April 15, Tax Day in the USA, is fast approaching. If you do not think you will be ready on time, you can file for an extension. In the meantime, if you believe you are missing paperwork that you need to complete your tax return, there are steps you can take.
1. Check your email, especially your spam folder. You may not have realized that you consented to electronic delivery for documents. You can also go to the websites for the specific institution (bank, mortgage company, investment company, etc.) Log into your account and there is usually a section for downloading tax documents.
2. Go to the IRS website. If you click here, you can create an account to obtain your tax records and a transcript of your account. When employers, companies, banks, etc., issue Forms W-2 and 1099 and other similar forms, they are also reported to the IRS so these may be available on your own account.
3. Contact the issuer (employer or financial institution). In most cases, it will be re-issued upon request or you can be directed to an online site to obtain it.
If you are not sure if you have all of the documents, use last year’s tax return as a guide. Chances are good that if you had an account or a source of income last year, you will have it this year. For more information on filing your tax return, go here.
