2026 Tax Filing Checklist
A Reference Guide To Aid Your Tax Filing in 2026
January 26th marks the beginning of the 2026 tax season. If you haven’t already, now is the time to start preparing. Whether you meet with a tax professional or prepare your taxes yourself, proper planning will help your 2026 tax filing go more smoothly and may reduce the risk of costly errors. Check out some of the basic tax tips below and prepare to tackle this tax season with confidence.
Gather Forms
Remember, tax filing is not a race. You have until April 15th to file your return or extend your filing. Please make sure you print or collect ALL of the important tax documents including:
- W-2s
- SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits
- 1099-Rs, 1099-NECs, 1099-DIVs, 1099-INTs, and Consolidated 1099 from financial institutions
- 1095-A for government marketplace health coverage
- 1098s for reporting interest and tuition payments
- W-2Gs for any gambling winnings
- Schedule K-1s for company ownership
Organize Personal Information
Double-check important information like:
- Social Security number of your dependents or spouse
- Make sure to update your CPA and CFP for any address changes that happened in the prior year
- Addresses of all property you own
- Exact date of when property was bought or sold
Round-Up Receipts
Gather all receipts for business expenses, medical expenses, property tax payments, and other expenses that can be listed on your Schedule A or Schedule C.
Count Charitable Contributions
Filers who choose to itemize deductions on Schedule A should gather all charitable contribution data for 2025.
Find Last Year’s Tax Return
If you are using the same preparer as the previous year, they should have a copy of your tax return. If not, find your old copy and have it ready with your other tax items to give to your tax preparer.
File Your Return
The filing deadline for 2026 is April 15th – with a 6-month extension available to anyone that files for it. Remember that the extension is only an extension to file your paperwork, you are still required to pay any tax due by April 15th. Interest and penalties will be assessed on any unpaid tax after this date. After you have thoroughly gathered ALL relevant tax information for 2026, you are set to file your return. To avoid processing and refund delays, we highly encourage filers to utilize the IRS E-File function for a more streamlined process.
Think About Your Refund
Consider what you plan to do with your refund once you receive it. You have the option to apply your payment towards next year’s tax bill if you’d like.
Need Some Help?
If you’d like some help from one of our CPAs or CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) advisors regarding this strategy and how it applies to you, the Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management team is here to help.
Our experienced Wealth Managers facilitate our entire suite of services including financial planning, investment management, tax optimization, estate planning, and more to our valued clients.
Feel free to contact us at (832) 789-1100, [email protected], or click the button below to schedule your complimentary consultation today.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES:
Corporate benefits may change at any point in time. Be sure to consult with human resources and review Summary Plan Description(s) before implementing any strategy discussed herein.Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management, LLC (“RGWM”) is an SEC registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in the State of Texas. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RGWM has attained a certain level of skill, training, or ability. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own CPA or tax professional before engaging in any transaction. The effectiveness of any of the strategies described will depend on your individual situation and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Past performance may not be indicative of future results and does not guarantee future positive returns.
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