Before beginning the tax filing process, you must gather a few key pieces of information, irrespective of whether you want to do it yourself or hire a tax preparer. This includes your proof of income, any expense that could help you claim a tax deduction or credit and any documentation of taxes you may have already paid for the year, if applicable.  Other information you should be ready with includes-  Your SSN (Social Security Number), along with those for your spouse and dependents.  W-2 form. It will depict the income you had in the last year and the taxes you have paid already. In case you had multiple jobs during a particular period, you will have more than one W-2 form.  Contributions made by you to retirement accounts  1099 forms. They will display information if you have received money from some entity or person, other than your employer.  Educational expenses.  Charitable donations  Interest accrued on property taxes and mortgage  Unreimbursed medical bills.  State and local taxes you paid.  Federal and state tax returns of last year.