Collector Care 2013 Tax Preparation Checklist

Tax Preparation Checklist

If you are reading this, it's tax season! This is all current information as of April 1, 2012.

Each section has sub sections, feel free to print out and check off what you have or what you need. Need further assistance? We are happy to help you go through all of your paperwork and help you keep what you need. This is especially important for taxes.

Personal Information

• Your social security number
• Your spouse's full name and social security number
• Amount of any alimony paid and ex-spouse's social security number
• Add Your 2012, 2011, and 2010 tax return(s). Your Tax Professional can check them for accuracy

Other people who may belong on your return

• Dates of birth and social security numbers
• Childcare records (including the provider's ID number) if applicable
• Approximate income of other adults in your home (not spouse, if you're filing jointly)
• Form 8332, copies of your divorce decree, or other documents showing that your ex-spouse is releasing their right to claim a child to you

Education Payments

• Bills from the educational institution or anything else that itemizes what you paid or received loans for versus what was covered by scholarship or other financial aid
• Forms 1098-T and 1098-E, if you received them
• Scholarships and fellowships

Employee Information

• Forms W-2

Self-Employment Information

• Forms 1099-MISC, Schedules K-1, income records to verify amounts not reported on 1099s.
• Records of all expenses — check registers or credit card statements, and receipts
• Business-use asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation
• Office in home information, if applicable

Vehicle Information

• Total miles driven for the year (or beginning/ending odometer readings)
• Total business miles driven for the year (other than commuting)
• Amount of parking and tolls paid
• If you want to claim actual expenses, receipts or totals for gas, oil, car washes, licenses, personal property tax, lease or interest expense, etc.

Rental Income

• Records of income and expenses
• Rental asset information (cost, date placed in service, etc.) for depreciation

Retirement Income

• Pension/IRA/annuity income (1099-R)
• Social security/RRB income (1099-SSA, RRB-1099)

Savings and Investments

• Interest, dividend income (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV)
• Income from sales of stock or other property (1099-B, 1099-S)
• Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold

Other Income

• Unemployment, state tax refund (1099-G)
• Gambling income (W-2G or records showing income, as well as expense records)
• Amount of any alimony received and ex-spouse's name
• Health care reimbursements (1099-SA or 1099-LTC)
• Jury duty records
• Hobby income and expenses
• Prizes and awards
• Other 1099

Itemizing Deductions

• Forms 1098 or other mortgage statements
• Amount of state/local income tax paid (other than wage withholding), or amount of state and local sales tax paid
• Real estate and personal property tax records
• Invoice showing amount of vehicle sales tax paid
• HUD statement showing closing date of home purchase
• Cash amounts donated to houses of worship, schools, other charitable organizations
• Records of non-cash charitable donations
• Amounts paid for healthcare insurance and to doctors, dentists, hospitals
• Amounts of miles driven for charitable or medical purposes
• Expenses related to your investments
• Amount paid for preparation of your 2010 tax return
• Employment-related expenses (dues, publications, tools, uniform cost and cleaning, travel)
• Job-hunting expenses

IRA Information

• Amount contributed for 2012 (and 2013, if applicable)
• Traditional IRA basis
• Value of IRAs on Dec. 31, 2012

If you were affected by a federally declared disaster

• City/county you lived/worked/had property in
• Records to support property losses (appraisal, clean up costs, etc.)
• Records of rebuilding/repair costs
• Insurance reimbursements/claims to be paid
• FEMA assistance information
• Check FEMA site to see if my county qualifies for individual assistance

Courtesy of H&R Block