Things To Bring For Your Tax Appointment

To ensure the highest quality of tax preparation, we recommend bringing the following information with you to your appointment.

PERSONAL DATA

  • Social Security Cards (including self, spouse & children)  
  • Driver License or ID Card
  • Child Care Provider: Name, Address, Tax ID# or SSN, & amount paid
  • Education Expense: 1098-T Tuition Statement 
  • Prior Year Taxes Return (new clients only)

EMPLOYMENT & INCOME DATA

  • W-2 forms for this year
  • Unemployment compensation: form(s) 1099-G
  • Miscellaneous income including rent: form(s) 1099-MISC
  • Pensions and Annuities: form(s) 1099-R
  • Social Security Benefits: form(s) SSA 1099
  • Partnerships & S Corporations: Schedule K-1
  • Gambling and Lottery Winnings: form W-2G
  • Interest Income: 1099 INT 
  • Dividend Income: 1099 DIV
  • Proceeds from Stocks: 1099-B
  • Sale of Home Income Loss: 1099-B

ADJUSTMENTS TO INCOME

  • Student loan interest paid
  • IRA contributions

MEDICAL AND DENTAL EXPENSES

Deductible expenses include:

  • Prescription medicines and drugs (including insulin) 
  • Medical, dental, and nursing care, including amounts paid for unreimbursed qualified long-term care services 
  • Medical and hospital insurance premiums, including amounts paid for eligible long-term care (subject to certain limitations based on the insured person's age) 
  • Prescription eyeglasses, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs, and guide dogs 
  • Certain home improvements made for medical purposes or to make the home suitable for a disabled person 

Nondeductible expenses include:

  • Life insurance policy premiums 
  • Nursing care for a healthy baby 
  • Nonprescription drugs of medicines 
  • Weight-loss programs (unless recommended by doctor) 
  • Funeral, burial, or cremation costs 
  • Unnecessary cosmetic surgery (surgery that does not correct congenital abnormality or an abnormality caused by injury or disease) 

TAXES

Deductible Taxes:

  • State, Local and Foreign Income Taxes 
  • Real Estate Taxes - State, Local or Foreign taxes on real property, such as the taxpayer's house or land, are deductible.  Real estate taxes are deductible when paid.  If taxes are paid with a mortgage payment and held in escrow, do not deduct the taxes until they are paid back by the bank or the mortgage lender. 

Nondeductible Taxes:

  • Federal taxes - income tax, social security (FICA), Medicare, railroad retirement tax, and excise taxes or customs duties 
  • Water and sewer taxes 
  • State, local and federal taxes on gasoline, diesel, and other motor fuels used in a non-business vehicle. 
  • Utility taxes - gas, electricity, etc. 


INTEREST

Home Mortgage Interest:

A taxpayer can fully deduct points in the year he or she pays them only if all of the following conditions apply:

  • The taxpayer itemizes deductions 
  • The loan is used to buy or improve a main home (a main home is the one the taxpayer lives in most of the time) 
  • The loan is secured by that main home 
  • The loan meets the requirements for deductible mortgage interest, discussed earlier under Home Mortgage Interest 
  • Paying points is an established business practice in the area where the loan was made 

Non-deductible Interest:

  • Loan fees; aid for services necessary to get a loan (closing cost, down paayment) 

CONTRIBUTIONS

Qualifying Organizations:

  • Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, Salvation Army, Red Cross, CARE, United Way, Boy & Girl Scouts, World Wildlife Fund, etc. 
  • Nonprofit schools and hospitals 

Non-qualifying Organizations:

  • Business organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce 
  • Political organizations and candidates 
  • Homeowner's associations 

Deductible Items:

  • Money gifts 
  • Dues, fees, and assessments paid to qualified organizations above the value of the benefits received (not country clubs or other social organizations) 
  • Fair market value of used clothing, furniture, etc. 

Nondeductible Items:

  • Cost of raffle, bingo, or lottery tickets 
  • Blood donated to a blood bank or the Red Cross 
  • Direct contributions to an individual