2025 Personal Tax Checklist (Filed in 2026)

Personal Tax Checklist

This checklist is for personal returns (tax year 2025 filed in 2026). Print this page and check items off as you gather them for your tax preparer.

How to use: Gather everything that applies to you. These are the items most taxpayers need each year.

Key Personal Tax Deadlines – 2026 (Tax Year 2025)

Item	Original Deadline	Extended Deadline
Individual Return (Form 1040)	April 15, 2026	October 15, 2026
Q1 2026 Estimated Tax Payment	April 15, 2026	N/A
Traditional / Roth / Backdoor Roth IRA Contributions (2025)	April 15, 2026	N/A
HSA Contributions (2025)	April 15, 2026	N/A
SEP IRA / Solo 401(k) Employer Contributions (2025)	April 15, 2026	October 15, 2026*

* Extended deadline applies only if a timely tax extension is filed.

1. General Information (All Clients)

• Completed firm questionnaire
• Prior 2 years' tax returns
• Driver's license or state ID
• Social Security numbers and dates of birth for all family members
• Current mailing address, phone, email
• IRS Identity Protection PIN (if issued)
• Any IRS or state notices received

2. Dependent & Household Information

• Changes in dependents
• Proof of dependent eligibility (school, medical, daycare, or landlord/property records)

Childcare Provider Information

• Provider name, address, and EIN or SSN
• Amount paid per provider and per child

Other

• Adoption expenses (if applicable)
• Household employee wages (nanny, caregiver, etc.) — total wages paid and federal/state tax withheld

3. Income Documentation

Employment & Retirement Income

• W-2 (wages, tips, overtime)
• 1099-R (IRA, pension, annuity distributions)
• SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
• RRB-1099 (Railroad retirement benefits)
• 1099-G (unemployment, state refunds)

Investment Income

• 1099-INT (interest)
• 1099-DIV (dividends)
• 1099-B (brokerage transactions)
• 1099-DA (digital asset transactions)
• 1099-K (third-party payment platforms)
• 1099-MISC / 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation not related to business filings)
• Schedule K-1 (partnerships, S-corps, estates, trusts)
• 1099-S (real estate sales)
• Installment sale details
• Basis information for investments

Other Income

• Gambling winnings (W-2G)
• Jury duty
• Scholarships or grants
• Alimony received
• Cancellation of debt
• Cryptocurrency activity
• Any additional income not reported on forms

4. Equity Compensation & Stock Activity

• RSU or option vesting schedules
• Form 3921 / 3922
• Sell-to-cover confirmations
• Brokerage statements reflecting stock sales
• Employee stock purchase plan activity

5. Home & Real Estate

• Form 1098 (mortgage interest)
• Real estate tax statements
• Settlement statements for purchases or sales
• Refinance documents
• Home equity loan statements

Rental Property Income & Expenses

• Rent received
• Mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance
• Repairs and maintenance, HOA dues, utilities, management fees
• Days rented vs. days personal use
• Add-on services (short-term rentals)

6. Retirement Contributions & Distributions

• Traditional IRA contributions
• Roth IRA contributions
• SEP / SIMPLE / Solo 401(k) contributions
• Retirement plan rollovers
• Qualified charitable distributions
• Backdoor Roth documentation
• Pension distributions

7. Health & HSA

• Form 1095-A (Marketplace insurance)
• HSA contributions
• HSA distributions (Form 1099-SA)
• Qualified medical expenses paid from HSA
• Long-term care premiums

8. Education

• Form 1098-T
• Form 1098-E (student loan interest)
• 529 contributions or distributions

• Tuition paid
• Student loan forgiveness documentation

9. Itemized Deductions

Medical

• Health insurance premiums (not payroll deducted)
• Out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses
• Prescription costs
• Mileage for medical

Taxes Paid

• State income taxes
• Property taxes
• Personal property taxes
• Sales tax on major purchases

Interest

• Mortgage interest
• Investment interest
• Student loan interest
• Home equity interest

Charitable Contributions

• Cash donations
• Noncash donations (organization name and value)
• Vehicle or boat donation (Form 1098-C)
• Miles driven for charitable purposes

Other

• Gambling losses
• Impairment-related work expenses
• Tax preparation fees
• Investment expenses

10. Vehicles & Energy Credits

Clean Vehicle Purchase

• VIN and dealer report

Other

• Energy-efficient home improvements
• Passenger vehicle loan interest (if applicable)

11. Foreign & Miscellaneous

• Foreign bank accounts exceeding $10,000 aggregate
• Foreign income
• Schedule K-3
• Foreign trusts or corporations
• Gifts exceeding annual exclusion
• Qualified Opportunity Fund activity
• Disaster losses (FEMA declaration info)

12. Estimated Payments & Refund Handling

• 2025 estimated tax payments
• 2024 overpayment applied to 2025

• Direct deposit information
• Expected income changes for 2026

ⓘ  An extension gives more time to file, not more time to pay. If you owe, pay by the original due date to reduce penalties and interest.

ⓘ  If you're not sure whether something matters, include it anyway. Your CPA can ignore it, but they can't guess it.

Disclaimer

GoalVest Advisory is a SEC registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only intended for a broad audience. The information does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. GoalVest Advisory has reasonable belief that this marketing does not include any false or material misleading statements or omissions of facts regarding services, investment, or client experience. GoalVest Advisory has reasonable belief that the content as a whole will not cause an untrue or misleading implication regarding the adviser’s services, investments, or client experiences. Please refer to Form ADV Part 2A the adviser’s ADV Part 2A for material risks disclosures. Past performance of specific investment advice should not be relied upon without knowledge of certain circumstances of market events, nature and timing of the investments and relevant constraints of the investment. GoalVest Advisory has presented information in a fair and balanced manner. GoalVest Advisory is not giving tax, legal or accounting advice, consult a professional tax or legal representative if needed.