Begin with last year and the changes since then
Keep a copy of the prior-year federal and state returns available, especially if AllTax did not prepare them. Then make a short list of anything that changed: marriage or divorce, a new dependent, a move, a home purchase or sale, retirement, school, a new business, rental activity, inheritance, investment changes or a major casualty or loss.
Income records
- Wage and salary statements
- Retirement, pension and Social Security statements
- Interest, dividend, brokerage and digital-asset records
- Contract, gig-work and self-employment income
- Unemployment, prize, settlement or other income records
- Rental income and related statements
Deductions, credits and payments
- Mortgage interest and property-tax information
- Charitable contribution records
- Education, childcare and dependent-care records
- Health savings account and eligible medical records
- Estimated-tax payments and extension payments
- Energy, vehicle or other credit-related documentation when applicable
Business and rental activity
Do not provide only a total income and total expenses unless your records already support those amounts. Bring the year’s bank and credit-card activity, income records, categorized expenses, asset purchases, loan information, mileage support, payroll reports and prior depreciation schedules. If the books are incomplete, disclose that early so bookkeeping cleanup can be scoped separately.
Before submission
Review the records for missing months, duplicate forms and inconsistent names or addresses. A short written list of questions is helpful. AllTax will identify additional items after reviewing the circumstances and available records.