Every year, millions of people start their tax return, realize they're missing a document, and either file an incomplete return or wait weeks to get it. This checklist covers every document you might need — organized by category — so you can gather everything before you sit down to file.
Estimate what you'll owe before filing with the Federal Tax Calculator→
Income Documents
Employment Income
| Document | What It Reports | Who Sends It | Deadline |
|---|
| W-2 | Wages, salary, tips, withholding | Your employer | January 31 |
| W-2G | Gambling winnings | Casino or lottery | January 31 |
Self-Employment and Freelance Income
| Document | What It Reports | Who Sends It | Deadline |
|---|
| 1099-NEC | Non-employee compensation ($600+) | Clients who paid you | January 31 |
| 1099-MISC | Rents, royalties, other income | Various payers | January 31 |
| 1099-K | Payment card/third-party network transactions | PayPal, Venmo, Stripe, etc. | January 31 |
| Schedule K-1 | Partnership, S-Corp, estate, or trust income | The entity | March 15 (often late) |
If you're self-employed, also gather records of business expenses: mileage log, home office measurements, equipment purchases, software subscriptions, insurance premiums, and any other deductible business costs.
Investment and Savings Income
| Document | What It Reports | Who Sends It | Deadline |
|---|
| 1099-INT | Interest income ($10+) | Banks, credit unions | January 31 |
| 1099-DIV | Dividends and capital gain distributions | Brokerages, mutual funds | January 31 |
| 1099-B | Stock and investment sales (proceeds and basis) | Brokerages | February 15 |
| 1099-R | Retirement account distributions (IRA, 401k, pension) | Plan administrator | January 31 |
| 1099-SA | HSA distributions | HSA custodian | January 31 |
| SSA-1099 | Social Security benefits | Social Security Administration | January 31 |
Wait for your 1099-B. Brokerages often issue corrected forms through mid-February. Filing too early with preliminary numbers can mean amending later.
Other Income
| Document | What It Reports |
|---|
| 1099-G | Unemployment compensation, state tax refund |
| 1099-C | Cancelled debt ($600+) |
| 1099-S | Real estate sale proceeds |
| Alimony received | If divorce finalized before 2019 |
Deduction Documents
Itemized Deductions
| Deduction | Document Needed |
|---|
| Mortgage interest | Form 1098 from your lender |
| Property taxes | Annual statement from county |
| State and local income taxes paid | W-2 Box 17 or estimated payment records |
| Charitable donations (cash) | Receipts, bank statements, or charity acknowledgment letters |
| Charitable donations (non-cash) | Itemized list with fair market values; Form 8283 if over $500 |
| Medical expenses (above 7.5% of AGI) | Bills, insurance statements, pharmacy receipts |
Above-the-Line Deductions
| Deduction | Document Needed |
|---|
| Student loan interest | Form 1098-E from your loan servicer |
| Educator expenses (teachers, up to $300) | Receipts for classroom supplies |
| HSA contributions | Form 5498-SA (May); track contributions yourself for filing |
| IRA contributions | Form 5498 (May); track contributions yourself for filing |
| Self-employment tax deduction | Calculated on Schedule SE |
| Self-employed health insurance | Premium statements |
| Alimony paid (pre-2019 divorces) | Payment records and recipient's SSN |
Credit Documents
| Credit | Document Needed |
|---|
| Child Tax Credit | Children's SSNs and dates of birth |
| Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) | Income verification, children's info |
| Education credits (AOTC, LLC) | Form 1098-T from college/university |
| Child and dependent care credit | Provider's name, address, EIN, and amount paid |
| Adoption credit | Adoption expenses documentation |
| Energy credits | Manufacturer's certification, receipts for qualifying improvements |
| Premium Tax Credit (ACA) | Form 1095-A from the Marketplace |
| Electric vehicle credit | Dealer documentation, VIN |
| Item | For |
|---|
| Social Security numbers | You, spouse, all dependents |
| Dates of birth | All household members |
| Last year's tax return | AGI needed for e-filing verification |
| Bank account and routing number | For direct deposit of refund |
| IP PIN (if issued by IRS) | Identity protection PIN — required if you have one |
Documents Most People Forget
| Often Missed | Why It Matters |
|---|
| 1099-K from Venmo/PayPal | New reporting threshold — even small sellers may receive one |
| Crypto transactions | Every sale, swap, and payment is taxable |
| Side gig income under $600 | Taxable even without a 1099 |
| 1099-R for Roth conversions | Reported even though you already paid the tax |
| State tax refund from last year | May be taxable if you itemized (1099-G) |
| Estimated tax payments made | Q1-Q4 payment amounts and dates |
| HSA contributions made outside payroll | Not on your W-2 — you must claim separately |
| IRA contributions | Form 5498 arrives in May (too late for early filers) — track yourself |
Timeline: When Documents Arrive
| Date | Documents Available |
|---|
| Late January | W-2, most 1099s, 1098s, SSA-1099 |
| Mid-February | 1099-B (brokerage), corrected 1099s |
| Early March | Schedule K-1 (often delayed) |
| Late May | Form 5498 (IRA), 5498-SA (HSA) — for record-keeping, not needed to file |
Best practice: Wait until mid-February to file if you have investment accounts. This avoids amended returns from corrected 1099-Bs.
Before You Start Filing
Bottom Line
The most common tax filing mistakes come from missing documents — a forgotten 1099, an overlooked deduction, or a missing SSN for a dependent. Use this checklist to gather everything before you open your tax software or visit your CPA. Wait until mid-February if you have investment accounts (corrected 1099-Bs are common). Track your IRA and HSA contributions yourself since those forms don't arrive until May. The 30 minutes you spend organizing documents in January saves hours of frustration during filing — and reduces the chance of an amended return.
Use the Federal Tax Calculator to estimate your tax bill before filing, so there are no surprises.