Papers you need to file your taxes

What you need to file your taxes varies depending on your situation. Tax Identification Numbers are mandatory items on your checklist. All taxpayers will need the following to do their taxes. Parents and caregivers should gather this information as they review what they need to file their taxes. For example, you will only receive the investment forms you may need to file your taxes if you had distributions or other activity.

Step 3: Sign up for a free eFile. The eFile Tax App will do the the complicated math and gather all the tax forms for you as you enter information and answer questions. Use the tax statement forms below to report all your income and other information and let us do the hard work for you. See how the eFile platform works and compare eFile to other popular tax preparation platforms.

Use the checklist below to gather your documents and other forms that you will need to file your taxes. Not all items may apply; keep track of your forms and store copies for your records once you have e-filed your return.

See an overview of taxable income and non-taxable income to see various types of income and whether or not they are taxed. Follow this page and you will be better prepared to support your online tax return in case of a future federal or state tax audit.

Visit our Tax Return Planning Page and review our list of stupid and smart things taxpayers do when completing tax returns. Know which dependents credits and deductions you can claim Get started. Know what tax documents you'll need upfront Get started. See which education credits and deductions you qualify for Get started.

See how much your charitable donations are worth Get started. The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Skip To Main Content.

OVERVIEW Whether you prepare your taxes yourself or get help from a tax preparer online or in-store, knowing what documents you'll need at hand can help prevent tax filing errors and possibly lower your tax bill. What documents do I need to file my taxes? In addition to proof of your identity, and the identities of your family members, documents you should bring to a tax preparer include: Social Security documents Income statements such as W-2s and MISCs Tax forms that report other types of income, such as Schedule K-1 for trusts, partnership and S corporations Tax deduction records Expense receipts 1.

Social Security details Among the most important things a CPA , tax preparer , or tax preparation software will need to file your tax return are the full names and Social Security numbers, or tax identification numbers, of you, your spouse, and your dependents.

The easiest way to ensure all spellings and numbers will be correct on your tax return is to provide: The Social Security cards for all people included on your tax return. Another form of identification to prove that the Social Security information is yours. Income statements Even though your employer should report your income directly to the IRS, your tax preparer will also need the information on your W-2 form s to complete your tax forms. If you hold more than one job, you'll need to provide W-2s from each employer.

Depending on the type of transcript you request, you'll get more or less of the information from your return. To change your bank account information on file, refer to the IRS Procedures guidance, What should I do if I entered an incorrect routing or account number for direct deposit of my refund? You can use Direct Pay to pay your individual tax bill or estimated tax payment from your checking or savings account for free.

Fillable Forms Available for any income level Free electronic forms you fill out and file yourself Be able to prepare a paper tax return using IRS forms, instructions and publications No tax preparation guidance and limited calculations provided More about Free File Fillable Forms. It provides two ways for taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free: Guided Tax Preparation provides free online tax preparation and filing at an IRS partner site.

Our partners deliver this service at no cost to qualifying taxpayers. Free File Fillable Forms are electronic federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper form, you fill out online for free. If you choose this option, you should know how to prepare your own tax return. You must begin your filing option at IRS. Prepare and efile your federal tax return. The IRS does not endorse any individual partner company. What You Need to Get Started. Personal Information You Need A copy of last year's tax return in order to access your Adjusted Gross Income AGI Valid Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent, if applicable Income and Receipts Social Security benefits Unemployment Compensation All receipts pertaining to your small business, if applicable Income receipts from rental, real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporation, trusts Other income W-2s , showing your annual wages from all of your employers Form INT , showing interest paid to you throughout the year Form G , showing any refund, credit or offset of state and local taxes Forms DIV and R , showing dividends and distributions from retirement and other plans paid to you during the year ACA Filers Form A , Health Insurance Marketplace Statement.