What information do I need to file my 2021 tax return?

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Personal Information

 

• Your Social Security number and the Social Security numbers of all individuals included on your tax return. Spouse and dependents.

• ITIN number if you do not have insurance.

• Date of birth of all your dependents.

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Income and Investment Information 

 

• Form W-2 Wage and Tax Return 

• Form W-2G for gambling winnings, lottery payments, etc. 

• Any (and all) Form 1099:

• There are several different types of 1099. Some of the most common include:

  •  1099-NEC if you are self-employed. 

  • 1099-DIV if you received dividends. 

  • 1099-G if you received money or benefits from the government. 

  • 1099-K if you made electronic transactions (through PayPal or Venmo, for example). 

  • 1099-R for distributions from a retirement plan, IRA, pension, annuity, etc.

  • 1099-MISC if you received payments for rent, prizes and awards, medical and healthcare payments, or income. 

  • 1099-SA for distributions from your qualified health plan. 

  • 1099-C for debt cancellation.

• Social Security Benefits: If you receive Social Security, you will receive an SSA-1099 in January showing the total amount of benefits you received during the year.

• Last Year's State Refund Amount: If you itemize your deductions, then your state refund is considered income for tax purposes.

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For Businesses and Self-Employed (Individuals)

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• Business and self-employment income records (for businesses or self-employment). 

• Business expense records: These can be receipts, credit card statements, check records you've written, etc. 

• Quarterly estimated tax payment receipts: If you make installment payments on your tax bill during the year, the IRS (and your state) must send you a record of what you paid, similar to a receipt.

• Mileage records: To claim a travel deduction, you'll need to know how many miles you drove for work.

• Home office expenses: Taking the home office deduction? You'll need to know the size of your space in square footage. If you choose to use the actual expenses method, you'll also need a record of housing-related expenses, such as utilities and mortgage (or rent).

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Other Documents 

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• Medical expense receipts and records. 

• Unreimbursed medical expense receipts: These can include exams, surgeries, and preventive care. They could also include braces, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prescriptions, and even transportation to and from treatment. 

• Form 1095: Health insurance coverage forms: If you are enrolled through the Marketplace, you will receive Form 1095-A. Insurance providers will send a 1095-B to the people they cover. If your employer provides coverage, they must send you a 1095-C. 

• Charitable donations.

• Charitable donation receipts: If you plan to take a tax deduction for donations you made to charities, you will need to be able to support them with receipts that show the date, amount, and charity. Learn more about what counts as a charitable donation here.

• Other information about homeownership.

• Property tax receipts: Itemizing your deductions may allow you to cancel a portion of the property taxes you paid.

• Form 1098 for mortgage interest payments.

• Form 1098-E for student loan payments.

• Form 1098-T for tuition payments.

• Form 5498 for voluntary contributions to retirement plans.

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You can download this list as a PDF to print and use as a guide to the documents you will need to bring to your tax interview*.

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*This list is for informational purposes only and is intended to guide you in gathering the information needed for your tax return.