Checklist for your first tax return

Getting Organized

Filing your first tax return can feel overwhelming, but having the right documents and information ready makes it much smoother. Here's everything you'll need.

Documents Checklist

Gather these documents before you start:

Income Documents

• **W-2** from each employer you worked for during the year
• **1099-NEC** for freelance or contract work ($600+)
• **1099-INT** for bank interest earned
• **1099-DIV** for investment dividends
• **1099-G** for unemployment compensation

Deduction Documents

• **1098** for mortgage interest paid
• **Property tax statements**
• **Charitable donation receipts**
• **Medical expense receipts** (if they exceed 7.5% of your income)

Other Documents

• **Previous year's tax return** (for reference and AGI verification)
• **1095-A** if you had marketplace health insurance

Personal Information Needed

For each person on your return, you'll need:

• **Social Security Number (SSN)** — must match your Social Security card exactly
• **Date of birth**
• **Current mailing address**
• **Bank account and routing number** (for direct deposit of your refund)

Filing Status Options

Your filing status affects your tax brackets and standard deduction. The options are:

• **Single** — Unmarried, divorced, or legally separated
• **Married Filing Jointly** — Married and filing one return together (usually the best option for married couples)
• **Married Filing Separately** — Married but filing individual returns
• **Head of Household** — Unmarried and paying more than half the cost of maintaining a home for a qualifying person
• **Qualifying Surviving Spouse** — Your spouse passed away in the prior two years and you have a dependent child

FileJoy will recommend the best filing status based on your situation.

Recommended Workflow Order

For the smoothest experience, we suggest entering information in this order:

1. **Set up your household** — Add yourself, spouse, and dependents
2. **Enter income** — Start with W-2s, then any 1099s
3. **Add deductions** — Mortgage interest, donations, etc.
4. **Review credits** — Child Tax Credit, education credits, etc.
5. **Upload documents** — Scan and store your source documents
6. **Review and file** — Double-check everything, then submit

Tips for First-Time Filers

• Don't rush—take your time to enter everything accurately
• Use the document upload feature to keep digital copies of everything
• If something doesn't look right, it probably isn't—double-check your entries
• You can save your progress and come back anytime