Taxes1 min read
Which documents you need to file your taxes
What to gather before you sit down to file: identification, income statements, deductible expenses, and the forms almost everyone forgets.
Published
The slow part of filing taxes is almost never the filing. It's gathering the paper. This is the list we work from, ordered by what gets forgotten most.
Identification
- Current photo ID for you and your spouse if you file jointly.
- Social Security number or ITIN for everyone on the return, dependents included.
- Birth certificates for dependents, if this is the first year you're claiming them.
- Bank account and routing number, if you want direct deposit.
Proof of income
Not just the main job. Every source of income has its own form, and the IRS gets a copy of nearly all of them — if one is missing from your return, they notice.
| Form | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| W-2 | Your employer, if you're on payroll |
| 1099-NEC | Whoever hired you if you worked for yourself |
| 1099-K | Payment platforms and delivery or rideshare apps |
| 1099-INT / 1099-DIV | Your bank or brokerage, for interest or dividends |
| 1099-G | The state, for unemployment or state refunds |
| 1095-A | The health Marketplace, if that's where your coverage is |
Expenses that may count
- If you're self-employed: miles driven, tools, materials, phone, insurance on the work vehicle.
- Childcare, with the provider's name, address and identification number.
- Mortgage interest and property taxes.
- Tuition and course materials, with Form 1098-T.
- Retirement account contributions made during the year.
Last year's return
Bring last year's return even if a different office prepared it. It's useful for comparison, for anything that carries forward, and for catching something that went wrong before it gets repeated.
Scope of this article
U.S. federal individual tax returns. This is a preparation checklist, not a determination of what you must report or may deduct.
Sources
- IRS — How to file your taxes: step by step — checked on October 3, 2026
Written by the LionsPro Tax editorial team. This is general information and does not replace advice on your own situation.
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