Tax-Time Checklist
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax rules are complex and change frequently. Please consult your tax professional regarding your specific situation. Divvi Wealth Management does not provide tax advice.
Tax season tends to come in waves—especially if you have taxable investment accounts. The checklist below is meant to help you:
know what to expect,
avoid filing too early, and
reduce the chance of follow-up “correction” headaches.
timing: what shows up when
Many statements are due to be furnished by February 2, 2026 (January 31 falls on a Saturday this year), but consolidated 1099s, including 1099-B, often arrive later, by February 17, 2026.
The table below focuses on the most common tax forms tied to investing and taxable income. Keep in mind this list is not comprehensive. You may receive other documents that detail items like mortgage interest, tuition payments, social security benefits, or proof of health care coverage.
If you are subscribed to paperless delivery, forms may be “delivered” online with no mail copy. Keep an eye on your email inbox for notifications from providers.
| Document | Usually comes from | When you can expect it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| W-2 | Employer | Must be furnished by Feb 2, 2026 | Wages/withholding; often the anchor for the return |
| 1099-NEC / 1099-MISC | Businesses that paid you (consulting, board fees, etc.) |
1099-NEC: generally furnished by Feb 2, 2026. 1099-MISC: generally furnished by Feb 2, 2026; if reporting only box 8 or box 10, furnished by Feb 17, 2026. |
Reports non-wage income you’ll need to include |
| 1099-INT / 1099-DIV / 1099-OID | Banks, credit unions, some brokerages | Generally furnished by Feb 2, 2026 | Interest/dividends; some items are reclassified later |
| Brokerage “Consolidated 1099” (includes 1099-B) | Brokerage/custodian (taxable accounts) | Furnished deadline Feb 17, 2026 (also applies to consolidated statements) | Capital gains/losses, dividends, interest, cost basis details |
| 1099-R | IRA/401(k)/pension custodian | Generally furnished by Feb 2, 2026 | Distributions, rollovers, Roth conversions |
| Form 5498 (IRA) | IRA custodian | FMV/RMD statement by Feb 2, 2026; contribution information by June 1, 2026. | Often record-keeping; not always required to file, but important to retain |
| Schedule K-1 | Partnerships / private funds / some real estate investments | Often March or later (timing varies; extensions are common) | Can change taxable income, deductions, and sometimes state filings |
Cryptocurrency forms and documentation may also be required. You may need exchange or wallet transaction histories to correctly calculate cost basis, especially if you moved assets between platforms, used multiple wallets, or traded on more than one exchange. Digital asset tax reporting requirements and broker reporting practices are evolving. You may not receive all forms you expect, so maintaining your own records is important.
| Document | Usually comes from | When you can expect it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 1099-DA (Digital asset proceeds) | Crypto exchanges / brokers (when they meet the definition of a broker) | Recipient statement due Feb 17, 2026 for 2025 transactions | Reports sales/exchanges/disposals and proceeds; helps reconcile capital gains/losses |
| 1099-MISC (rewards/income) | Some exchanges/platforms | Commonly issued when rewards total $600+ (some platforms may issue even below IRS thresholds) | Rewards like staking/earn/referrals/airdrops may be treated as ordinary income |
| Transaction history / CSV reports (not an IRS form) | Exchanges, wallets, DeFi/NFT platforms | Anytime (you may need to download manually) | Often essential for cost basis, transfers between wallets, and trades not fully captured on tax forms |
Before filing: A Quick Review
These are common items that create avoidable rework if overlooked.
Note: For those changing tax preparers, it may be helpful to request a carryforward summary to ensure nothing is missed in the transition. Your new preparer will likely request prior year tax returns and supporting schedules, but it can be easy to overlook some of these carryforward items, potentially causing overpayment of taxes.
| Quick check | What you’re looking for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wait for the brokerage consolidated 1099 | A final consolidated statement (not just an early dividend/interest form) | Filing before it arrives is a top reason for amended returns |
| Watch for corrected 1099s | A “Corrected” box checked, updated totals, or updated classifications | Corrections happen—often due to dividend reclassification, REIT reporting, bond details, or corporate actions |
| Cost basis looks reasonable | Missing/blank basis, odd holding periods, large “unknown” gains | Cost basis issues can inflate taxable gains if not addressed |
| Wash sales | Losses disallowed due to repurchases within the wash-sale window | Can change realized losses you expected to claim |
| Backdoor Roth reporting | Proper reporting of non-deductible IRA contributions + conversion | Commonly done correctly, but commonly reported incorrectly |
| Charitable strategy items | QCDs, donor-advised fund receipts, large gifts of appreciated securities | Documentation and correct reporting matter (especially for non-cash gifts) |
| Account moves/closures | A form from a prior custodian after you transferred/closed an account | Very common—don’t assume “I moved it” means “no form” |
The checklist
Gather now
☐ Make a list of every place you received tax documents last year (employer, banks, brokerages, retirement custodians, private funds).
☐ Confirm you can access online portals for each provider (and that your email/password/2FA is current).
☐ If you changed addresses, verify mailing addresses and paperless settings.
As forms arrive
☐ Save each tax form in one folder. PDFs may be more convenient than paper copies for those that upload forms to an online tax prep service or who share documents with a professional tax preparer via a secure document vault. Consider naming consistently to easily locate different forms (Example: 2025_1099_ABC_Brokerage.pdf).
☐ If you have multiple brokerage accounts, confirm you have a consolidated 1099 for each taxable account.
☐ If you transferred accounts mid-year, watch for a final form from the prior custodian.
Before filing
☐ Confirm you’ve received everything on your “expected forms” list.
☐ If you have a brokerage account, consider waiting until you’re confident the consolidated 1099 is final (corrected forms can arrive).
☐ If you’re expecting K-1s, assume your filing timeline may be later than mid-February.
☐ If you might owe, talk with your tax preparer about estimates or adjusting withholdings.
☐ If you might expect to file for an extension, remember this is an extension to file, not an extension to pay. Tax owed will still be due by the original filing deadline.
After filing
☐ Keep a copy of all forms and the final return in one place.
☐ If a corrected form arrives after filing, forward it to your tax preparer right away to determine whether action is required.
corrected 1099 forms: why they happen
A corrected 1099 usually doesn’t mean anything went wrong. It often reflects finalized reporting that comes in late—especially for:
REITs and certain fund distributions
Bond interest details (OID/premium/discount)
Corporate actions (mergers, spinoffs, reorganizations)
Final “qualified dividend” classifications
If you’re eager to file early, this is the main reason to pause, particularly if your taxable brokerage account is meaningful.
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