Documents Required for Tax Return and How to File Them

To file your tax return, you'll need to gather various documents that provide information about your income, deductions, and credits. These documents serve as evidence of your tax liability and help you claim the correct amount of taxes owed or refund due.

The most common documents required for tax return include your W-2 form, which shows your income and taxes withheld from your employer. You should also have a copy of your 1099 form, which reports non-employment income, such as freelance work or investments.

Other important documents include your receipts for medical expenses, charitable donations, and mortgage interest. These receipts can help you claim deductions and credits that reduce your tax liability.

You'll also need to gather documents related to your dependents, such as their social security numbers and birthdates.

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If you need to correct mistakes on your Arizona tax return, you must submit an amended return using Arizona Form 140X.

Amending a return can be a bit of a hassle, but it's necessary to ensure you're reporting your income accurately.

You can also reduce your taxable income by making certain adjustments, even if you're taking the standard deduction.

Here are some common adjustments that can reduce your taxable income:

Amending can be a bit of a hassle, but it's a necessary step if you've made mistakes on your return. In Arizona, for instance, individuals must submit an amended tax return using Arizona Form 140X if they've made errors on their original return.

If you and your spouse filed a joint return but one of you is not responsible for the debt, you may be eligible for Innocent Spouse Relief.

Arizona Form 200 is the form you'll need to file to request this relief, specifically for separation of liability and equitable relief.

However, this form doesn't apply to an injured spouse or someone whose share of an overpayment is being applied against past-due state taxes, child support, spousal maintenance, or debts owed to another Arizona state agency.

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Adjustments to income can make a big difference on your tax bill. These adjustments reduce your taxable income, even if you claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing.

Some common adjustments include contributions to an IRA, SEP-IRA, or SIMPLE, which can be reported on Form 5498. HSA contributions are also deductible and can be found on Form 5498-SA.

Tax-deductible alimony paid is another adjustment, but only if your divorce was finalized before January 1, 2019. Student loan interest is also deductible, and can be reported on Form 1098-E.

If you're an educator, you may be eligible for up to $300 in deductible expenses.

Here are some common adjustments to income:

Your income is reported on various forms, including W-2s and 1099s. These forms are critical for preparing an accurate tax return.

You'll need to collect your W-2 and 1099 forms, which are sent to the IRS. If you're missing a form, contact the source and request one.

Some common income documents include W-2s for wages, salary, and taxes withheld, and 1099s for non-employee income, such as independent contracting, rent, and interest income.

You may also need to collect Form 1098-E for student loan interest, which shows up on Line 1 of the form.

Here's a list of common tax credits that require documentation:

Form 1099-G is a crucial document for taxpayers who received a state tax refund the previous year. You can find it online by visiting www.AZTaxes.gov.

To access your Form 1099-G, click on "View My 1099-G" and provide the necessary information. This will allow you to download and print your form.

If you're missing a Form 1099-G, you can request a duplicate from the source that issued it.

Income is a crucial aspect of tax preparation, and it's essential to gather all the necessary documents to ensure an accurate return. You'll need to collect forms from your employer, clients, investment companies, bank, payment processing company, and others.

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Forms W-2 and 1099s are critical information for preparing your taxes, and they reflect your actual earnings from the year. You should receive a separate W-2 from each employer you've had throughout the year, and copies of your W-2 and 1099s are sent to the IRS.

You may need to request a W-2 or 1099 form from the source if you're missing one, and if you find an error on any form, you should request a correction.

Here's a list of income documents you may need:

Some of the more common types of 1099s include income from independent contracting and gig work, rent, royalties, prizes, or awards, Social Security benefits, interest income, dividends, IRA or retirement distributions, and unemployment benefits or state and local income tax refunds.

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Collecting credits and deductions is a crucial part of getting the biggest possible tax refund. You'll need to gather various tax forms, including the seven 1098 forms, to claim credits and deductions that reduce your tax liability.

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The most important tax form for many homeowners is the standard Form 1098, which shows how much mortgage interest you paid last year. You'll also need a Form 1098-C from the organization that received your donated car, boat, or plane to claim it as an itemized tax deduction.

If you're a student, you may be able to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest "above the line", meaning you don't need to itemize. You'll need a Form 1098-E to claim this deduction.

You can also claim the premium tax credit, which represents assistance for purchasing health insurance through the public marketplace. To do this, you'll need a Form 1095-A.

Here are some common tax credits that require documentation or receipts:

If you itemize your deductions, you'll need to keep documents to back up your deductions, including receipts, invoices, and proof of payment. This can include business expense deductions, mortgage interest, medical expenses, and charitable contributions.

If you itemize your deductions, you'll need to keep documents to back up your claims, including receipts, invoices, and proof of payment. This will help you accurately report your deductions on your tax return.

Mortgage interest is a common deduction, and you can find this information on Form 1098. If you have self-employment income from independent contracting or gig work, you may be able to deduct business expenses, including home office expenses, health insurance premiums, supplies, and equipment or continuing education.

Charitable contributions are also deductible, including cash donations, in-kind goods or property, and mileage to and from volunteering. Medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your adjusted gross income may also be deducted, so be sure to save medical bills and proof of payment to document your expenses.

Here are some common deductions you might claim if you itemize:

If you itemize, you'll want to keep documents to back up your deductions, including receipts, invoices, and proof of payment. Some typical deductions you might claim include business expense deductions, mortgage interest, medical expenses, and charitable contributions.

Business expense deductions are a must for self-employment income from independent contracting or gig work. You can report your documented business expenses on Schedule C, including home office expenses, health insurance premiums, supplies, and equipment or continuing education.

Mortgage interest is another key deduction, and it's reported on Form 1098. You'll need to keep records of your mortgage payments to claim this deduction.

Medical expenses can be a significant deduction, but only if they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You'll need to save medical bills and proof of payment to document your expenses.

Charitable contributions are also deductible, including cash donations, in-kind goods or property, and mileage to and from volunteering. You'll need to keep records of your donations to claim this deduction.

Here are some common deductions to consider:

Inherited property can be a complex and time-consuming process to navigate. You inherit the tax basis of the property, which becomes the value of the property on the date of the death of the person who left it to you.

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The stepped-up basis is a crucial concept to understand, as it determines how much tax you'll owe on the property. This value is reported on Form 706 for large estates valued at over $12.06 million for those dying in 2022, or over $12.02 million for those dying in 2023.

You may need to report the value of the property on state death tax forms, even if no federal return is due. This is especially true for smaller estates that don't have to file a federal return.

Retain the values of publicly-traded securities and any real estate appraisals for the date of death, as these will demonstrate your basis in the future. Make sure to keep this information for as long as you own the property, plus the period in which the IRS can question your report of a sale.

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To file your taxes, you'll need more than just the essential tax forms. You'll also need to gather your personal records and other information.

You'll need the full names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers (or Taxpayer Identification Numbers) for yourself, your spouse, and all your children and dependents.

If you're filing taxes electronically, you'll need your adjusted gross income from last year to verify your identity. You can find this information in your online IRS account if you don't have a copy of your tax return from last year.

If you've enrolled in the program to prevent tax-based identity theft or have been issued an Identity Protection PIN by the IRS, you'll need that six-digit number to file your taxes. You can find this information in your online IRS account if you've forgotten your PIN or lost your CPA01 Notice.

If you're a freelancer paying estimated taxes quarterly, you'll need the 1040-ES forms you filed in 2023. You can find this information in your online IRS account.

To itemize deductions, you'll need receipts, paid bills, and invoices for expenses like charitable donations, child care costs, expenses for educators, medical and dental expenses, retirement contributions, and work expenses if you're self-employed.

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Here are some specific deductions you'll need information for:

Lastly, you'll need your banking account and routing numbers to set up direct deposit with the IRS. This will get your tax refund to you quickly, in three weeks or less.

If you're missing a tax document, don't panic. You can still file your taxes, but you'll need to take a few extra steps.

First, contact your employer or the company you freelanced for to see if they can resend the missing document. If that doesn't work, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to have them contact your employer or payer for you.

If you're unable to get your tax documents, you can file Form 4852 to estimate your income and taxes withheld for the year. This form will allow you to file your taxes without the missing document.

Some tax documents, like Schedule K-1, often arrive late in the tax season due to the complexity of the arrangements they cover. If you're expecting a Schedule K-1, you may want to file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File, to give yourself more time to get the document.

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Here are some key tax documents that should arrive on time, but might be late in some cases:

If you're missing a Form 5498 or 5498-ESA, which reports contributions to IRAs or Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, you should contact the account manager to see if they can resend the document.