Preparing for tax day
Use these tips to help you prepare for your appointment
What should you do to prepare for your appointment?
Required documents to keep on file:
Copies of Drivers License or State IDs
Social Security Cards
Proof of Residence for dependents claiming EIC
Income documents:
Income from jobs: forms W-2 for you and your spouse
Investment income—various forms 1099 (-INT, -DIV, -B, etc.), K-1s, stock option information
Income from state and local income tax refunds and/or unemployment: forms 1099-G
Taxable alimony received
Business or farming income—profit/loss statement, capital equipment information
If you use your home for business—home size, office size, home expenses, office expenses
IRA/pension distributions—forms 1099-R, 8606
Rental property income/expense—profit/Loss statement, rental property suspended loss information
Social Security benefits—forms SSA-1099
Income from sales of property—original cost and cost of improvements, escrow closing statement, cancelled debt information (form 1099-C)
Prior year installment sale information—forms 6252, principal and Interest collected during the year, SSN and address of payer
Other miscellaneous income—jury duty, gambling winnings, Medical Savings Account (MSA), scholarships, etc.
(Use our handy IRS document search tool for your documents)
How can I check on my tax refunds? Tax Related Web-sites/phone numbers: IRS www.irs.gov IRS Get Refund Status IRS Inquiry Phone: (800) 829-1040
Other tax documents:
IRA contributions
Energy credits
Student loan interest
Medical Savings Account (MSA) contributions
Self-employed health insurance payments
Keogh, SEP, SIMPLE and other self-employed pension plans
Alimony paid that is tax deductible
Educator expenses
State and local income taxes paid
Real estate taxes paid
Personal property taxes—vehicle license fee based on value
Estimated tax payment made during the year, prior year refund applied to current year, and any amount paid with an extension to file.
Direct deposit information—routing and account numbers
Foreign bank account information—location, name of bank, account number, peak value of account during the year
Tax deduction documents:
Child care costs—provider’s name, address, tax id, and amount paid
Education costs—forms 1098-T, education expenses
Adoption costs—SSN of child, legal, medical, and transportation costs
Home mortgage interest and points you paid—Forms 1098
Investment interest expense
Charitable donations—cash amounts and value of donated property, miles driven, and out-of-pocket expenses
Casualty and theft losses—amount of damage, insurance reimbursements
Medical and dental expenses
Current Tax rates
Current rates information provided by IRS
2026 Tax Brackets
Income Tax Brackets and Rates
The 2026 income ceiling for all listed tax brackets and for all filers, adjusted for inflation are listed below. The Seven federal income tax rates for 2026 are... 10% - 12% - 22% - 24% - 32% - 35% - 37% (no changes from 2025). The marginal income tax rate of 37% will apply to taxpayers with taxable income above $640,600 (single filers), and $768,700 is the target for married couples filing jointly...(SEE Table 1)
Table 1. Tax Brackets and Rates, 2026 (Source: IRS)
Table 1. Tax Brackets and Rates, 2026 (Source: IRS)
| Rate |
Single Individuals - Taxable Income Over |
Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns - Taxable Income Over |
Heads of Households - Taxable Income Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $24,800 | $0 to $17,700 |
| 12% |
$12,401 to $50,400 |
$24,801 to $100,800 |
$17,701 to $67,450 |
| 22% |
$50,401 to $105,700 |
$100,801 to $211,400 |
$67,451 to $105,700 |
| 24% |
$105,701 to $201,775 |
$211,401 to $403,550 |
$105,701 to $201,775 |
| 32% |
$201,776 to $256,225 |
$403,551 to $512,450 |
$201,776 to $256,200 |
| 35% |
$256,226 to $640,600 |
$512,451 to $768,700 |
$256,201 to $640,600 |
| 37% |
$640,601 or more |
$768,701 or more |
$640,601 or more |
Standard Deduction & Personal Exemption
2026 has standard deductions for single filers increasing by $350; $700 for married couples filing jointly. Seniors over the age of 65 are eligible to claim an additional standard deduction of $2,050 for single filers and $1,650 for joint filers. Personal exemptions for 2026 remains at $0 (this is due to the personal exemption from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017 )
Table 2. 2026 Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption (Source: IRS)
| Filing Status | Deduction Amount |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Married Seniors Additional Deductions | $1,650 |
| Unmarried Seniors Additional Deductions | $2,050 |
Alternative Minimum Tax
Created in the 1960s, The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) was setup to prevent high-income taxpayers from avoiding the individual income tax. This parallel tax income system requires high-income taxpayers to calculate their tax bill twice: once under the ordinary income tax system and again under the AMT. The taxpayer then needs to pay the higher of the two. More information can be found at IRS.Gov (SEE Table 3).
Table 3. 2026 Alternative Minimum Tax Exemptions (Source:IRS)
| Filing Status | Exemption Amount |
|---|---|
| Unmarried Individuals | $90,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $140,200 |
2026 keeps the AMT rate at 28%. This rate applies to excess AMTI of $244,500 for all taxpayers ($122,250 for married couples who file separate returns).
The AMT exemptions phase out at 50 cents per dollar earned once a taxpayers AMTI reaches $500,000 for single filers and $1,000,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. In 2026, the exemption will start phasing out at $626,350 in AMTI for single filers and $1,252,700 for married taxpayers filing jointly (SEE Table 4).
Table 4. 2026 Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption Phaseout Thresholds
| Filing Status | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Unmarried Individuals | $625,350 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $1,252,700 |
Earned Income Tax Credit
The 2026 Maximum Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single and joint filers is $664 (no children) (SEE Table 5). The maximum credit is $4,427 for one child, $7,316 for two children, and $8,231 for three or more children.
Table 5. 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit Parameters
| Filing Status |
Single or Head of Household |
No Children |
One Child |
Two Children |
Three or More Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income at Max Credit | $8,680 | $13,020 | $18,290 | $18,290 | |
| Maximum Credit | $664 | $4,427 | $7,316 | $8,231 | |
| Phaseout Begins | $10,860 | $23,890 | $23,890 | $23,890 | |
| Phaseout Ends (Credit Equals 0 (Zero)) |
$19,540 | $51,593 | $58,629 | $62,974 | |
| Filing Status |
Married Filing Jointly | No Children |
One Child |
Two Children |
Three or More Children |
| Income at Max Credit | $8,680 | $13,020 | $18,290 | $18,290 | |
| Maximum Credit | $664 | $4,427 | $7,316 | $8,231 | |
| Phaseout Begins | $18,140 | $31,160 | $31,160 | $31,160 | |
| Phaseout Ends (Credit Equals Zero) |
$26,820 | $58,863 | $65,899 | $70,224 |
Qualified Business Income Deduction
Within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there is an inclusion of a 20% deduction in 2026 for pass-through businesses with $201,775 of qualified business income for single taxpayers and $403,500 for married taxpayers filing jointly (SEE Table 6).
Table 6. 2026 Qualified Business Income Deduction Thresholds (Source: IRS)
| Filing Status | Threshold | Income Where Deduction Fully Phases In |
|---|---|---|
| Unmarried Individuals | $201,775 | $276,775 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $403,500 | $553,500 |
Child Tax Credit
The maximum Child Tax Credit for 2026 is $2,200 per child who qualifies, with no adjustments for inflation. The amount that may be refunded for the Child Tax Credit is adjusted for inflation and will remain at $1,700 for 2026.
2026 Annual Exclusion for Gifts
For 2026, the first $19,000 of gifts to any person is excluded from tax. Exclusions are increased to $194,000 from $190,000 for gifts to spouses who're not citizens of the United States.
2026 Capital Gains Tax Rates & Brackets (Long-term Capital Gains)
Capital Gains, long term, are taxed using different rates and brackets compared to standard income.
Table 7. 2026 Capital Gains Tax Rates & Brackets (Source: IRS)
| Unmarried Individuals - Taxable Income Over |
Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns - Taxable Income Over |
Heads of Households - Taxable Income Over |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 15% | $49,450 | $98,900 | $66,200 |
| 20% | $545,500 | $613,700 | $579,600 |
2025 Tax Brackets
Income Tax Brackets and Rates
The 2025 income ceilings for all listed tax brackets and for all filers, adjusted for inflation are listed below. The seven federal income tax rates for 2025 are... 10% - 12% - 22% - 24% - 32% - 35% - 37% (no changes from 2024). The marginal income tax rate of 37% will apply to taxpayers with taxable income above $626,350 (single filers), and $751,600 for married couples filing jointly...(SEE Table 1)
Table 1. Tax Brackets and Rates, 2025 (Source: IRS)
Table 1. Tax Brackets and Rates, 2026 (Source: IRS)
| Rate |
Single Individuals - Taxable Income Over |
Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns - Taxable Income Over |
Heads of Households - Taxable Income Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $23,850 | $0 to $17,700 |
| 12% |
$11,925 to $48,475 |
$23,850 to $96,950 |
$17,000 to $64,850 |
| 22% |
$48,475 to $103,350 |
96,950 to $206,700 |
$64,850 to $103,350 |
| 24% |
$103,350 to $197,300 |
$206,700 to $394,600 |
$103,350 to $197,300 |
| 32% |
$250,525 to $626,350 |
$501,050 to $751,600 |
$250,500 to $626,350 |
| 35% |
$256,226 to $640,600 |
$512,451 to $768,700 |
$256,201 to $640,600 |
| 37% |
$626,350 or more |
$751,600 or more |
$626,350 or more |
Standard Deduction & Personal Exemption
2025 has standard deductions for single filers increasing by $400; $800 for married couples filing jointly. Seniors over the age of 65 are eligible to claim an additional standard deduction of $2,000 for single filers and $1,600 for joint filers. Personal exemptions for 2025 remain at ZERO (this is due to the personal exemption from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017 )
Table 2. 2025 Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption (Source: IRS)
| Filing Status | Deduction Amount |
|---|---|
| Single | $15,750 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $31,500 |
| Head of Household | $23,625 |
| Married Seniors Additional Deductions | $1,600 |
| Unmarried Seniors Additional Deductions | $2,000 |
Alternative Minimum Tax
Created in the 1960s, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) was set up to prevent high-income taxpayers from avoiding the individual income tax. This parallel tax income system requires high-income taxpayers to calculate their tax bill twice: once under the ordinary income tax system and again under the AMT. The taxpayer then needs to pay the higher of the two. More information can be found at IRS.Gov (SEE Table 3).
Table 3. 2025 Alternative Minimum Tax Exemptions (Source:IRS)
| Filing Status | Exemption Amount |
|---|---|
| Unmarried Individuals | $88,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $137,000 |
2025 keeps the AMT rate at 28%. This rate applies to excess AMTI of $239,100 for all taxpayers ($119,550 for married couples who file separate returns).
The AMT exemptions phase out at 25 cents per dollar earned once a taxpayer's AMTI hits a certain threshold. In 2025, the exemption will start phasing out at $626,350 in AMTI for single filers and $1,252,700 for married taxpayers filing jointly (SEE Table 4).
Table 4. 2025 Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption Phaseout Thresholds
| Filing Status | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Unmarried Individuals | $626,350 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $1,252,700 |
Earned Income Tax Credit
The 2025 Maximum Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single and joint filers is $649 (no children) (SEE Table 5). The maximum credit is $4,328 for one child, $7,152 for two children, and $8,046 for three or more children.
Table 5. 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit Parameters
| Filing Status |
Single or Head of Household |
No Children |
One Child |
Two Children |
Three or More Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income at Max Credit | $8,490 | $12,730 | $17,880 | $17,880 | |
| Maximum Credit | $649 | $4,328 | $7,152 | $8,046 | |
| Phaseout Begins | $10,620 | $23,350 | $23,350 | $23,350 | |
| Phaseout Ends (Credit Equals 0 (Zero)) |
$19,104 | $50,434 | $57,310 | $61,555 | |
| Filing Status |
Married Filing Jointly | No Children |
One Child |
Two Children |
Three or More Children |
| Income at Max Credit | $8,490 | $12,730 | $17,880 | $17,880 | |
| Maximum Credit | $649 | $4,328 | $7,152 | $8,046 | |
| Phaseout Begins | $17,730 | $30,470 | $30,470 | $30,470 | |
| Phaseout Ends (Credit Equals Zero) |
$26,214 | $57,554 | $64,430 | $68,675 |
Qualified Business Income Deduction
Within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there is an inclusion of a 20% deduction in 2025 for pass-through businesses with $197,300 of qualified business income for single taxpayers and $394,600 for married taxpayers filing jointly (SEE Table 6).
Table 6. 2025 Qualified Business Income Deduction Thresholds (Source:IRS)
| Filing Status | Threshold | Income Where Deduction Fully Phases In |
|---|---|---|
| Unmarried Individuals | $201,775 | $276,775 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $403,500 | $553,500 |
Child Tax Credit
The maximum Child Tax Credit for 2025 is $2,200 per child who qualifies, with no adjustments for inflation. The amount that may be refunded for the Child Tax Credit is adjusted for inflation and increases from $1,600 to $1,700 in 2025.
2025 Annual Exclusion for Gifts
For 2025, the first $19,000 of gifts to any person is excluded from tax. Exclusions are increased to $190,000 from $185,000 for gifts to spouses who're not citizens of the United States.
2025 Capital Gains Tax Rates & Brackets (Long-term Capital Gains)
Capital Gains, long term, are taxed using different rates and brackets compared to standard income.
Table 7. 2025 Capital Gains Tax Rates & Brackets (Source:IRS)
| Unmarried Individuals - Taxable Income Over |
Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns - Taxable Income Over |
Heads of Households - Taxable Income Over |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 15% | $48,350 | $96,700 | $64,750 |
| 20% | $533,400 | $600,050 | $566,700 |
Tax Records Retention
Tax record retention times
WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T THROW IT OUT
Federal law requires you to maintain copies of your tax returns and supporting documents for three years. This is called the “three-year law” and leads many people to believe they're safe provided they retain their documents for this period of time. Even if the original records are provided only on paper, they can be scanned and converted to a digital format. Once the documents are in electronic form, taxpayers can download them to a backup storage device, such as an external hard drive, or burn them onto a CD or DVD (don't forget to label it). Create a Backup Set of Records and Store Them Electronically. Keeping a backup set of records — including, for example, bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, etc. — is easier than ever now that many financial institutions provide statements and documents electronically, and much financial information is available on the Internet. You might also consider online backup, which is the only way to ensure that data is fully protected. With online backup, files are stored in another region of the country, so that if a hurricane or other natural disaster occurs, documents remain safe.
Caution: Identity theft is a serious threat in today's world, and it is important to take every precaution to avoid it. After it is no longer necessary to retain your tax records, financial statements, or any other documents with your personal information, you should dispose of these records by shredding them and not disposing of them by merely throwing them away in the trash.
However, if the IRS believes you have significantly underreported your income (by 25 percent or more), or believes there may be indication of fraud, it may go back six years in an audit. To be safe, use the following guidelines.
Business Documents To Keep For One Year
Business Documents To Keep For One YearBullet List 2
Duplicate Deposit Slips
Purchase Orders (other than Purchasing Department copy)
Receiving Sheets
Requisitions
Stenographer's Notebooks
Stockroom Withdrawal Forms
Business Documents To Keep For Three Years
Employee Personnel Records (after termination)
Employment Applications
Expired Insurance Policies
General Correspondence
Internal Audit Reports
Internal Reports
Petty Cash Vouchers
Physical Inventory Tags
Savings Bond Registration Records of Employees
Time Cards For Hourly Employees
Business Documents To Keep For Six Years
Accident Reports, Claims
Accounts Payable Ledgers and Schedules
Accounts Receivable Ledgers and Schedules
Bank Statements and Reconciliations
Cancelled Checks
Cancelled Stock and Bond Certificates
Employment Tax Records
Expense Analysis and Expense Distribution Schedules
Expired Contracts, Leases
Expired Option Records
Inventories of Products, Materials, Supplies
Invoices to Customers
Notes Receivable Ledgers, Schedules
Payroll Records and Summaries, including payment to pensioners
Plant Cost Ledgers
Purchasing Department Copies of Purchase Orders
Sales Records
Subsidiary Ledgers
Time Books
Travel and Entertainment Records
Vouchers for Payments to Vendors, Employees, etc.
Voucher Register, Schedules
Business Documents To Keep For Six Years
Car Records (keep until the car is sold)
Credit Card Receipts (keep with your credit card statement)
Insurance Policies (keep for the life of the policy)
Mortgages / Deeds / Leases (keep 6 years beyond the agreement)
Pay Stubs (keep until reconciled with your W-2)
Property Records / improvement receipts (keep until property sold)
Sales Receipts (keep for life of the warranty)
Stock and Bond Records (keep for 6 years beyond selling)
Warranties and Instructions (keep for the life of the product)
Other Bills (keep until payment is verified on the next bill)
Depreciation Schedules and Other Capital Asset Records (keep for 3 years after the tax life of the asset)
Personal Documents To Keep For One Year
Bank Statements
Paycheck Stubs (reconcile with W-2)
Canceled checks
Monthly and quarterly mutual fund and retirement contribution statements (reconcile with year end statement)
Personal Documents To Keep For Three Years
Credit Card Statements
Medical Bills (in case of insurance disputes)
Utility Records
Expired Insurance Policies
Personal Documents To Keep For Six Years
Supporting Documents For Tax Returns
Accident Reports and Claims
Medical Bills (if tax-related)
Property Records / Improvement Receipts
Sales Receipts
Wage Garnishments
Other Tax-Related Bills
Personal Records To Keep Forever
CPA Audit Reports
Legal Records
Important Correspondence
Income Tax Returns
Income Tax Payment Checks
Investment Trade Confirmations
Retirement and Pension Records
Business Records To Keep Forever While federal guidelines do not require you to keep tax records “forever,” in many cases there will be other reasons you'll want to retain these documents indefinitely.
Audit Reports from CPAs/Accountants
Cancelled Checks for Important Payments (especially tax payments)
Cash Books, Charts of Accounts
Contracts, Leases Currently in Effect
Corporate Documents (incorporation, charter, by-laws, etc.)
Documents substantiating fixed asset additions
Deeds
Depreciation Schedules
Financial Statements (Year End)
General and Private Ledgers, Year End Trial Balances
Insurance Records, Current Accident Reports, Claims, Policies
Investment Trade Confirmations
IRS Revenue Agents' Reports
Journals
Legal Records, Correspondence and Other Important Matters
Minute Books of Directors and Stockholders
Mortgages, Bills of Sale
Property Appraisals by Outside Appraisers
Property Records
Retirement and Pension Records
Tax Returns and Worksheets
Trademark and Patent Registrations
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