Tax Preparation Checklist

The deadline for filing your 2021 taxes is April 15, 2022, and the IRS will start accepting 2021 returns in January.

Below is a Tax Preparation Checklist to ensure you have the necessary items to prepare your return.

Also, new Hilltop Tax clients are encouraged to request a TAX ORGANIZER to help assemble their information and make sure important deductions aren’t missed. To request a 2021 TAX YEAR ORGANIZER, please use this form or email MeganWashington@hilltoptax.com.
The checklist covers PERSONAL and BUSINESS INFORMATION and DEDUCTIONS.

If you’re not sure if you need something, please share it with us anyway!
We’ll both feel better knowing that we’ve left no stone unturned in finding the necessary documentation.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

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, please secure:

  • Prior year’s tax return. (for new clients only)
  • Federal and State estimated tax payment amounts.
  • Photo identification, such as driver’s licenses or military ID cards.
  • Social Security numbers for every family member.
  • Birth date for every family member.
  • Stimulus check amount.
  • W-2 forms from any employers.
  • Bank account details. (for direct deposit only)
If applicable:
  • Form 1099-G (unemployment compensation).
  • Form 1099-NEC (non-employment compensation).
  • Form 1099-INT (interest income statements).
  • Form 1099-DIV (dividend income statements).
  • Form 1099-R (retirement income).
  • Form 1099-SA (HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA distributions).
  • Form 5498-SA (to report contributions to HSA).
  • IRS Schedule K-1, Form 1065 (for partnership income).
  • Income from rental properties.

PERSONAL DEDUCTIONS

Deductions are where you can save big when it comes to your final bill. So it’s essential to take the time to track down as many relevant expenses as possible.

Expenses to look for include:

  • Primary residence documents, including form 1098 (Mortgage Interest Statement), property tax records, and expenses related to energy-saving improvements.
  • Receipts for childcare expenses paid.
  • Charitable donation receipts.
  • Expenses related to any rental properties.
  • College credit documents, including form 1098-T (Tuition Statement) and 1099-Q (Payments from Qualified Education Programs).
  • CollegeChoice Advisor 529 Savings Plan
  • Estimated amounts of out-of-pocket medical expenses.

BUSINESS INFORMATION & DEDUCTIONS

Owning and operating a business adds even more complexity to annual taxes. Business owners need to submit additional info to get started, which include:

  • Prior year’s tax return. (for new clients only)
  • Profit and loss statement/Balance sheet. (for new clients only)
  • Form 1040-ES. (to calculate and pay estimated taxes for the current year)
  • Vehicle mileage, if you use your car for business, provide estimated mileage.
  • Home office details, if you run your business from home, provide home office details, including the size of your home office, rental payments, and utility bills.
  • Asset purchase receipts, if you purchased any capital assets during the year.
  • Renovation or improvement receipts. (if applicable)
  • Employee Identification Number (EIN). (if applicable)
  • Partnership agreements. (if applicable)
  • Change in ownership information. (if applicable)

Website Disclosures

Hilltop Wealth Solutions (“Company”) is an SEC registered investment adviser located in Mishawaka, IN with branch office located in MI and other locations throughout IN.  The Company may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements.  The Company’s web site is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to its advisory services, together with access to additional investment-related information, publications, and links.  Accordingly, the publication of the Company’s web site on the Internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as the Company’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet.  Any subsequent, direct communication by the Company with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualified for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides.  For information pertaining to the registration status of the Company, please contact the SEC or the state securities regulators for those states in which the Company maintains a notice filing.  A copy of the Company’s current written disclosure statement discussing Company business operations, services, and fees is available by going online via the SEC’s Investment Advisers Public Disclosure (IAPD) database at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, using SEC #801-115255.

The Company does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to the Company web site or incorporated herein and takes no responsibility, therefore.  All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Please remember that different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy (including those undertaken or recommended by the Company, will be profitable or equal any historical performance level(s).

Certain portions of Company web site (i.e. newsletters, articles, commentaries, etc.) may contain a discussion of, and/or provide access to, the Company (and those of other investment and noninvestment professionals) positions and/or recommendations as of a specific prior date.  Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, such discussion may no longer be reflective of current position(s) and/or recommendation(s).  Moreover, no client or prospective client should assume that any such discussion serves as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized advice from the Company, or from any other investment professional.

The Company is neither an attorney nor an accountant, and no portion of the web site content should be interpreted as legal, accounting or tax advice.

Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if the Company is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of the Company by any of its clients.  Rankings published by magazines and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser.  Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers.

To the extent that any client or prospective client utilizes any economic calculator or similar interactive device contained within or linked to the Company web site, the client and/or prospective client acknowledges and understands that the information resulting from the use of any such calculator/device, is not, and should not be construed, in any manner whatsoever, as the receipt of, or a substitute for, personalized individual advice from the Company, or from any other investment professional.

Each client and prospective client agrees, as a condition precedent to his/her/its access to the Company web site, to release and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, owners, employees and agents from any and all adverse consequences resulting from any of his/her/its actions and/or omissions which are independent of his/her/its receipt of personalized individual advice from the Company.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.