Tax season is upon us again, and being prepared can make all the difference between a stressful experience and a smooth filing process. At CGP Group, we’re committed to helping you navigate tax season with clarity and confidence.
To ensure your tax return is processed efficiently and accurately, we’ve compiled this comprehensive checklist of documents you’ll need to gather. Remember, our document submission deadline is March 15, 2025, so please aim to have everything collected by then.
Personal Information
Before diving into financial documents, make sure you have these basics covered:
- Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse, and all dependents
- Birth dates for everyone included on your return
- A copy of last year’s tax return (especially important for new clients)
- Direct deposit information (routing and account numbers) for faster refunds
Income Documents
These documents report the money you earned throughout the year:
- W-2 forms from all employers you worked for during the tax year
- 1099 forms for independent contractor work, including:
- 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation
- 1099-MISC for miscellaneous income
- 1099-K for payment card and third-party network transactions
- 1099-G forms reporting unemployment benefits or state tax refunds
- SSA-1099 forms showing Social Security benefits received
- 1099-R forms for distributions from pensions, retirement plans, or IRAs
- 1099-INT and 1099-DIV forms reporting interest and dividend income
- 1099-B forms documenting investment sales and stock transactions
- Schedule K-1 forms from partnerships, S-corporations, estates, or trusts
Homeowner Documents
If you own a home, be sure to gather:
- 1098 Mortgage Interest Statements showing interest paid on your mortgage
- Property tax statements from your county assessor
- 1099-S forms if you sold real estate during the tax year
- HUD-1 settlement statements for any property purchased or sold
Deduction Documents
These records help reduce your taxable income:
- Charitable donation receipts, including cash and non-cash contributions
- Medical and dental expense records (if they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income)
- Health insurance documents (Forms 1095-A, B, or C)
- Childcare provider information, including their tax ID number and payment receipts
- Education expenses, documented by Forms 1098-T (tuition) and 1098-E (student loan interest)
- Records of state and local taxes paid throughout the year
- Documentation of IRA, SEP, SIMPLE, or other retirement contributions
- Home office expense records (if you’re self-employed)
- Business expenses (for self-employed individuals or small business owners)
Other Important Items
Don’t forget these additional documents:
- Records of estimated tax payments made during the year
- Documentation showing prior year refunds applied to the current year
- Any IRS notices or correspondence received during the year
- Records of virtual currency transactions
- Records related to energy-efficient home improvements that may qualify for credits
Special Situations
Depending on your circumstances, you might also need:
- Alimony paid or received (for agreements executed before 2019)
- Records relating to foreign accounts or assets
- Documentation for casualty and theft losses (in federally declared disaster areas)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution and distribution information
Next Steps
Once you’ve gathered all the applicable documents:
- Organize everything by category to make the review process more efficient
- Submit your documents by March 15, 2025 to ensure timely filing
- Contact us with any questions about specific documents or your situation
Remember, if your documents are submitted after March 15, we’ll need to file an extension for your return, which extends the filing deadline to October 15, 2025. However, any taxes owed are still due by April 15, 2025.
How to Submit Your Tax Documents to CGP Group’s Online Portal: Scanning Your Documents
Using a Scanner:
- Place your document face-down on the scanner glass
- Select the scan option on your device
- Save the file as a PDF (preferred format)
- Give your file a clear name (example: “2024_W2_YourName.pdf”)
Using a Smartphone:
- Download a scanning app (like Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, or Notes app on iPhone)
- Take a photo of your document in good lighting
- Use the app to crop and enhance the image
- Save as a PDF file with a descriptive name
Uploading to Our Secure Portal
Visit our secure file drop link.
- Enter your email, first and last name, and company name (if applicable)
- Click “Continue”
- Under “Recipient,” choose the CGP team member who should receive your documents
- Drag your files to the box indicated or click “Browse Files” and select your scanned documents
- Click “Upload” at the bottom of the page and wait for confirmation that your files were successfully uploaded
Tips for Success
- Scan multiple-page documents as a single PDF when possible
- Ensure all pages are legible and complete
- Organize documents by type before scanning (W-2s, 1099s, etc.)
- Contact us at (316) 685-1040 if you need assistance with the upload process
Your documents will be securely transmitted to our team, and we’ll confirm receipt via email.
We’re Here to Help
At CGP Group, we understand that tax preparation can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re committed to making the process as stress-free as possible. If you have questions about any items on this checklist or need guidance on your specific situation, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Call us at (316) 685-1040 or schedule your free 30-minute consultation.
