What Information Do I Need to File My Taxes?

Your tax return forms require personal information, including your name, your spouse's name, your address and phone number, and the Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for each spouse. You also need the Social Security number for any child for whom you claim a child tax credit. For faster processing of any refund, provide your bank account number and routing number to allow direct deposit of the payment.

Filling out your tax return requires several tax documents. The most common tax documents include W-2 forms for inputting your total yearly income and the amount of taxes you already paid. Other tax documents include 1099 forms for self-employment income, unemployment income and investment income. You may also have 1098 forms for mortgage interest, student loan interest and tuition paid. These forms must be mailed by the generating agency by the end of January for the previous tax year.

Deductions and credits lower your total tax burden. Common deductions for filing taxes include child care costs, education costs, medical costs, charitable donations and business expenses. Assemble your receipts for these expenses and keep them with your other tax documents. You also need documentation of any taxes paid throughout the year if you are self-employed.

Once you assemble your tax documents and receipts, you'll need official tax return forms. All federal forms are available on the Internal Revenue Service website, by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM or through the IRS' Free File service online. You may also consider taking your tax documents and receipts to a tax preparation specialist or accountant to fill out your taxes for you.

Filing your taxes electronically eliminates the need to mail in your tax return forms, documents and receipts. This doesn't mean you can throw them away. For most taxpayers, the IRS recommends keeping tax documents for three years from the date you filed your return. You'll need these records if you are audited by the IRS.