What to bring to your tax appointment: the complete checklist

Quick answer

Bring a photo ID for you and your spouse, Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return, last year's tax return, every W-2 and 1099, your Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace insurance, any IP PIN letters (CP01A), your childcare costs with the provider's tax ID, and your bank's routing and account numbers for direct deposit.

Most W-2s and 1099s arrive by early February. If one is missing at the end of February, the IRS can help, and your wage and income transcript in your IRS online account shows what employers reported.

About you and your family

Photo ID for you and your spouse
Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return, and everyone's date of birth. Names and numbers must match Social Security's records exactly, or the return is rejected.
Last year's federal tax return (helpful for your prior-year AGI and for comparing)
Your IP PIN, or the CP01A letter with it, for anyone in the family who has one (see our IP PIN guide)
Your bank's routing number and your account number for direct deposit. The IRS has mostly stopped mailing paper refund checks.
Your current address, plus any IRS letters you got this year
For children who don't live with you all year: custody papers or Form 8332, if the other parent is releasing the claim

Income

W-2 from every job you and your spouse had during the year
1099-NEC, 1099-MISC and 1099-K for contract, gig and app-based work, plus your own record of what you earned, since not every payer sends a form
Records of cash and tips, and for 2026 the new tip and overtime amounts on your W-2 (codes TP and TT in box 12)
1099-G for unemployment benefits
SSA-1099 for Social Security, and 1099-R for pensions, retirement plans or IRAs
1099-INT and 1099-DIV for interest and dividends, and 1099-B or other records for stocks and crypto you sold
W-2G for gambling winnings
Rental income and expenses, if you have rental property
Estimated tax payments you made, with dates and amounts

Health insurance

Form 1095-A for every Marketplace plan in your household. You can't file without it if advance premium tax credit was paid. How to get it
Forms 1095-B and 1095-C (from Medicaid, insurers or employers) aren't needed to file

Credits and deductions

Childcare: what you paid, and each provider's name, address and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
College: Form 1098-T for tuition, and Form 1098-E for student loan interest
A loan taken out after 2024 for a new vehicle: your lender's interest statement and the vehicle's VIN (see the new car loan deduction)
Homeowners: Form 1098 for mortgage interest, and your property tax bill
Receipts for gifts to charity. Starting with 2026, cash gifts can count even if you don't itemize (see the new charity deduction)
Retirement and health savings account contributions (Forms 5498 and 5498-SA)
Self-employed: income and expense records for the business, and the miles you drove for work

Missing a W-2 or 1099?

Ask the employer or payer first. W-2s and most 1099s are due by the end of January (February 1 in 2027, because January 31 is a Sunday); some 1099s come later.
Check your wage and income transcript in your IRS online account. It lists the W-2s and 1099s sent to the IRS, usually starting in the first week of February.
Still missing at the end of February? Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 with your details and the employer's name, address and EIN. The IRS contacts the employer and mails you Form 4852.
File on time anyway. Use Form 4852 with your best numbers from your last pay stub. If the real W-2 shows something different later, file an amended return.

Applying for or renewing an ITIN

If someone on your return needs an ITIN, you apply with Form W-7, usually attached to the tax return. Bring a valid passport, or at least two other accepted documents (one with a photo), as originals or certified copies. An ITIN that hasn't been used on a federal return for three years in a row expires and must be renewed before it's used again. Processing usually takes about 7 weeks, and 9 to 11 weeks from mid-January through April.

Common questions

Do I really need Social Security cards?

Bring them, or the ITIN letter, for everyone on the return. A single wrong digit or a name that doesn't match Social Security's records gets the return rejected (code R0000-504-02, for example).

Can I file with my last pay stub instead of my W-2?

Not normally. Wait for the W-2 or get the information from your wage and income transcript. If the W-2 never comes, the IRS can send you Form 4852 to file with your best numbers.

Do I need my 1095-B or 1095-C?

No. Only Form 1095-A, from the Marketplace, is needed to file.

I drive for an app and didn't get a 1099. Is that income taxable?

Yes. All income is taxable whether or not you get a form. Apps send Form 1099-K only above $20,000 and 200 payments, so keep your own records and the app's yearly summary.

Does my spouse need to come too?

On a joint return, both spouses sign. Ask your tax pro whether they need both of you at the appointment or can get the signatures electronically.

When should I file?

As soon as you have every W-2, 1099 and 1095-A. Filing before a form arrives often means an amended return later.

Official sources

We checked this guide against these official pages:

Gather your documents irs.gov
Checklist for free tax return preparation (VITA) irs.gov
Topic 154, Form W-2 and Form 1099-R (what to do if incorrect or not received) irs.gov
Transcript types for individuals irs.gov
How to apply for an ITIN irs.gov
How to renew an ITIN irs.gov
ITIN supporting documents irs.gov

This guide is general information, not tax advice for your situation. Tax rules change, so check the official sources or ask a tax pro. Nationwide Tax Pro is a private tax preparation company and an authorized IRS e-file provider. We are not affiliated with the IRS, HealthCare.gov or any government agency.