Meeting with a tax professional for the first time can feel overwhelming if you are not sure What to bring. Being organized before your appointment will help the professional assess your situation accurately and give you a realistic picture of the work involved.
Documents to Gather Before Your Appointment
The specific documents you need will depend on your situation, but commonly required items include:
- Income documents: W-2 forms from employers, 1099-NEC for freelance or contractor income, 1099-INT for bank interest, 1099-DIV for dividends, 1099-B for investment sales, 1099-R for retirement distributions
- Prior year returns: Bringing your federal and California state returns from the prior year helps the preparer identify carryforward items and check for consistency
- Social Security numbers: For yourself, your spouse if filing jointly, and any dependents
- Bank account information: For direct deposit of any refund
- Expense records: Receipts or summaries for deductible expenses such as charitable contributions, mortgage interest (Form 1098), property taxes, and medical costs
California-Specific Items to Include
- Any FTB notices or correspondence received during the year
- Records of California estimated tax payments made (Form 540-ES payment confirmations)
- Documentation of any California SDI withheld, shown on your W-2 in Box 14
- If you sold a California property, the escrow closing statement
Questions to Ask During the Meeting
Your first appointment is also an opportunity to evaluate whether this professional is a good fit. Consider asking:
- What is your process if the IRS or FTB contacts me after you file?
- How do I reach you between tax seasons with questions?
- Are there any steps I can take now to reduce my tax liability going forward?
- How do you handle amended returns if we discover an error?
What to Expect After the Meeting
A reputable tax professional will explain the return to you before asking for your signature, provide you with a complete copy of everything filed, and keep records of your documents for at least a few years. The IRS requires preparers to sign returns they are paid to prepare and include their PTIN. If a preparer is reluctant to sign or provide copies, that is a reason to look elsewhere.
Arriving prepared saves time and helps ensure nothing is missed — especially in California, where state filings have their own schedules and conformity rules separate from the federal return.
Official sources referenced: IRS.gov, California Board of Accountancy (dca.ca.gov/cba), California Franchise Tax Board (ftb.ca.gov). Not reviewed by a credentialed tax professional.