Get a Head Start on Tax Season: What to Gather Before You File
- Income Documents: The Essentials
These are the forms your tax preparer will always need:
- W-2s from employers
- 1099s for contract work, interest, dividends, or miscellaneous income
- 1099-K forms from PayPal, Venmo, Etsy, Square, or other payment platforms
- Retirement income forms (SSA-1099, 1099-R)
- Unemployment income statements
- K-1s for partnerships or S-corps
- Rental income totals and related expenses
If you had multiple jobs or income sources in 2025, be sure you have a complete set of every form.
- Deduction & Credit Documentation
These items can significantly reduce your tax bill, but they’re also the ones most commonly forgotten. Gather documents for:
- Mortgage interest (Form 1098)
- Property taxes
- Charitable contributions, including goods and mileage
- Childcare expenses and provider details
- College tuition (Form 1098-T) and student loan interest
- Medical expenses, especially after a high-cost year
- Business or side-gig expenses, mileage logs, and home office details
- HSA or FSA contributions
When in doubt, bring it. We can help determine eligibility.
- Personal Information & Household Updates
Make sure you have:
- Social Security numbers for everyone in your household
- Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
- A record of any major life changes — marriage, divorce, new dependents, a new home, or starting a business
These help ensure accuracy and may open the door to additional credits or deductions.
- Important Note for New Clients
If you’re joining The Bean Counters for the first time this year, be sure to bring at least the last two years of filed tax returns — both federal and state — to your first appointment.
Reviewing prior returns helps them confirm that items such as capital loss carryovers, passive activity losses, disallowed losses (like wash sales), and other carryforward amounts are being tracked correctly and applied to your current return.
It also allows us to double-check that education-related tax benefits (including the American Opportunity Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, tuition deductions, and student loan interest) were previously reported correctly.
Having those past returns on hand helps catch common issues like missed carryforwards, basis errors, or filing status inconsistencies, ensuring you’re not leaving money on the table and that everything is reported cleanly going forward.
- Create a Simple System
You don’t need a fancy setup. A folder labeled “2025 Taxes,” a digital notes checklist, or even a single envelope can do the trick. As forms begin arriving in January and February, drop them in one place so you’re ready when it’s time to file.
Ready to Make Tax Season Easier?
The Bean Counters are here to help you stay organized, maximize your return, and make filing feel manageable. Gather your documents early, ask questions often, and let our team guide you through the process with clarity and care. We are just a phone call away – 803-620-1851.
