Your CPA Meeting Checklist: What to Bring + Why QCDs Matter

A great tax outcome usually starts with something simple: good information, organized early. If you’re meeting with your CPA, showing up prepared can reduce errors, speed up filing, and help uncover planning opportunities—especially for high-income families with multiple accounts, charitable giving, and investment activity.  

What to bring to your CPA

Here’s a practical checklist many families find helpful:  

Income + reporting documents

• W-2s, 1099s, K-1s (and any late-arriving partnership documents)
• Social Security statements (SSA-1099) if applicable
• Pension/annuity forms (1099-R)
• Rental income/expense summaries, mortgage interest statements, property tax info

Investment and brokerage

• Consolidated brokerage 1099s (dividends, interest, sales, cost basis)
• RSU/stock option exercise and sale detail (often needs extra attention)
• Any private investment statements or capital call notices (if relevant)

Retirement accounts

• IRA distribution forms (1099-R)
• Documentation related to rollovers, conversions, or recharacterizations
• Confirmation of any retirement plan contributions (including backdoor Roth steps, if applicable)

Charitable giving 

• Donation receipts and confirmations
• Donor-advised fund statements
• Documentation for gifts of appreciated securities And importantly: Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)  

Why telling your CPA about QCDs is critical

If you donate from an IRA using a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), it can be a powerful tax move—because the distribution can potentially be excluded from taxable income when done correctly. Here’s the catch: a QCD often appears on a 1099-R like a normal IRA distribution. The difference is how it’s reported on the return. That’s why it’s important to tell your CPA the amount of your QCDs and which charities received them.  

Helpful items to provide:

• The total QCD amount for the year
• Dates and receiving charities
• Confirmation letters from charities
• Custodian statements showing checks were sent directly to qualified organizations  

A helpful next step

If you’re making charitable gifts—or planning to—coordination between your advisor and CPA can make a real difference. 

Download Our Tax Prep Checklist

^{Disclosure: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice. Consult your CPA for guidance specific to your situation.}