What Documents Do I Need to File My Taxes?

Start with personal information

Before preparing a return, gather the identifying information that applies to everyone who will appear on the return. This can include Social Security numbers or ITINs, current address information, an Identity Protection PIN if the IRS issued one, and bank routing and account numbers if you plan to use direct deposit or make an electronic payment.

Gather all income documents

Wait until you have the tax records that apply to you. Common documents include:

• Forms W-2 from employers
• Forms 1099 for interest, dividends, retirement distributions, independent-contractor income and other reportable payments
• Form SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits, when applicable
• Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health insurance
• Records of digital-asset transactions, including transactions for which you may not have received a tax form

Not every taxpayer receives every form. The important point is to gather all records that show income you received during the year.

Bring records that support credits and deductions

Depending on your situation, Taxlogic may also need records for items such as:

• Childcare or dependent-care expenses
• Mortgage interest and property-tax records
• Education expenses and tuition documents
• Retirement or health-savings-account contributions
• Charitable contributions
• Other expenses that may support a deduction or credit

Whether an expense actually qualifies depends on the tax rules and your individual facts.

If you are self-employed

Self-employed taxpayers generally need more than the tax forms they receive. Keep records of business income and expenses, including payment-processor statements, receipts, mileage records when relevant, office expenses and estimated tax payments.

Do not rush to file with missing records

A complete set of records helps reduce errors and processing delays. If an expected W-2, 1099 or other tax document is missing, contact the employer, payer or issuing organization before filing when possible. Your IRS Online Account may also provide access to certain tax records.

How Taxlogic can help

Taxlogic Solutions provides virtual tax preparation and secure document-upload tools for clients nationwide. Once your documents are gathered, use the Tax Organizer or secure upload area in Client Tools to get started.

This guide is for general educational purposes and does not determine which documents, credits or deductions apply to a particular taxpayer. Your final filing requirements depend on your complete facts and tax records.