A copy of last year's return. This should contain your personal information such as names, Social Security numbers, address, etc. I will also need the date of birth for everyone listed on the return (yourself, spouse, dependents, etc), and phone numbers and email. If anything from the prior return has changed, such as your address, please let me know what address you want to use. If you are using a forwarding address in the US, some states (such as Texas, from Mail Boxes or Handy Mail) are much easier than others. If you are permanently living in Mexico, you don’t need to be paying state income taxes to your former state! If you have a forwarding address to a friend in California, for example, this can cause problems in the state wanting you to pay taxes there. We can discuss these issues. If you just moved to Mexico this year, please give me the date of your move.

All “official” paperwork received by you, such as W-2s, 1099s, from banks, pensions, IRA withdrawals, employers, etc. I don’t have to have the actual originals, but I do need a copy or fax of the originals. I would also prefer to have the official statement (has pink colored paper on it) from Social Security, but not everyone receives this. If you don’t have it, I can get this number from bank statements or what you received last year. This is the only exception to seeing the originals.

All brokerage statements, NOT the 12/31 statement, but the one labeled “Important Tax Information” which will contain your official 1099s. If you have sales of investments (shown on a 1099-B), there will be a number for “Gross Proceeds from Sales”. I also need a statement showing the gains and losses for investments. Some brokers include this with this statement; others do not and you have to ask them for it separately.

A copy of a US check (write VOID over it) so I can get routing and account numbers for direct deposit of a refund. It is NOT advisable to have a refund check mailed to you in Mexico. If you need to pay estimated taxes, I must set it up electronically at the time of your return preparation, or you will later have to go online yourself to make electronic payments. The IRS is no longer accepting paper checks for estimated tax payments.

If you have a rental property, I will need the information from the prior year as to address, etc. Please make sure you have a depreciation schedule for an ongoing property. If not, ask your previous accountant to provide one. If we are setting up a rental for the first time, we will talk for more details.

If you are working overseas and use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, I can obtain information from your prior return if your situation is the same, but will need to ask you more questions if you are setting this up for the first time.

Deductions: Many people overseas use the Standard Deduction because they are no longer paying mortgage interest, real estate or state income taxes, and do not meet the level for itemizing deductions. However, if you do have enough deductions to itemize, I will need the 1098 form for mortgage interest and taxes, and a list of other deductions, such as medical expenses, charity, etc.

Planning for future years for correct withholding or estimates, to avoid penalties to the IRS.

Phone consultations for simple questions answered free outside of busy season.

Examination of your current portfolio to look for ways to lower your tax bill.