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Checklists

Small business tax documents checklist.

What most preparers ask small business clients for at year end. Tax pros: send this in January and get the books before the deadline crunch.

Most businesses

  • Profit and loss statementFor the full year.
  • Balance sheetAs of December 31.
  • Bank and credit card statements, DecemberFor every business account, to tie out the books.
  • 1099s received1099-NEC, 1099-K and 1099-MISC sent to the business.
  • Last year's business returnIf you're new to this preparer.

If it applies

  • Payroll reportsAnnual summary, W-3 and quarterly 941s.
  • 1099s you sentCopies of the 1099-NEC forms you gave contractors.
  • New equipment or vehicle purchasesReceipts, dates placed in service, and financing papers.
  • Loan statementsYear-end balances and interest paid.
  • Mileage logBusiness miles for each vehicle.
  • Home office detailsSquare footage of the office and of the home.
  • Estimated tax paymentsDates and amounts, federal and state.
  • Ownership changesNew partners or shareholders, or buyouts.

What usually holds things up

  • Books that aren't closed for the year.
  • Personal and business spending mixed in one account.
  • Equipment bought in December with no receipt.
  • 1099-K forms that don't match recorded sales.

Questions

When are small business taxes due?
For calendar-year businesses, partnerships and S-corps file by March 15. Sole proprietors and C-corps file by April 15. Extensions are available.

Do I need to send every receipt?
Usually not. Send the summaries your preparer asks for, and keep the receipts on file.

Updated November 2026. Every lender, landlord and preparer is a little different, so treat this as a starting list, not legal or tax advice.

Send this list. Stop chasing it.

Corral has a ready-made "Small business return" checklist. Send your client one link, they upload from their phone with no account, and Corral reminds them until every item is in.

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