Onboarding PDF Requests and Access
Ensure retainer paid, engagement signed, access to folders, budget & scope I estimate provided
Prior 2 years of filed tax returns and W-2s if easily accessible
Ensure tax returns contain depreciation schedules for any rental real estate
Purchase documents (HUD-1) for any property held or sold
All current year to date pay stubs
Do not use special non-PC characters in document titles such as / \ : * ? ” < > | (E*Trade) as these documents won’t appear for us
Onboarding Questions and Documentation
Basic client info & IRA profile filled out
Grand total current year compensation estimate:
Grand total current year compensation estimate breakdown
- Regular:
- Bonus:
- Stock:
Current W-4 and withholding information:
Projection Estimates (June 1) mid-year or year-end (November 10)
Ensure standard payroll items are up to date (pay stubs and any W-4 withholding info)
Items left blank we can use an estimate based on the prior year
Wage estimates for the entire year:
- Grand total compensation
- Regular / Bonus / Stock compensation breakdown
Estimates for the entire year:
- Grand total household income:
- Interest income:
- Ordinary / qualified dividend estimate:
- Short-term capital gains estimate:
- Long-term capital gains estimate:
- Other income:
- Life changes or events:
Projection Extension (April 1)
Ensure standard tax documents for the year have been provided (W-2, 1099s, 1098s, etc…), questions answered, templates filled-out
Estimate any information for items not yet final such as awaiting K-1s or other income items
Indicate any big changes in the current Q1 and expected Q2 that may generate taxes such as stock sales
List of Standard Tax Docs, Supplemental Info, and Questions
Family info, social, DOB (excel file to fill out)
Wage related: W-2s, all pay stubs, withholding info
Standard investments: 1099s for brokerage accounts, interest, dividends, stock sales, supplemental statements (Especially with E-Trade),
Investment partnerships: K-1s issued from LLCs and S-Corps
Rental real estate: Excel file, Hud-1 purchase documents
Asset sales: Sales document (Hud-1), sometimes 1099-S, out of pocket costs such as staging
Healthcare: Form 1095 for coverage info, Health Savings Account (HSA) info Form 8889, any FSA (Flex Spending Accounts) info
Additional Information
Any IRA contributions made or want to make?
Any significant cash or non-cash charity not provided?
(Typically, without a mortgage you would need at least $2,000 of contributions)
Catch-all Points For Comment
Please fill out the 2023 Catch-all points for comment form, please let us know if N/A or which apply as these are key to finalizing the return.