What to Bring to a Tax Appointment

This reference page explains what to bring to a tax appointment with Brick Taxes LLC. Use the checklist to prepare for individual tax filing as a homeowner, retiree, parent, employee, or self-employed taxpayer.

Call 732-540-1040 Office: 88 Queen Ann Rd, Brick, NJ 08723

What we need from you

Start here: everyone needs these

• Photo identification for the taxpayer and spouse, if applicable.
• Social Security numbers or ITIN letters for the taxpayer, spouse, and each dependent.
• Dates of birth for dependents.
• Your prior-year federal and New Jersey returns.
• Bank account and routing numbers if you want a refund deposited directly.
• Last year’s adjusted gross income (AGI) or self-select PIN if you self-filed or e-filed last year.
• If you are a new client, include last year’s return even if you do not have every supporting document.

Gather documents for the tax year being prepared. The IRS individual tax guide is a helpful reference for common records and filing topics.

Income documents

Send the forms that apply to you:

• Form W-2 for each job.
• Form 1099-NEC for contract or freelance work.
• Form 1099-MISC for rent, royalties, and other payments.
• Form 1099-K from payment platforms. Receiving one does not, by itself, determine whether a payment is taxable; share the form and relevant context. IRS Form 1099-K information
• Forms 1099-INT and 1099-DIV for interest and dividends.
• Form 1099-B and consolidated brokerage statements for investment sales.
• Form 1099-DA for digital asset transactions.
• Form 1099-R for pensions, annuities, and retirement plan distributions.
• Form SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits.
• Form 1099-G for unemployment compensation or state refunds.
• Form 1099-SA for health savings account distributions.
• Form W-2G for gambling winnings.
• Schedule K-1 from a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust.

A consolidated year-end brokerage statement can replace individual forms from the same account when it includes the relevant tax details. Include corrected forms if you receive them later.

If you are self-employed or earn 1099 income

Bring records of both income and expenses. The IRS generally treats nonemployee compensation as reportable income, whether or not a particular form arrives. IRS Form 1099-NEC information

• All Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-K, plus platform statements.
• A summary of deposits or an income spreadsheet.
• A categorized expense list, or the bank and card statements needed to build one.
• A mileage log showing total business miles and total annual miles.
• Home office measurements and the date business use began, if you are claiming a home office.
• Receipts for equipment and other large purchases.
• Records of quarterly estimated tax payments.
• Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health coverage.

See our self-employed and 1099 tax preparation services for more on what to expect.

If you own a home

• Form 1098 for mortgage interest.
• Real estate tax bills and proof of payment.
• A closing statement if you bought, sold, or refinanced your home during the year.
• Home equity loan or line of credit statements.
• Receipts for energy improvements.
• Rental income and expense records if you rent out the property.

For a more detailed homeowner checklist, see what homeowners should gather for tax preparation.

If you are retired

• Form SSA-1099.
• Every Form 1099-R.
• Year-end retirement and brokerage account statements.
• Medicare premium statements, including amounts deducted from Social Security benefits.
• Proof of the New Jersey property tax deduction if you already claimed it.
• Records of estimated tax payments.

For more on the process, visit our tax preparation for seniors and retirees page.

If you have children or dependents

• Each dependent’s Social Security number and date of birth.
• Childcare provider name, address, and tax identification number.
• Information needed for Form 2441, including amounts paid for care.
• Education expenses and Form 1098-T.
• Student loan interest and Form 1098-E.
• Records relevant to the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Credit. Eligibility rules differ by credit. See the IRS information for the EITC, education credits, and dependent care expenses.

Health coverage

• Form 1095-A if your coverage came through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
• Form 8962, if you already have a completed copy, for the premium tax credit reconciliation.
• Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, if received.
• Health savings account contribution records and Form 5498-SA.

Deductions and payments

• Charitable contribution acknowledgements and receipts.
• Medical expense records. IRS Publication 502
• Records of state and local taxes paid.
• Federal and New Jersey estimated tax payment records. The IRS offers information about estimated tax payments.
• Any other records for deductions you want us to consider.

Questions about your checklist? Call Brick Taxes LLC at 732-540-1040. You can also contact us before sending sensitive documents.

What not to send

• Original documents that would be difficult to replace. Keep originals in your own records.
• The full contents of a filing cabinet.
• Unsorted paper with no explanation.

Instead, provide a short summary or a labelled folder. Documents can be uploaded securely rather than mailed.

How to organise it

• Make one folder or upload per category, such as income, home, dependents, or health coverage.
• Name files clearly, such as “2025 W-2 Employer” or “1098 Mortgage.”
• Upload the largest items first.
• Redact information unrelated to your tax preparation.
• Use the secure client portal for document uploads.
• If you are a new client, include last year’s return.

You can work with Brick Taxes LLC in the office, fully remotely, through a hybrid arrangement, or by secure mailbox drop-off. Learn more about the process on our individual tax preparation page.

What Brick Taxes LLC handles

Once we receive your documents, we will:

• Review them for completeness and tell you what is still missing.
• Ask about income that may not have arrived on an information form.
• Reconcile payments and credits with information available from the IRS and New Jersey.
• Prepare your federal and New Jersey returns.
• Explain the results before filing.
• E-file the returns and confirm acceptance.
• Retain the working papers for the engagement.

Serving Brick, Ocean County, and all of New Jersey

Our office is at 88 Queen Ann Rd, Brick, NJ 08723. We serve Brick Township, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Manasquan, Wall Township, Howell, Lakewood, Toms River, Jackson, and Beachwood.

Remote service is available across New Jersey and out of state.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring to a tax appointment if I am a new client? Bring your prior-year federal and New Jersey returns, current identification and income documents, and the tax forms relevant to your situation.

Do I need every tax document before making an appointment? Bring what you have. We can review your file and let you know what is missing before filing.

Can I upload my tax documents instead of bringing paper copies? Yes. Brick Taxes LLC uses a secure client portal for uploads. You may also choose an in-office, hybrid, or secure mailbox drop-off process.

What if I had income but did not receive a tax form? Tell us about the income and provide any records you have, such as invoices, deposit summaries, or platform statements. Do not leave it off the checklist simply because a form has not arrived.

Should I bring original documents? Keep originals that are difficult to replace. Upload or provide readable copies unless we specifically ask to review an original.

Next steps

Call 732-540-1040, use our contact page, or book through Calendly. You can also learn about our services.

Read our public Google reviews and the full collection on our reviews page.

Brick Taxes LLC is not a financial consulting firm and does not provide financial or investment advice; the content is a technical illustration only; readers should consult their own financial advisor; there is no referral arrangement and Brick Taxes LLC receives nothing for saying so.

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