Free Resources
Free Tax Checklists
CPA-prepared checklists for individuals and business owners. Free to use, no signup required.
For Individuals & Families
Personal Tax Preparation Checklist
Everything to gather before your personal tax return. Not every item applies to everyone.
Income
- W-2s from every employer
- 1099-NEC, 1099-K, or 1099-MISC for side or freelance income
- 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, and 1099-B from banks and brokerages
- 1099-R for retirement distributions and SSA-1099 for Social Security
- 1099-G for unemployment or state tax refunds
- Schedule K-1s from partnerships, S-corps, or trusts
- Rental income and expense records
Deductions & Credits
- Form 1098 mortgage interest and property tax statements
- Charitable donation receipts (written acknowledgment for gifts of $250 or more)
- Medical and dental expenses, if significant
- Childcare costs and the provider's name and tax ID
- Form 1098-T (tuition) and 1098-E (student loan interest)
- Form 5498 (IRA) and 5498-SA / 1099-SA (HSA)
- Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace coverage
Prior Year & IRS
- Last year's federal and state returns
- Any IRS or state letters received
- Dates and amounts of estimated tax payments
- Identity Protection PIN, if the IRS issued one
Life Changes
- Marriage, divorce, or a new dependent
- Home purchase or sale (closing statement)
- Move to a new state (move date)
- Started or closed a business
For Business Owners
Small Business Tax Preparation Checklist
The documents we need for your business return. Have your books closed through December 31 first.
Financial Statements
- Year-end profit & loss statement and balance sheet
- Bank and credit card statements for every business account
- Loan statements showing interest paid
- 1099-K forms from payment processors
Payroll & Contractors
- W-2/W-3 and Forms 941 and 940
- State payroll filings
- Owner's salary through payroll (S-corps: reasonable compensation)
- 1099-NECs issued and W-9s on file for contractors
Assets & Vehicles
- Invoices for equipment or vehicles bought or sold, with dates placed in service
- Last year's depreciation schedule
- Mileage log and business-use percentage
- Home office square footage and home expenses, if applicable
Entity & Prior Year
- Prior-year business return
- S-corp election acceptance (Form 2553), if applicable
- Ownership or operating-agreement changes during the year
- Estimated tax payments made
- Any IRS or state notices
For Individuals & Business Owners
Year-End Tax Planning Checklist
Moves to consider before December 31. A year-end review can uncover savings, but only if you act in time.
Review & Project
- Project this year's income and tax, and compare with last year
- Check withholding and estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties
- Take required minimum distributions if you are 73 or older
Retirement & Investments
- Maximize workplace retirement plan deferrals through payroll by December 31
- Remember: IRA and HSA contributions can generally wait until the April deadline
- Harvest investment losses to offset gains (watch the wash-sale rule)
- Consider whether a Roth conversion makes sense this year
Charitable Giving (2026 rules)
- If you don't itemize: up to $1,000 of cash gifts ($2,000 joint) is deductible
- If you itemize: only gifts above 0.5% of your AGI count
- Get written acknowledgments for gifts of $250 or more
Business Owners
- Time equipment purchases: they must be placed in service by December 31
- Pay or accrue year-end bonuses
- S-corp owners: confirm reasonable salary was paid through payroll
- Collect W-9s now so January 1099s go smoothly ($2,000 threshold for 2026 payments)
- Review your entity structure for next year
Why Free?
Informed clients make better decisions. If a checklist helps you get organized, have a more productive conversation with your CPA, or feel less stressed at tax time, it’s worth sharing.
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