Checklist

Checklist: Tax Documents to Gather Before You File

A practical checklist of the documents most families need on hand before filing, whether you file yourself or get free help.

Whether you’re filing on your own, using software, or heading to a free filing site like VITA, showing up with the right paperwork in hand saves you time and reduces the chance of an error or a second trip. Documents also tend to arrive in a scattered way — a W-2 in the mail one week, a 1099 by email the next — so setting aside a single folder early in the year, and adding to it as things come in, makes the whole process much less stressful than trying to reconstruct everything the night before you file. Use this checklist to gather what you need before you sit down to file.

Personal and household information

Social Security cards or ITIN letters for yourself, your spouse, and every dependent you plan to claim
A valid photo ID for yourself (and your spouse, if filing jointly and visiting an in-person site)
Current mailing address
Bank account and routing numbers, if you want your refund direct deposited
Last year’s tax return, if you have a copy — useful for reference even if your situation has changed

Income documents

W-2 forms from every employer you worked for during the tax year
1099 forms for any freelance, gig, or contract income
1099 forms for unemployment compensation, if applicable
Records of any self-employment income and related business expenses
Documentation of any Social Security, pension, or retirement income
Records of interest or dividend income (often a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV)
Documentation of any other income — alimony received, gambling winnings, rental income

Social Security numbers for each dependent you’re claiming
Childcare provider’s name, address, and Tax ID or Social Security number, if you’re claiming a childcare-related credit
Total amount paid to each childcare provider during the year
Documentation supporting custody arrangements, if you share custody and need to establish who claims a dependent

Deduction and credit documents

Form 1098 for mortgage interest, if you own a home
Records of property taxes paid
Receipts or records for charitable donations
Form 1098-T for tuition, if you or a dependent attended a higher education program
Records of interest paid on education-related borrowing (often reported on Form 1098-E)
Documentation of medical expenses, if they were significant during the year
Proof of health insurance coverage, such as Form 1095-A, -B, or -C, if requested by your preparer

If your situation changed this year

Documentation of a change in marital status (marriage or divorce finalized during the tax year)
Documentation of a new dependent, such as a birth certificate or adoption paperwork
Records of a move, including your new address and the date you moved, if it affects state filing
Documentation of a change in employment, including any severance or unemployment income
Records related to a change in custody arrangements, if it affects who claims a shared dependent this year

Before you file

Double-check that names and Social Security numbers on your documents match exactly what’s on file with the Social Security Administration
Confirm your current address is accurate on all documents
Set aside a folder (physical or digital) with everything together, rather than gathering documents piecemeal on the day you file
If anything is missing — a W-2 that never arrived, for example — request a replacement from the issuer as early as possible rather than waiting until the deadline
If you’re using a free filing site, check their specific list of required documents ahead of time, since it can vary slightly by location
Make a copy or take a photo of everything before you hand it over at an in-person filing site, so you have your own backup
Write down or save the contact information for wherever you filed, in case a question comes up later in the year