02/14/2026
📋 Save this for when you sit down to file.
Most people start their taxes and then realize they're missing something. A form they forgot about. A portal login that expired. A new deduction they didn't know existed.
This checklist covers the documents you need for your 2025 tax return. Income forms, deduction records, health and retirement paperwork, and the new Schedule 1-A items from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Schedule 1-A section is worth paying attention to. If you earned tips, worked overtime, bought a new car with a loan, or turned 65 in 2025, there are deductions available that didn't exist before. All four have income phaseouts, so not everyone qualifies.
One thing that catches people off guard: most 1099 forms from brokerages and banks aren't due until February 17. And corrected versions can arrive weeks later. Filing before all your documents are final can mean an amended return that takes months to process.
The "before you file" items at the bottom are the ones most people skip. Logging into every financial portal now, while there's no pressure, saves a real headache in April.
Pull up last year's 1040 for a quick preview of which forms to expect this year.