Your 2026 Ultimate Tax Filing Checklist (Updated for Tax Year 2025)✅💰

Tax Season 2026 Is Here! Here is your tax form check list 📝

Whether you're a W-2 employee, self-employed, a small business owner, or a crypto investor, having the right paperwork is the secret to a smooth and stress-free filing experience.

For Tax Year 2025 (filing in 2026), there are a few key changes to be aware of. Here is your updated guide and handy checklist to ensure you have everything you need.

🆕 What’s New for Tax Year 2025?

Before you start gathering documents, keep these new updates in mind:

• Higher Standard Deductions: Due to inflation adjustments, the standard deduction has increased again. It is now roughly $15,000 for singles and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly.

• "Super Catch-Up" Contributions: If you were aged 60, 61, 62, or 63 by the end of 2025, the Secure 2.0 Act allows for a higher "super catch-up" contribution to your 401(k) or 403(b)—up to $11,250 (check your plan details!).

• Green Energy Credits Reset: The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (for windows, doors, insulation, etc.) has an annual limit of $1,200 (or $2,000 for heat pumps) that resets every year. If you made upgrades in 2025, gather those receipts!

• Stricter 1099-K Reporting: The IRS has continued to lower the threshold for reporting income from apps like Venmo, PayPal, and eBay. If you sold goods or services, watch your email for these forms.

  
  

📋 The 2026 Filing Checklist

🏠 Personal Documents

Make sure you have these ready:

✅ Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, etc.)

✅ Social Security Cards or ITIN letters for you, your spouse, and dependents

✅ Birthdates of everyone on your return (including children and other qualified dependents)

✅ Bank account info (Routing & Account number for direct deposit—the fastest way to get your refund!)

✅ Last two years’ tax returns (2023 & 2024, if you're new to our firm)

✅ Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) (If the IRS assigned you one)

💡 Did you know? If you voluntarily opted into the IP PIN program to protect your identity, you must provide your new 2026 PIN to file electronically.

💰 Income Documents

Employment Income

✅ W-2 forms (from all employers, due by Jan 31st!)

Self-Employment & Small Business Owners

✅ 1099-NEC (for contract/freelance work)

✅ 1099-K (for payments received via apps like PayPal, Venmo, Stripe, or CashApp)

✅ Records of cash/check income (income not reported on 1099s is still taxable!)

✅ Expense receipts (supplies, software, travel, advertising, home office)

✅ Estimated tax payment records (dates and amounts paid quarterly in 2025)

Retirement & Disability Income

✅ SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)

✅ 1099-R (Pension, IRA distributions, annuities)

Investment & Other Income

✅ 1099-INT / 1099-DIV (Bank interest, dividends)

✅ 1099-B (Stock/crypto sales: crucial for calculating capital gains/losses)

✅ 1099-G (Unemployment benefits or state tax refunds)

✅ Rental property income & expense records

✅ Alimony received (for agreements finalized before 2019)

✅ Gambling winnings (Form W-2G) and records of losses

📉 Expenses, Deductions & Credits

Home & Family

✅ Mortgage interest & property taxes (Form 1098)

✅ Childcare expenses (Total paid, plus the provider’s Name, Address, and Tax ID/SSN)

✅ Adoption expense records

Education

✅ Form 1098-T (Tuition paid)

✅ Student Loan Interest (Form 1098-E)

✅ Educator expenses (Receipts for classroom supplies, up to $300 deduction for teachers!)

Medical & Health

✅ HSA/MSA distributions (Form 1099-SA)

✅ Medical & dental bills (if they exceed 7.5% of your income)

✅ Form 1095-A (Required if you bought insurance via the Marketplace/Exchange)

Green Energy Upgrades 🍃

✅ Receipts for home energy improvements (Exterior doors, windows, insulation, heat pumps, biomass stoves installed in 2025)

✅ Solar panel contracts/receipts (Residential Clean Energy Credit)

✅ EV Purchase Documents (Form 15400 or dealer report for Clean Vehicle Credit)

💸 Special Cases: Crypto, Side Hustles & Digital Assets

✅ Crypto transaction history (CSV exports from exchanges like Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken)

✅ Business use of vehicle records (Mileage log showing total miles vs. business miles, or fuel receipts)

✅ Home office deduction records (Total square footage of home vs. office area, rent/mortgage, and utility bills)

💡 Reminder: If you sold digital assets (crypto, NFTs), the IRS requires you to disclose this on the front page of your return.

📬 Other Important IRS Notices

✅ IRS Notice CP01A (Contains your IP PIN if applicable)

✅ Any other IRS or State tax correspondence received during 2025

🎯 Final Tips for Tax Filing Success

🔹 File early to avoid last-minute stress and prevent identity theft.

🔹 Keep digital copies of all documents in a secure folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).

🔹 If you owe taxes, consider setting up a payment plan with the IRS immediately to minimize penalties.

🔹 Check your withholding: Did you have a big life change in 2025 (marriage, baby, new job)? We can help you adjust your W-4 for 2026!

🚀 The sooner you file, the sooner you can get your refund!

Need more tax tips? Follow along for more ways to keep more of your hard-earned money! 💰✨

If you are looking for personalized tax preparation help, contact us today for a quote!

Happy filing! ✅📊