Provided by: [YOUR FIRM HERE]
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Preparing for Your Tax Consultation
A checklist to help you walk in ready — so your first meeting is useful, not wasted.
The more prepared you are for your first meeting, the faster your representative can build a real plan. This checklist covers what to gather, what to write down, and a simple worksheet for your monthly income and expenses. Don’t panic if you can’t find everything — bring what you have and your representative will help you fill in the rest.
Print this page and check off items as you collect them. Bring the completed page (and the documents) to your consultation.
Tax returns
- Copies of your filed federal tax returns for the last 3 years
- Copies of your state tax returns for the last 3 years
- A list of any years you know (or think) you did not file
Income documents
- All W-2 forms from the last 3 years (one per employer, per year)
- All 1099 forms from the last 3 years (1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-R, 1099-K, etc.)
- Most recent year-to-date pay stub from your current employer
- If self-employed: profit & loss summary for the current year (even rough)
- Social Security or retirement benefit statements
- Unemployment benefit statements, if any
IRS correspondence
- Every IRS letter or notice you have received in the last 2 years — originals or clear photos
- Every state tax agency letter from the last 2 years
- Any collection letters from private collection agencies acting for the IRS
Bank and financial records
- Last 3 months of statements from every checking account
- Last 3 months of statements from every savings account
- Most recent statement from every credit card you use
- Most recent statement from any retirement account (401(k), IRA, pension)
- Most recent statement from any brokerage or investment account
Assets
- A list of real estate you own, with estimated market value and mortgage balance
- Vehicles you own or lease: make, model, year, approximate value, and loan balance
- Any other significant assets (businesses, equipment, valuable collections)
Debts
- Credit card balances and minimum monthly payments
- Student loans: balance, monthly payment, servicer
- Car loans and leases: balance, monthly payment
- Mortgages or rent: monthly amount, lender or landlord
- Any medical debt, personal loans, or payday loans
- Child support or alimony obligations
Business owners add:
- Last 2 years of business tax returns (1120, 1120-S, 1065, or Schedule C)
- Most recent profit & loss statement
- Most recent balance sheet
- Payroll tax filings (941s) for the last 8 quarters, if applicable
- List of business bank accounts and balances
Identity
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
- Social Security card or a document showing your full SSN
- Same for your spouse, if you file jointly
Monthly income & expenses worksheet
Fill this in as best you can. Estimates are fine for the first meeting — your representative will help you refine it later. If you and your spouse both have income, list both.
| Monthly Income (after taxes) |
|---|
| Your take-home pay | $ |
| Spouse’s take-home pay | $ |
| Self-employment income (monthly average) | $ |
| Social Security / retirement | $ |
| Child support / alimony received | $ |
| Other income | $ |
| TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME | $ |
| Monthly Expenses |
|---|
| Rent or mortgage | $ |
| Property tax / homeowners insurance (if not escrowed) | $ |
| Utilities (electric, gas, water, internet, phone) | $ |
| Groceries & household | $ |
| Health insurance premiums | $ |
| Out-of-pocket medical / prescriptions | $ |
| Car payment(s) | $ |
| Auto insurance | $ |
| Gas / public transit | $ |
| Childcare / school costs | $ |
| Child support / alimony paid | $ |
| Minimum credit card payments | $ |
| Student loan payments | $ |
| Other required expenses | $ |
| TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES | $ |
A few things to write down before the meeting
- A short timeline of what happened: when did the problem start, what years are involved, what have you already tried?
- Life events that affected your finances: job loss, illness, divorce, business failure, natural disaster.
- Your goal: what does a “good outcome” look like to you?
- Any hard deadlines: a court date, a home sale, a business loan, a licensing renewal.
- Questions you want answered during the meeting.
What if you can’t find something?
Don’t delay the meeting over missing documents. Your representative can pull most of your IRS records directly once you sign an authorization form. Bring what you have, be upfront about what’s missing, and the first meeting is still productive.
The bottom line
Preparation is respect for your own time. The more accurate a picture you can paint at the first meeting, the faster your representative can tell you what your actual options are — and the faster this becomes something you can see past.