Checklist of Documents for Self-Employed Filers

What You Need to File

Below is a checklist of what you need to file your 2022 tax return at an NYC Free Tax Prep site specifically for self-employed filers.

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Identification:

▢ Government-issued photo ID (includes IDNYC)

▢ Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN). ITIN determination letters (original, copy, or electronic document) and birth dates for you, your spouse, and your dependents


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Proof of Income:

When filing taxes electronically, filers must sign and validate their electronic tax return by entering their prior-year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or their prior-year Self-Select PIN. Please see the following guidance to find your prior-year AGI.

▢ Form 1099-G if you received unemployment insurance at any point during 2022

To obtain a form, visit dol.ny.gov and search “1099-G.” or call 1-888-209-8124 to have the New York State Department of Labor mail the form to the address they have on file for you.

▢ Forms W-2, 1099-K, 1099-MISC, or other source of income paid in any form, including but not limited to:

  • Cash receipts journal
  • Cash disbursements journal
  • Sales journal
  • General journal
  • Checkbook
  • Bank statements, cancelled checks and deposit information

  Forms may include:

  • Form W-2 (wages from each job)
  • Form 1099-INT (interest)
  • Form 1099-DIV (dividends)
  • Form 1099-R (retirement plans)
  • Form W-2G (gambling winnings)
  • Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
  • Form 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income)
  • Form 1099-K (deposits and earnings)
  • Form 1099-B (sale of stock)
  • Form 1098-T (scholarships and grants)
  • Form 1099-C (cancellation of debt)
  • Form 1098-T (tuition payments to attend a university or technical college)
  • Form 1098-E (interest paid on student loans)

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Proof of Expenses:

▢ Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement (e.g., Excel sheet or pen and paper)

▢ Records of any required 1099 payments (1096 form)

▢ Records of salaries paid*

  • FormW-3 (for salaries paid)
  • Form 941 (quarterly payments)
  • Form 940 (federal unemployment tax return)
  • Payroll company records

  • *Returns including expenses for employees or home office expenses (other than childcare businesses) can only completed at limited locations. Please call site before your appointment to confirm.

▢ Records of pension plans. Contributions to qualified small business reitrement plans like:

  • SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) plans
  • SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) plans
  • Qualified plans (including Keogh or H.R. 10) plans

▢ Records of paid invoices (e.g., cancelled checks and paid statements)

▢ Records of home office expenses**

  • Rent statements
  • Size of home
  • Size of area used for business
  • Insurance forms
  • 1098 for owned home
  • Utility bills (paid)
  • Internet bills

  • **Returns including expenses for employees or home office expenses (other than childcare businesses) can only completed at limited locations. Please call site before your appointment to confirm.

▢ Record of vehicle used for business

  • Mileage log
    • Total mileage
    • Business mileage
  • Receipts and other records of expenses including, but not limited to:
    • Parking
    • Gas
    • Maintenance
    • Insurance
    • Registration & licensing
    • Tolls
    • Car wash
    • Car supplies
    • Sanitizing and PPE
  • Payment and purchase records
    • Lease payments
    • Original price
    • Amount paid before placing car in service
    • Past depreciation

Other:

▢ Filed Forms 1040-ES (federal) and IT-2105 (New York State) showing estimated tax payments for 2021

▢ Copy of 2020 and 2021 tax return or transcript

To request a transcript, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-9946 or visit irs.gov and search “Get Transcript.”

▢ Form 1095-A if you, your spouse, or dependents enrolled in a health insurance plan through the Health Plan Marketplace

▢ Payment records for child care, including the provider’s name, address, and Employer Identification Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, or Social Security number

▢ Records of cash and non-cash charitable contributions


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Banking Information:

▢ Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of your refund or payment of annual/quarterly tax payments.
Need to open a bank account? Visit nyc.gov/safestart to find out how you can open an NYC SafeStart Account. The NYC SafeStart Account has no overdraft fees and no monthly fees if you maintain a minimum balance of $25 or even less depending on the financial institution.

▢ NY 529 account, routing, and plan numbers to directly deposit all or part of your state refund into a college savings account
Did you know you now can split your NYS refund and directly deposit all or part of it into a 529 College Savings account? There's no minimum balance needed to open an account. Visit nysaves.org or call 1-877-NYSAVES (1-877-697-2837) to learn more and to create an account.

If you are married and filing jointly, both you and your spouse must sign the required forms.







This page was updated on 01/27/2023.