2011 Tax Preparation Checklist

Here’s a basic checklist of information to start organizing for your 2011 tax return. If you are fully prepared for you tax appointment, you will save time and help ensure that you receive all the tax benefits, credits and deductions allowed. Although this is not an all inclusive list, it will help steer you in the right direction. As you begin receiving important tax documents in January 2012, file them with this checklist.

• Copy of your 2010 tax return (unless we already have a copy or prepared the return last year)
• Any notices or correspondence you received from the Internal Revenue Service, your state or city or other taxing entity.
• Social Security number and date of birth for yourself, your spouse and your dependents.
• Physical Address, Email Addresses for all and telephone numbers- cell, land, and fax.

INCOME

• All W-2 Forms from all employers you and your spouse received for 2011.
• Savings and Investments reporting forms including Form 1099-INT, Form 1099-DIV, Form 1099-B, Form 1099-S or Schedule K-1. (Excel copies of brokerage trades if possible)
• Statements of income from retirement distributions or Social Security Payments including Form 1099-R or Form 1099-SSA
• Any Cancellation of Debt, Form 1099-A or 1099-C
• Records of other income including but not limited to Unemployment, state tax refunds, Gambling Income and losses, Spousal Support/Alimony received, jury duty, Hobby Income and expenses, Prizes and Awards. These may include Forms 1099-MISC or Form W-2G
• Closing documents on any Real Estate Transaction you had during the year, including purchase, sale, refinancing or foreclosure
• Any Spousal Support/Alimony you paid and the social security number of the recipient.
• If you are a Kx12 Teacher, record of any unreimbursed classroom expenses and training
• Health Savings Account contributions and distributions, Form 1099- HSA
• Traditional IRA or Roth IRA contributions/year end values reported on Form 5498 or your December 2010 statement.
• Moving Expenses if you moved more than 50 miles for business during the year (even if you were reimbursed). Include costs for moving and storing your stuff and moving and storing yourself.
• Tuition, fees paid and costs of required books, supplies and equipment and Form 1098-T and college attended.
• Student Loan Interest paid and Form 1098-E
• Record of Estimated Taxes paid to the federal government, state and local governments.

BUSINESS, RENTAL AND FARMING INCOME

• The Books/accounting records for your business, including all income and expenses, in whatever formats you keep your records.
• Any Forms 1099- MISC and 1099-K (Income reported by Credit Card Companies or Third Party Payment Processors such as PayPal)
• Records of all major purchases such as machinery, equipment, furniture including date of purchase and item that was purchased
• inventory records (beginning and ending inventory, purchases and amounts for personal use)
• Mileage logs, including total annual mileage and business mileage for any vehicles with business use. We need the total miles on the business miles you drove between January and June 2011 and then also between July and December 2011. There are two different mileage rates for the Standard Mileage Rate deduction for 2011.
• For Self-Employed people, health insurance premiums paid for owner and family, including adult children less than 27 years.
• If you need guidance in organizing this information, please check our website for worksheets.

ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS

• Medical expenses (co-pays, doctors, dentists, glasses, prescriptions, and medical mileage)
• Health Insurance payments, including payments for COBRA
• State and Local income taxed paid (not those withheld)
• Mortgage Interest paid, including Form 1098
• Mortgage Insurance paid (at closing or reported on Form 1098)
• Investment Interest expenses-margin account interest or interest on investment property
• Total Cash Charitable Donations –We do not need to see the documentation but you need to make sure you keep it with your records.
• Records of non- cash charitable donations including items donated, receiving charity, date and value of donation. If you donated a vehicle, Form 1099-C
• Total Volunteer Miles driven during the year.
• Details of any Casualty Loss or Theft
• Union Dues, Job Hunting Expenses, Unreimbursed Employee Expenses, including travel, supplies and equipment, memberships and associations and business mileage (not commuting).
• Investment Expenses, including tax preparation, safe deposit box fees, investment advisors

CREDITS

• Dependent Care Expenses, including the amount paid, the provider’s name, address, and tax ID number
• Adoption Expenses if you adopted a child in 2011 or finalized the adoption in 2011.
• Residential Energy Credits- including costs for insulation, high Efficiency windows, doors, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps
• If you received the First Time Homebuyer Credit in prior years, please make sure we have records of that original purchase and any correspondence you have received from the IRS.

Client Organizers: We will begin posting an online Web Client Organizer to our secure web portal the third week of January and each client will receive an email with instructions. The organizer can be filled out online and sent back to us with attachments or it can be used as a guide. We can also send organizers as .pdf files attached to an email and on paper- whatever works for you! Our website also has worksheets that can help you get organized if you have different ventures this year than last.

We are here to help! We don’t want the organizing part of your tax preparation to a huge challenge. Please feel free to call us or email us or just come in and see us if you need some help or guidance in getting everything together.

PLEASE NOTE: As of March 17, 2012, we can validate parking for the ALDER STREET GARAGE only, located at 615 SW Alder Street. Unfortunately, we can no longer validate parking for Smart Park or other parking facilities.