Tax Prep Checklist from Thomas W. Klash, CPA

It’s tax season and that means it’s time to get your personal and financial information together so that you’re prepared to file your taxes before the deadline. But unless you’re a seasoned accountant like Thomas W. Klash, CPA, or someone who has been doing their own taxes for years, you’ll likely be looking for professional tax preparation near you.

But before you visit an accountant like Thomas W. Klash, CPA, there are several documents and pieces of information you’ll want to make sure you have ready to go so that you can file your taxes properly.

To help you be prepared, here’s a tax preparation checklist for you to use this tax season:

Personal Information

·        Your Social Security Number

·        Your spouse’s Social Security Number (if married)

·        Social Security Numbers of any dependents

Income Information

·        W-2 Forms from all of your employers that you worked for with the past tax year (you’ll need all of your spouse’s W-2s too if you’re filing a joint return)

·        1099 Forms for any contract work you completed in the last tax year for more than $600

·        Investment income information including interest income, dividend income, proceeds from the sale of bonds or stocks, and income from foreign investments

·        Income from last year’s local and state tax refunds

·        Accounting records for any business that you own

·        Income from Unemployment

·        Income from rental property

·        Benefits from social security

·        Information for miscellaneous income such as payment for jury duty, lottery and gambling winnings, prizes and awards

·        Form 1099-MSA for distributions from medical savings accounts

Income Adjustments/Credits/Discounts

·        Homebuyer information

·        Energy saving information

·        IRA contribution information

·        Mortgage interest

·        Student loan interest

·        Self-employed health insurance information

·        Job-related moving expenses

·        Education costs

·        Childcare costs

·        Adoption costs

·        Charitable donations

·        Casualty or theft loss

·        Business expenses

·        Medical expenses

·        Home office expenses

Direct Deposit Information

·        Bank account number

·        Bank routing number