Personal Tax Preparation Documents
- Client full name, address, phone number(s) and Social Security Number.
- Spouse full name, phone number(s) and Social Security Number (if filing MFJ/MFS).
- Filing Status – Single, Head of Household, Married Filing Joint, Married Filing Separate, Qualifying Widow(er).
- Dependents – Names, Dates of Birth and Social Security Numbers, relationship to client, i.e., son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, etc., months lived with client/spouse, dependent claimed by client or spouse.
- Any other contact information, such as cellphone numbers, fax numbers and/or email addresses – Client and Spouse.
- Change of marital status in 2008, if any.
- Change of address in 2008, if any.
- Changes in dependents, if any.
- Any dependents that could be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayers tax return.
- Received any tip or disability income?
- Sell any stocks/bonds or other investment property in 2008?
- Buy and/or sell principal home/second home?
- Refinance/take out a home equity loan?
- Add any energy efficient improvements to your principal residence?
- Purchase a hybrid auto in 2008?
- Contributions/Distributions to/from an IRA, 401(k) or other pension plan in 2008?
- Conversions of any retirement plans to a Roth IRA?
- Form 1098-T (tuition payments to a college).
- Any losses due to stolen/damaged items?
- Information on business use of your automobile (other than regular commuting expenses).
- Information on rental use of your principal residence, or business use of your principal residence.
- Receive any audit notices from the IRS/FTB?
- If filing electronically and receiving refund, need banking information, which includes name of bank, account number and routing number.
- Make any estimated tax payments during 2008?
- Need Forms W-2 (wages/salaries), 1099-R (pension payments), W-2G (gambling winnings).
- Need Forms 1099-INT (interest income), 1099-DIV (dividend income), 1099-B (stock sales).
- Need Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits), 1099-G (state tax refund/unemployment compensation),
- Need forms for alimony received, taxable scholarships/fellowships, jury duty pay, excess minister’s allowance, income from rental/personal property and any other miscellaneous income received.
- Any tax withheld on items in question #28 above?
- Related to #20 above, any vehicle expenses incurred while using your car for business? Need Vehicle description, actual expenses and/or a log of automobile mileage, average daily round trip commute. For vehicle expenses, do you (1) have evidence to support above deductions, (2) written evidence for vehicle expenses, (3) is vehicle available for off-duty personal use, and (4) is the vehicle owned by a more than 5% owner?
- Need adjustments to gross income, such as educator expenses (if a teacher), self-employed health insurance, Form 1098-E (student loan interest paid), IRA contributions, Roth IRA contributions, SEP, SIMPLE and other qualified retirement plans, jury duty pay given back to employer, etc.
- Self-Employed Business income and expenses (Schedule C).
- Rental Property income and expenses (Schedule E).
- Income and expenses from a farm or rental of farm property (Schedule F).
- Payroll payments made to a maid/butler (Schedule H).
- Child/Dependent Care payments/benefits paid by employer.
- Itemized deductions, such as medical expenses, taxes paid (such as income, real estate, and sales), vehicle registration fees/taxes, interest paid on a principal residence/second residence (Form 1098), mortgage insurance paid, charitable contributions paid (either by cash or gift of non-cash property), miscellaneous itemized items such as union dues, investment expenses, tax return preparation fees, safe deposit box rental, certain expenses such as education expenses if paid for investment purposes, plus any other miscellaneous itemized deductions.
- Credits against tax, such as foreign taxes paid, child/dependent care expenses (stated at #36 above), credit for the elderly and permanently disabled, retirement savings contributions, Hope/Lifetime learning, personal residence energy credits, child tax credit, other miscellaneous credits, etc.
- Other taxes, such as household employee taxes (stated in #35 above), additional penalty tax on premature distribution of IRA’s, self-employment tax, tax on tip income (Form 4137), advanced earned income credit (EIC) payments, etc.
- Payments made for tax liability, including, taxes deducted on W-2’s/1099’s, earned income credit (EIC), excess FICA payments, estimated payments, additional child tax credit not utilized, minimum tax credit not utilized, payments made when tax return extension filed, etc.
