What to Bring to Your First Tax Preparation Appointment

Switching tax preparers or working with one for the first time can feel intimidating if you don't know what to bring. The good news is that most preparers want you to succeed and will tell you exactly what they need. This guide is for Myrtle Beach residents who are scheduling their first appointment with a new tax preparer and want to be prepared.

The basics

A few specific things:

Personal identification

• Social Security cards — for you and dependents
• Photo ID — driver's license typically
• ITIN documentation — if applicable
• Date of birth — for new dependents

Personal ID is essential.

Income documents

• W-2s — from employers
• 1099s — for contract/freelance work
• 1099-R — for retirement distributions
• SSA-1099 — for Social Security income
• 1099-INT/DIV — for interest and dividends

All income must be reported.

Expense documentation

• Receipts — for deductions
• Mileage logs — for business use
• Charitable donations — documentation
• Medical expenses — for deduction

Deductions need documentation.

Prior year returns

• Last year's return — for reference
• Prior 2-3 years — sometimes helpful
• Helps identify — trends and issues
• Confirms carryovers — losses, credits

Prior returns help preparation.

Income-specific items

A few specific things:

W-2 employee

• W-2 from employer — for the work
• Multiple W-2s — if changed jobs
• Tips reported — sometimes
• Retirement contributions — sometimes reported

W-2 covers most employee income.

Self-employment

• 1099-NEC — for client payments
• 1099-K — for platform payments
• Business expenses — receipts
• Mileage logs — for vehicle use

Self-employment needs more.

Rental property

• Rental income — documentation
• Expense receipts — for deductions
• Depreciation schedules — for the work
• Property tax records — for the work

Rental property has unique needs.

Investment income

• 1099-B — for sales
• 1099-INT — for interest
• 1099-DIV — for dividends
• Cost basis — sometimes

Investment income is detailed.

Retirement

• 1099-R — for distributions
• Roth conversions — documentation
• IRA contributions — for deduction
• Required minimum distributions — sometimes

Retirement has specific items.

Deduction documentation

A few specific things:

Home ownership

• Mortgage interest — 1098 form
• Property taxes — for the work
• Closing documents — for new purchase
• Home equity — documentation

Home ownership has major deductions.

Charitable giving

• Written acknowledgment — for $250+
• Receipts — for all donations
• Non-cash donations — documentation
• Mileage — for volunteer work

Charitable deductions need records.

Medical expenses

• Medical receipts — for the work
• Health insurance — 1095 forms
• HSA contributions — for deduction
• Prescription costs — sometimes

Medical deductions add up.

Education

• 1098-T — for tuition
• Student loan interest — for deduction
• Education credits — sometimes
• Book expenses — sometimes

Education has specific items.

Business expenses

• Receipts — for all expenses
• Mileage logs — for vehicle
• Home office — documentation
• Equipment — for depreciation

Business expenses need records.

Life changes to mention

A few specific things:

Family changes

• Marriage — for status change
• Divorce — for status change
• New child — for dependent
• Dependent care — for credit

Family changes affect returns.

Address changes

• New address — for the work
• State changes — sometimes
• Multiple states — for the work
• Documentation — for the work

Address changes matter.

Job changes

• New employer — for the work
• Multiple jobs — for the work
• Retirement — for the work
• Unemployment — for 1099-G

Job changes affect withholding.

Investment changes

• New accounts — for the work
• Sold investments — for the work
• New brokerage — for the work
• Crypto transactions — for the work

Investment changes affect returns.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few specific things:

Missing documents

• Last-minute scramble — stressful
• Late 1099s — common issue
• Missing K-1s — sometimes late
• Plan ahead — for the work

Don't miss documents.

Wrong information

• Verify SSN — for accuracy
• Verify dependents — for accuracy
• Verify addresses — for the work
• Double-check — for the work

Wrong info causes problems.

Forgetting deductions

• Many miss — common deductions
• Working with pro — helps
• List everything — for the work
• Year-round tracking — helps

Don't miss deductions.

Last-minute filing

• Stress — leads to mistakes
• Errors more likely — for the work
• Lower quality — preparation
• Plan ahead — for the work

Don't wait until the deadline.

Questions to ask your preparer

A few specific things:

About their services

• What's included — for the work
• Pricing structure — for the work
• Communication — for the work
• Year-round availability — for the work

Ask about services.

About your situation

• Specific concerns — for the work
• Major life changes — for the work
• Goals — for tax planning
• Questions — about your situation

Discuss your situation.

About documentation

• What's missing — for the work
• Specific forms — for the work
• How to provide — for the work
• Deadlines — for the work

Ask about documentation.

About follow-up

• Review process — for the work
• Amendments — if needed
• Year-round questions — for the work
• Future planning — for the work

Discuss follow-up.

Working with your preparer

A few practical things:

Be organized

• Folder or binder — for the work
• Sorted by category — for the work
• All in one place — for the work
• Easy to review — for the work

Organization helps the appointment.

Be thorough

• Provide everything — for the work
• Don't assume — for the work
• Include unusual — items
• Mention everything — for the work

Thoroughness helps.

Be honest

• Full disclosure — required
• Don't hide — items
• Ask about gray areas — for the work
• Get advice — from your preparer

Honesty is essential.

Be patient

• Tax preparation — takes time
• Complex returns — longer
• Questions — for accuracy
• Good work — takes time

Patience is needed.

Special situations

A few specific things:

First-time filer

• No prior return — to reference
• ITIN application — sometimes
• Dependent documentation — for the work
• Simple first return — typically

First-time is usually simpler.

New to area

• State-specific — returns
• Residency status — for the work
• Multiple states — sometimes
• Local deductions — for the work

New residents have specific items.

Retirement

• Multiple income sources — for the work
• Retirement planning — for the work
• RMD considerations — for the work
• Tax efficiency — for the work

Retirement is complex.

Investment-heavy

• Many 1099s — for the work
• Cost basis — tracking
• Capital gains — sometimes
• Tax-loss harvesting — sometimes

Investment-heavy returns take longer.

After the appointment

A few specific things:

Review

• Ask questions — about return
• Verify accuracy — for the work
• Understand — what's filed
• Keep copies — for the work

Review is important.

File

• Sign return — for the work
• E-file — typically faster
• Direct deposit — for refund
• Keep copies — for the work

Filing is straightforward.

Plan ahead

• Next year's changes — for the work
• Estimated taxes — sometimes
• Adjust withholding — for the work
• Year-round planning — helps

Plan for next year.

Follow-up

• Questions later — for the work
• Amendments — if needed
• Year-round support — for the work
• Relationship — for the work

Build the relationship.

What we offer

Myrtle Beach Tax Preparers provides individual and small business tax preparation — with year-round support, clear pricing, and a thorough approach to your first appointment. We work with new clients throughout tax season and beyond, with virtual and in-person options. Free consultations available to discuss your situation.

📧 Email info@taxpreparersmyrtlebeach.com or [request a consultation online](https://www.taxpreparersmyrtlebeach.com/contact). Service area: Myrtle Beach and surrounding Grand Strand communities.