Managing your workload during tax season can be a challenge. There is a lot of back and forth with clients, and they may not be quick to get you the documentation you need.
One thing that can make things run more smoothly is a thorough tax preparation checklist. This will help clients think through what they need to bring in or send. By spelling out exactly what you need, they can start collecting everything and getting it to you well in advance of the tax deadline. And they won’t come to you with a lot of missing pieces, requiring more time and work on your part.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Create a tax checklist for your clients so they know what you need to get rolling on their taxes.
Every client’s list of requirements is going to be a little bit different. Some may have rental income from a property or business, and others might have employment income and need W-2 forms as well as their business income forms. Giving them a list of documents broken down into categories can help them think through what they need to bring to file their tax return.
The checklist covers 6 categories:
This article touches on the basics of each checklist category. For a more comprehensive version in a ready-to-share, customizable format, get the full checklist template.
Getting the personal identification details right on a tax return is important. Every year, the IRS rejects returns that don’t have matching data. To help get this right, ask your clients to bring:
It’s important to help your clients understand that they need to be thorough when collecting income tax documents. Income documentation should cover all money that they received during the year.
You’ll want to have your client review the tax forms to make sure the amounts reported match their records. If there are any discrepancies, have them get those sorted out as early as possible.
Documents they should gather include:
Remind your clients that deductions and credits are where they can save big when it comes to their final bill. So it’s important for them to take the time to track down as many relevant expenses as possible.
Expenses they should be looking for include:
Owning and operating a business adds even more complexity to annual taxes. Business owners need to submit additional info to get started. Be sure to include these items on your checklist for business owners:
If your client owns their own business, you’ll want to remind them that they’ll need to provide you with financial statements. Ask them to provide:
If they use FreshBooks, remind them that these reports can be easily generated and shared with you. (They should invite you to one of the Accountant roles.) Before they hand over the reports, ask them to verify that the data is correct and complete. And if they have any questions, encourage them to flag them for you rather than to guess.
Business financial statements aren’t going to be enough to complete your client’s business tax returns to file their business expenses and make sure that you help them find all the deductions possible.
Ask your clients to bring in additional business documentation and data, including:
Looking for a ready-to-go checklist to share with your clients? Click these links for a handy tax checklist for your clients in Google Sheets or Google Docs formats to prepare them to file their tax returns.
The free, professionally designed checklist template can be customized with your firm’s logo and colors. And you can edit checklist items to suit the needs of your clients.
U.S. Small Business Tax Checklist [Google Docs]
U.S. Small Business Tax Checklist [Google Sheets]
Give clients the checklist and tell them to think through any items that they need to find and bring in. You can also advise them if they’re not sure if you need something, to share it with you anyway. You can make the final decision about what is needed and what isn’t, and they’ll feel good knowing that they’ve left no stone unturned in finding the necessary documentation.
As a tax preparer, getting your clients organized early on in the document retrieval process can be a big help in managing your workload during this busy time. This tax prep checklist can help you communicate to clients exactly what you need, improving your odds for a successful tax season.
Disclaimer: This checklist is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. FreshBooks assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.
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This post was updated in February 2024.