6 Easy-To-Forget Documents To Have Ready Before Filing Your Taxes
Written by
David Nadelle
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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With the 2026 tax season officially opening on Jan. 26, you’ll soon be scurrying to gather all of the documents you’ll need, hoping you haven’t forgotten anything. Don’t laugh — people forget about records needed to file every year, resulting in panicked collecting and money left on the table.
It’s OK to be persnickety when it comes to taxes. Whether you’re an old hand at the tax game or don’t know where to begin, a tax checklist and folder are essentials and the best ways to keep organized, especially for those with several income streams or a variety of investments.
Let’s all set a reminder to keep the following six easily forgotten documents in mind when submitting our taxes this year.
6 Things You Can’t Forget When You File Your Taxes
For those employed by a company, you’ve probably received your W-2 form by now. Freelancers and independent contractors should have received their 1099s by Feb. 15. If these documents are your main income receipts, you’re not likely to forget them when it comes time to file. However, you might fail to remember the following.
The Wonderful World of 1099s
If you’re one of the many growing number of Americans working a side hustle, you’ll probably receive a W-2 and a 1099 this year. But there are 22 different kinds of 1099 forms that people use to report income they get from sources other than a steady job. This can range from freelance work to unemployment compensation, from stock securities sales to property foreclosure losses, and many things in between.
Health Savings Account (HSA) Contributions
HSAs have maximum allowable contribution limits for you and your employer, but for the taxpayer, they “offer triple tax advantages: Tax-deductible contributions, tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses,” according to Fidelity. Form 8889 is used to figure deductions and report contributions and distributions.
Charitable Contributions
Alright, it’s time to get serious about what you might feel to be a minor thing. You should be declaring all cash donations (this includes the $10 pledged to your child’s school funding drive), the estimated value of all non-monetary donations (furniture, clothing) and any mileage you use for charitable driving (no matter how little). If noncash gifts total more than $500, use Form 8283. Most organizations are meticulous about giving receipts, so you should be the same with remembering them.
State Taxes From Last Year
Commonly forgotten, if you had any outstanding taxes when you submitted last year’s state tax return, don’t forget to include that sum with your state tax itemized deduction and state income taxes that were either paid in quarterly estimated payments or withheld from your paychecks.
Jury Duty Pay
Although a receipt for jury duty isn’t usually paid, the court may issue a 1099-MISC form if you earned more than $600, per the IRS. Regardless, declaring an amount as “Other Income” on line 21 of Form 1040 is required, regardless of the amount.
Gambling Winnings
When playing Monopoly, the “You have won second prize in a beauty contest” card will net you $10, but in real life, you’ll need to declare it as income on your return.
According to the IRS, “Generally, if you receive $600 or more in gambling winnings, the payer is required to issue you a Form W-2G. If you have won more than $5,000, the payer may be required to withhold 28% of the proceeds for Federal income tax.”
A missed document in real life might cost you a bit of money. In Monopoly, you’ll “Go to Jail.”
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