Personal information This information tells the IRS exactly who is filing, who is covered in your tax return, and where to deposit your tax refund.
- Social Security, Driver licenses, birth certificates for spouse and dependents, school, or medical record for dependents
- Bank account number and routing number, if depositing your refund directly into your account
- Copies of last year’s tax return for you and your spouse (helpful, but not required)
These following items can help reduce the amount of your taxable income, which can increase your tax refund, or lower the amount you owe.
- Form 1098-E for student loan interest paid (or loan statements for student loans)
- Form 1098-T for tuition paid (or receipts/canceled checks for tuition paid for post-high school)
- For teachers: Canceled checks or receipts for expenses paid for classroom supplies, etc
- Records of IRA contributions made during the year
- Receipts for any qualifying energy-efficient home improvements (solar, windows, etc.)
- Records of Medical Savings Account (MSA) contributions
- Self-employed health insurance payment records
- Records of moving expenses
- Alimony paid
- Keogh, SEP, SIMPLE, and other self-employed pension plans
The government offers a number of deductions and credits to help lower the tax burden on individuals, which means more money in your pocket. The following documentation is needed to make sure you get all the deductions and credits you deserve:
Itemized deductions:
- Childcare costs: provider’s name, address, tax ID, and amount paid
- Education costs: Form 1098-T, education expenses
- Adoption costs: SSN of child; records of legal, medical and transportation costs
- Forms 1098: Mortgage interest, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and points you paid
- Investment interest expenses
- Charitable donations: cash amounts, official charity receipts, canceled checks; value of donated property; miles driven and out-of-pocket expenses
- Medical and dental expense records
- Casualty and theft losses: amount of damage, insurance reimbursements
- Records/amounts of other miscellaneous tax deductions: union dues; unreimbursed employee expenses (uniforms, supplies, seminars, continuing education, publications, travel, etc.)
- Records of home business expenses, home size/office size, home expenses
- Rental property income/expenses: profit/loss statement, rental property suspended loss Information
Taxes paid
- State and local income taxes paid o Real estate taxes paid
- Personal property taxes o Vehicle license fees based on value of vehicle Misc information
- 1095A, B or C Forms (Affordable Care Act) o Estimated tax payments made during the year (self-employed)
- Prior-year refund applied to current year and/or any amount paid with an extension to file
- Foreign bank account information: location, name of bank, account number, peak value of account during the year
