Your 2026 Tax Preparation Checklist

Being prepared before you sit down with your CPA saves time, reduces stress, and helps ensure you claim every deduction and credit you are entitled to. Use this checklist to gather everything you need before filing your 2025 tax return (filed in 2026).

Personal Information

☐ Social Security Numbers for yourself, your spouse, and all dependents

☐ Filing status - Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household, or Qualifying Surviving Spouse

☐ Dates of birth for yourself, spouse, and all dependents

☐ Dependents' information - full legal names, SSNs, relationship to you, and months lived in your home

☐ Copy of last year's tax return (federal and state) - helpful for carryover items and comparison

☐ Valid government-issued photo ID for yourself and spouse (some states require this for e-filing)

Income Documents

☐ W-2 forms from all employers (you and your spouse)

☐ 1099-NEC / 1099-MISC - freelance, contract, or side-gig income

☐ 1099-INT - interest income from banks and investments

☐ 1099-DIV - dividend income from stocks, mutual funds, or ETFs

☐ 1099-B - proceeds from stock sales, bond sales, or other investment transactions

☐ Schedule K-1 - income from partnerships, S-Corps, estates, or trusts

☐ Rental income records - total rent collected, property expenses, depreciation schedules

☐ SSA-1099 - Social Security benefits received

☐ 1099-G - unemployment compensation or state tax refunds received

☐ 1099-R - distributions from retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k), pension)

☐ 1099-SA - distributions from an HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA

☐ Gambling winnings (W-2G) and records of gambling losses

Deduction & Credit Documents

☐ Form 1098 - mortgage interest paid (from your lender)

☐ Property tax statements - total real estate taxes paid during the year

☐ State and local taxes paid - income tax or sales tax records (SALT deduction, capped at $10,000)

☐ Medical and dental expenses - bills, insurance premiums, prescriptions (deductible above 7.5% of AGI)

☐ Charitable donations - cash contributions with receipts, non-cash donations with fair market values, mileage driven for charity

☐ Form 1098-E - student loan interest paid (up to $2,500 deduction)

☐ Form 1098-T - tuition and education expenses (for American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning credits)

☐ Childcare expenses - provider name, address, EIN or SSN, and total amount paid per child

☐ Energy-efficient home improvements - receipts for solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, windows, doors (Residential Clean Energy Credit or Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit)

☐ Form 5498-SA - HSA contributions (employer and personal contributions)

☐ IRA contributions - traditional IRA (may be deductible) and Roth IRA (for records)

☐ Educator expenses - up to $300 for qualified K-12 teachers for classroom supplies

Self-Employed / Business Owners

☐ Business income records - total revenue, invoices, 1099s received, and payment records

☐ Business expense records - categorized list of all operating expenses (supplies, marketing, rent, utilities, etc.)

☐ Mileage log - date, destination, business purpose, and miles driven for each trip

☐ Home office measurements - total square footage of home and dedicated office space

☐ Equipment and asset purchases - date, cost, and description of computers, furniture, tools, or vehicles bought for business use

☐ Health insurance premiums - amounts paid for self-employed health, dental, and vision coverage

☐ Estimated tax payments - dates and amounts of all quarterly payments made (Form 1040-ES vouchers or bank records)

☐ Retirement plan contributions - SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), or SIMPLE IRA contribution amounts

☐ Business insurance premiums - general liability, professional liability, and business property coverage

☐ Professional service fees - amounts paid to attorneys, accountants, consultants, or contractors

Other Important Items

☐ Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of your refund (or direct debit of amount owed)

☐ Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) if one was issued to you by the IRS

☐ Cryptocurrency transaction records - buys, sells, trades, mining income, staking rewards, and airdrops from all wallets and exchanges

☐ Foreign income and bank accounts - income earned abroad and accounts held outside the U.S. (FBAR filing required if aggregate value exceeds $10,000 at any time during the year)

☐ Alimony paid or received - amounts and date of divorce/separation agreement (rules differ for agreements before vs. after 2019)

☐ Form 1095-A - Health Insurance Marketplace statement (if you purchased coverage through Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace)

☐ IRS correspondence - any letters or notices received from the IRS during the year

Pro Tip from Our CPA Team

Filing early reduces your risk of tax identity theft and gets your refund faster. The IRS begins accepting returns in late January - if you have all your documents ready, there is no reason to wait. Taxpayers who file in the first two weeks of the season typically receive refunds within 21 days via direct deposit.