DCWP - Documents for Self-Employed Filers

Consumer and Worker Protection


File Your Taxes

Checklist of Documents for Self-Employed Filers


Self-Employed Tax Filing Organizer

You will need to have some important documents ready before you can file your taxes. This table will help you organize some basic materials that every self-employed person should have when filing taxes.

Personal Documents:

Note: If you are filing jointly with a spouse or if you have dependents, you will need their information as well.

☐ ID/Driver’s License

☐ Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

☐ Bank account & routing number for direct deposit of a tax refund

☐ Bank & credit card statements for any account used to do business

☐ Previous year’s tax return, if available

Income:

☐ Income tracker (Printable version) or bookkeeping software, if you use one

☐ 1099, 1099-K, 1099 MISC, and 1099-NEC records for all self-employed work completed

☐ W2 forms if you worked as a salaried employee in addition to your self-employed work

☐ Invoices, receipts, or any other records of income not reported on 1099, including:

☐ Payment service reports (e.g., Square, Shopify, etc.)

☐ App platform reports (e.g., Uber, Taskrabbit, Wag, StyleSeat, etc.)

Expenses:

☐ Expense tracker (Printable version) or bookkeeping software, if you use one

☐ Other records of expenses related to your self-employment, including receipts, credit card and/or bank statements, or health insurance premiums

☐ Mileage log (Printable version), if you use your vehicle for activities related to your self-employment

☐ Records of expenses related to you home office, if you have one. This could be rent, utilities, maintenance, and square footage

☐ Records of federal or state quarterly estimated tax payments (if you’ve paid them in the past year)

☐ Records related to personal deductions, including childcare expenses (e.g., daycare, babysitter, some summer camps), educational expenses (e.g., college tuition, job skills course), etc.

If you have employees:

☐ Any W-2 or 1099 forms you issued

☐ Documents confirming any benefits, pensions, or profit-sharing programs you have

This page was updated 10/2023.