Showing up to your tax appointment unprepared costs you time and sometimes money. Your preparer has to chase down missing information, your appointment runs long, and in some cases items get missed entirely because you couldn't remember them in the room.
Here's what to bring — organized by situation.
Everyone Brings These
Regardless of how simple or complex your return is, these are the basics.
Last year's tax return. This is the single most useful document you can bring to a first appointment with a new preparer. It shows your filing status, your dependents, your prior year income, and how your return was structured. Even if you've been with the same preparer for years, having it available saves time.
Photo ID and Social Security numbers. For yourself and anyone else on the return — spouse, dependents. If you have a dependent who was born during the year, you'll need their Social Security number before the return can be filed.
Bank account information for direct deposit. Routing number and account number if you want your refund deposited directly — which you do, because it's faster and safer than a paper check.
W-2 Employees
W-2 from every employer you worked for during the year. If you changed jobs, you need both. Your employer is required to send these by January 31 — if you haven't received one, contact HR before your appointment.
Any 1099-INT or 1099-DIV forms from bank accounts or investments showing interest or dividend income.
Records of other income — alimony received, gambling winnings, jury duty pay. These are taxable and need to be reported even without a formal document.
Records of deductible expenses if you itemize — mortgage interest statement from your lender, property tax records, charitable donation receipts, significant medical expenses.
Not sure your document pile is complete? We'll tell you what's missing before your appointment.
Self-Employed and Business Owners
All of the above plus these.
Profit and loss statement for the year. If you use accounting software, run this report before your appointment. If you don't, bring your bank statements and any records you have of income and expenses.
1099-NEC forms from clients who paid you $2,000 or more in 2026 ($600 or more for 2025 payments). But remember — you owe tax on all business income whether or not you received a 1099. Bring records of income even without the form.
Records of business expenses. Mileage log if you deduct vehicle use. Home office measurements and expense records if you claim a home office. Receipts for equipment, supplies, professional development, software, and any other business expenses.
Records of estimated tax payments you made during the year. These reduce your tax bill and need to be reported accurately. If you paid online through IRS Direct Pay, you can pull a payment history from your account.
Records of any assets you purchased or sold during the year — equipment, vehicles, property. These affect depreciation calculations and capital gains reporting.
S-Corp Owners
Everything above plus these.
Your corporate bank statements and any financial records specific to the business entity.
Payroll records showing your W-2 wages paid through the S-Corp. Your W-2 from the corporation is different from your K-1 and both are needed.
K-1 from the S-Corp showing your share of income, deductions, and credits flowing through to your personal return.
Records of any shareholder loans — money you lent to the corporation or borrowed from it.
Documentation of health insurance premiums paid through the S-Corp if you're deducting them on your personal return.
Rental Property Owners
Total rental income received during the year — all of it, even security deposits you kept.
Records of all rental expenses — mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, property management fees, advertising, utilities you paid.
Records of any improvements made to the property during the year. These are different from repairs and get depreciated rather than expensed immediately.
If you purchased the property during the year, the closing disclosure from settlement.
Anyone Who Received an IRS Notice
Bring the notice. Bring all of them. Don't try to summarize — bring the actual documents so your preparer can read exactly what the IRS said and respond appropriately.
One Last Thing
If you're not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It takes thirty seconds to look at a document and determine it's not needed. It takes much longer to track something down after the appointment when you realize it was missing.
The goal is to leave the appointment with everything handled — not to schedule a follow-up because something was missing.