Tax Services For The Creative Professional
Tax Prep Checklist

Here’s a basic checklist of information to start organizing for your 2007 tax return. If you’re fully prepared for your tax appointment, you’ll save time and help ensure that you receive all the tax benefits, credits and deductions allowable. Although this is not an all inclusive list, it will help steer you in the right direction. As you begin receiving important tax documents at the beginning of the year, file them with this checklist.

  • Copy of your 2006 tax return (unless we have a copy)
  • Notices or correspondence received from the Internal Revenue Service or your state tax agency
  • Social Security number and date of birth for yourself, spouse and dependents
  • Amount of any alimony paid and ex-spouse’s Social Security number
  • Childcare records (including provider’s name, address and ID number)
  • Form 8332 (Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents), copies of your divorce decree, or other documents proving your right to claim a child living with your ex-spouse
  • Receipts for tuition expenses as well as scholarships and fellowships received for post-high school education and Form 1098-T (tuition statement)
  • Detail of adoption costs, retirement plan contributions, student loan interest, moving expenses, self-employed health insurance, alimony paid, educator expenses, etc.
  • W-2 forms from all employers for whom you and your spouse worked during the year
  • Saving and Investment forms received (1099-INT, 1099-OID, 1099-DIV, 1099-R, 1099-B, 1099-S, Schedule(s) K-1). Dates of acquisition and records of your cost or other basis in property you sold
  • Record of other income received from, but not limited to, unemployment, state tax refund, gambling income and losses, alimony received, jury duty, hobby income and expenses, prizes and awards, healthcare reimbursement, Social Security benefits, etc.
  • Business, Farming or Rental Income information
    1. 1. Books/accounting records for your business, including all income and expenses
    2. 2. Records of all major purchases such as machinery, equipment, and furniture
    3. 3. Logs or other records (if your business maintains an inventory of goods or material)
    4. 4. If you use your home for business, provide square footage of your home office area and total square footage of your home. Include expenses to be claimed such as rent, utilities, insurance, repairs and maintenance, mortgage interest, property tax, etc.
  • Itemized Tax Deductions
    1. 1. Medical expenses, including medical mileage
    2. 2. Forms 1098 or other mortgage statements. Closing statement if you purchased or refinanced
    3. 3. Amount of state/local income tax paid (not withheld)
    4. 4. Real estate and personal property tax records
    5. 5. Cash amounts donated to qualifying charities
    6. 6. Records of non-cash charitable donations, as well as mileage driven for charitable purposes
    7. 7. Expenses related to your investments. Detail of thefts
    8. 8. Employment-related expenses not reimbursed by your employer
    9. 9. Amount paid for preparation of your 2006 tax return and job-hunting expenses

Client Organizers: Emails with the secure web portal link and instructions are emailed to tax clients in early January of each year. If you are a Macintosh user (or have and older version of Windows), it is best to access the portals through Mozilla Firefox. The organizer can be filled out: online and sent back to A & E electronically; printed and mailed back to us; or used as an organizational reference and reminder. We can also send organizers as PDF’s over email or send a hard copy through the mail. Please let us know your preference.