Tax Checklist: What to Bring

Everyone

Every return starts here.

Last year's federal and state returnNew clients only. We check it for anything missed.
Photo ID, and the Social Security or ITIN number and date of birth for everyone on the returnThrough the secure portal or in person, never by email.
IRS Identity Protection PIN, if the IRS issued you one this year
W-2 from every employer
1099 forms: interest (INT), dividends (DIV), brokerage sales (B), retirement (R), Social Security (SSA-1099), unemployment (G), contract work (NEC), app or card payments (K)
Form 1095-A if anyone had Covered California health insuranceThe IRS rejects an e-filed return without it.
Form 1098 mortgage interest, property tax bills, and the vehicle license fee portion of your DMV registration
Charitable donation receipts, cash and non-cash
Childcare: the provider's name, address, tax ID and the amount paid per child
Education: Form 1098-T, books and fees paid, and Form 1098-E for student loan interest
Health savings account: Forms 1099-SA and 5498-SA
IRA or Roth contributions made for the year
Estimated tax payments you made to the IRS or FTB, with dates and amounts
Any letter from the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board this year
Bank routing and account number for direct depositBring it to the review call or add it in the portal.

Freelancers, contractors, gig and rideshare drivers, single-member LLCs.

All income: 1099-NEC and 1099-K forms, plus cash, checks and app payouts not on a form
Expenses totaled by category: supplies, software, phone, insurance, advertising, fees, meals, travelA spreadsheet, a bookkeeping report, or a bank export all work.
Vehicle: total miles and business miles for the year, or actual costs if you track them
Home office: square footage of the office and of the home, plus rent or mortgage, utilities and insurance
Equipment or vehicles bought during the year, with date and price
Health insurance premiums you paid yourself
Retirement contributions: SEP, SIMPLE or solo 401(k)
1099-NEC forms you issued to anyone you paid $2,000 or more (the threshold rose from $600 for 2026 payments)

One list per property.

Rent received for the year, including deposits you kept
Form 1098 mortgage interest, property tax and insurance
Repairs, maintenance, HOA dues, management fees, utilities you paid, advertising
Improvements such as a roof, flooring or appliances, with dates and costs
Closing statement if you bought or sold the property this year
Days rented and days of personal use, if you used it yourself
Last year's depreciation schedule, if someone else prepared the return

For the business return. See the business returns page for prices and timing.

Read-only QuickBooks Online access, or a year-end profit and loss and balance sheet
December 31 statements for every bank account, credit card and loan
Payroll reports for the year: W-3, four quarters of 941s, and California DE 9 and DE 9C
1099s the business issued
Equipment, vehicles or property bought or sold, with dates and prices
Owner salary, distributions and contributions for the year, by owner
Last year's business return and each owner's K-1
Estimated payments and any pass-through entity tax prepayment made to the FTB
Your California Secretary of State entity number and federal EINThrough the portal, not by email.