Having all the needed documents on hand before you start to prepare your return helps you file a complete and accurate tax return. Gather your records. Develop a recordkeeping system - electronic or paper - that keeps important information in one place. Add tax records to the files as you receive them.

This includes year-end Forms W-2 from employers, Forms 1099 from banks and other payers, other income documents, virtual currency transactions and Forms 1095-A from the Marketplace for those claiming the Premium Tax Credit. You should confirm that each employer, bank or other payer has your current mailing address. Typically, these forms start arriving by mail in January. Review them over carefully and, if any of the information shown is inaccurate, contact the payer right away for a correction.

Notify the IRS if your address changes and notify the Social Security Administration of a legal name change to avoid a delay in processing your tax return.

If you’re using the same tax software you used last year, you will not need to enter your prior year information to electronically sign your 2019 tax return. If you are using a software product for the first time, you will need your 2018 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to sign your return.