which you did NOT receive a tax document

• Last paystub for each job you had during the year

• Schedule K-1's received from S-corporations, partnerships, estates, and/or trusts

• Gambling winnings/losses (winnings may be shown on Form W-2G)

• Alimony amounts received/paid (if paid, need ex-spouse’s Social Security number)

• Receipts for certain energy efficient home improvements such as exterior windows, exterior doors, skylights, insulation, certain asphalt and metal roofs, central air conditioners, electric heat pumps, solar electric, solar water heating, biomass stoves, and wind energy systems

• Records showing CONTRIBUTIONS made to Traditional & Roth IRAs, and Health Savings Accounts. If a DISTRIBUTION is made from a Roth IRA, we need to know all prior year contributions and distributions

• If you sold capital assets such as real estate, stocks, or mutual funds, we will need to know about your cost or other basis and date of purchase, inheritance, or gift. If you have several stock or mutual fund sales, download a Stock & Mutual Fund Transactions worksheet or spreadsheet

• For the child and dependent care credit, we will need the amount paid along with the name, complete address, and federal tax ID number of the provider (Social Security number, if the provider is a person)

• Itemized deductions – Medical expenses – health insurance premiums, physicians, hospitals, prescriptions, co-pays, eye exams/glasses, home improvements done for medical reasons, and mileage driven for medical purposes, real estate taxes, sales tax, state income tax, mortgage interest and points, mortgage insurance premiums (PMI), investment interest, charitable contributions, casualty and theft losses, tax preparation fees, job related expenses you were not reimbursed for, such as travel, supplies, education, tools, uniforms, dues, etc. Job hunting expenses such as resumes, travel, phone charges, and employment agency fees. Expenses for safe deposit boxes, IRA management fees, investment advice, and investment-related publications. Download occupational deduction worksheets

• Moving expenses (only if your new workplace is at least 50 miles further from your old home than your previous workplace was from your old home)

• Amounts paid for post-secondary education, such as college tuition (Form 1098-T), books, supplies and equipment for yourself and/or your dependents

• If you a sole proprietor / self-employed / independent contractor / subcontractor / Form 1099-MISC Box 7, we will need to know the gross amount of income and your expenses separated into different categories. If you acquired any assets that have a useful life of greater than 1 year, they might need to be depreciated. We will need a description of the asset, date placed in service for business purposes, cost, and business use percentage. If you accept credit cards or receive payments from a third-party payment network such as PayPal® or Google Checkout®, you may receive a Form 1099-K showing amounts paid to you. Download a business income and expense worksheet

• Rental properties – income and expenses, property purchase information such as a Settlement Statement (HUD-1), depreciation claimed in prior years. Download a rental income and expense worksheet

• Records showing amounts and dates of any "estimated tax" payments you sent to the IRS and/or state tax agencies

• Information on any foreign financial accounts, foreign trusts, or other foreign assets you had during the year

• Divorce papers (if applicable)

• If you are the noncustodial parent and you are claiming your child as a dependent and you were never married OR your divorce took place AFTER December 31, 2008, we will need a completed Form 8332 from the custodial parent

• If you adopted a child, please contact us for the exact records that we will need. They differ for domestic and foreign adoptions

• If you purchased or refinanced real estate, bring in the Settlement Statement (HUD-1)

• If you are an Identity Theft Victim, please bring in the IRS letter showing your unique PIN

• Any other information you think we may need to prepare your tax return(s) accurately

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