Income Documents

• W-2 (wages): Collect all copies showing all boxes, states, and localities—especially HSA/FSA contributions, retirement plan contributions, and employer matching
• Equity compensation forms: Forms 3921 and/or 3922 for ISO/ESPP exercises. Review for cost basis and holding period adjustments.
• Self-employment income: Forms 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-K, plus documentation of all income and expenses
• Investment income: Forms 1099-B, 1099-DIV, 1099-INT, 1099 Consolidated/Composite. Verify cost basis and holding period details.
• Retirement and insurance distributions: Forms 1099-R. Flag any special circumstances (after-tax basis, rollovers, QCDs, penalty exceptions).
• Retirement income: Forms 1099-R, SSA-1099, RRB-1099 for pension, annuity, Social Security, and Railroad Retirement income
• Home sale: Form 1099-S (if applicable) plus purchase and sale documentation, improvement records, depreciation history. Review exclusion eligibility.
• Alimony received (pre-2019 divorce): Documentation of amounts received, date of agreement, and Social Security number of payor
• Other Schedule 1 income: Any applicable tax forms

Deduction Documents

• Self-employment expenses: Home office use, vehicle use, health insurance premiums, LTC premiums, business expenses for QBI deduction
• Retirement/tax-advantaged contributions: 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, HSA, 529. Deadlines apply for removing excess contributions.
• Charitable donations: Receipts and contemporaneous written acknowledgments (CWA) for gifts of $250+; Form 8283 for non-cash gifts over $500
• Medical expenses: Amounts paid, insurance or HSA/FSA reimbursements (subject to 7.5% AGI floor)
• State and local taxes: Amounts paid for income, sales, and property taxes (SALT deduction up to $40,000)
• Overtime and tips income: Year-end pay stubs, documented tips to substantiate deductions
• Mortgage interest: Form(s) 1098, plus interest paid, points, origination dates, and balances
• Vehicle loan interest: Loan statement showing interest paid, VIN (for U.S.-assembled qualifying vehicles, post-12/31/2024 loans)
• Student loan interest: Form(s) 1098-E or statements showing interest paid
• Alimony paid (pre-2019 divorce): Amounts paid, date of agreement, and recipient’s Social Security number

Credit Documents

• Dependents: Documentation of dependency status, age, custody agreements, Form(s) 8332, childcare and adoption costs
• Education expenses: Form(s) 1098-T, Form(s) 1099-Q for 529 distributions, tuition receipts
• Electric vehicle / energy-efficient improvements: Receipts and manufacturer certifications
• Marketplace health insurance: Form(s) 1095-A. Review premium tax credit eligibility and potential repayment if income exceeded estimates.
• Estimated tax payments: Amounts, dates paid, and names on payments

Other Items

• Gifts over $19,000: Documentation for Form 709 reporting, including gift-splitting elections or 529 5-year averaging
• QCDs from IRA: Form(s) 1099-R will show the full distribution—ensure the QCD exclusion is properly applied on Form 1040, Line 4b
• Non-deductible IRA contributions (backdoor Roth): Document all contributions (basis), and record the year-end balance of any traditional IRAs
• Rental property: Property value vs. land value for depreciation, time logs of personal vs. rental usage, income and expense records
• S-Corporation/partnership returns: Business returns (Forms 1120-S, 1065) must be finalized before personal returns. Request an extension if needed.
• Solo 401(k) over $250,000: Form 5500-EZ may be required by July 31, 2026
• State-specific issues: Review applicable state filing requirements

Download the 2025 Tax Document Collection Checklist

Get the complete checklist with yes/no prompts for every income, deduction, credit, and other item you may need to file your 2025 return. Share it with your tax preparer to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.