Tax Checklist

Personal Information

Your Social Security number Your spouse's full name and Social Security number Amount of any alimony paid and ex-spouse's Social Security number

Other People Who May Belong on Your Return

Dates of birth and Social Security numbers Childcare records (including the provider's ID number) if applicable Approximate income of other adults in your home (not spouse, if you're filing jointly) Form 8332, copies of your divorce decree, or other documents proving your right to claim a child living with your ex-spouse

Education Payments

Bills from educational institution or anything else that itemizes what you paid or got loans for versus what was covered by scholarship or other financial aid Forms 1098-T and 1098-E, if you have them Scholarships and fellowships

Employee Information

Forms W-2

Self-Employment Information

Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099s Records of all expenses — check registers, credit card statements

Vehicle Information

Total miles driven for the year (or beginning/ending odometer readings) Total business miles driven for the year Amount of parking and tolls paid If you want to claim actual expenses, receipts or totals for gas, oil, car washes, licenses, personal property tax, lease or interest expense, etc.

Rental Income

Records of income and expenses

Retirement Income

Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R) Social security/RRB income (1099-SSA, RRB-1099)

Savings and Investments

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

Other Income

Unemployment, state tax refund (1099-G) Gambling income (W-2G or not, expense records) Amount of any alimony received and ex-spouse's name Health care reimbursements (1099-SA) Jury duty records Hobby income and expenses Prizes and awards

Itemizing Deductions

Forms 1098 or other mortgage statements Amount of state/local income tax paid (not withheld) Real estate and personal-property tax records Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations Records of non-cash charitable donations Amounts paid for health-care insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes Expenses related to your investments Amount paid for preparation of your previous year's tax return Employment-related expenses (dues, publications, tools, uniform cost and cleaning, travel) Job-hunting expenses

IRA Information

Amount contributed for the tax year (and the current year, if applicable) Traditional IRA basis Value of IRAs on December 31 of the tax year