Personal and identification information
Have this information ready:
- Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents
- Your prior-year AGI (total gross income minus adjustments) or self-select PIN if you’re filing electronically
- Your Identity Protection PIN, if the IRS has issued you one
- Bank account and routing numbers for a refund or tax payment
Income documents you may need
The table below shows which forms you may need based on your income sources and health coverage during the year.
| Situation | Common forms you may need |
|---|---|
| Employed | Form W-2 |
| Self employed, freelance or gig work | Forms 1099-NEC, 1099-K, or 1099-MISC, plus business income and expense records |
| Retirement or Social Security income | Form 1099-R or SSA-1099 |
| Unemployment benefits | Form 1099-G |
| Investments | Forms 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, or 1099-B |
| Marketplace health insurance | Form 1095-A |
Source: Internal Revenue Service
Documents for dependents, deductions, and credits
Depending on which credits and deductions you claim, you may also need:
- Childcare provider information and payment records
- Form 1098-T for tuition or Form 1098-E for student loan interest
- Form 1098 for mortgage interest, if you own a home
- Receipts or acknowledgments for charitable donations
- Medical expense or Health Savings Account (HSA) records
- Retirement contributions
- Form 8332 if a custodial parent released certain child-related tax benefits
What to do if a tax form is missing
If a tax form is missing, start by contacting the employer, payer, school, or agency that issued the form. You can also check your IRS Individual Online Account for an available wage and income transcript, although it may not contain every document yet.
If a Form W-2 or Form 1099-R is still missing, you may need Form 4852 to estimate the income and withholding. Form 4852 isn’t a substitute for every type of Form 1099, so use your records to report other missing income accurately. You may need to amend your return if the form is received and shows different amounts than you reported.
