The Only Tax Season Checklist for Accountants You’ll Want to Read in April 2025
For people who work with taxes, April is not a month. It's not a season. It's not the English version of Avril Lavigne’s name. It’s the part of the calendar that starts whispering at you from February, screams through March, and finally sits on your chest in the final two weeks before the deadline.
By now, it’s not about organization anymore; honestly, it’s about stamina. You’re busy with client requests, chasing down missing documents, reviewing receipts that look like they’ve lived on a car floor for a month in autumn, and somehow still trying to file clean, compliant returns. Sleep is optional, while precision is not.
This article is your last-mile checklist for accountants, bookkeepers, and tax professionals trying to stay accurate and keep their dignity intact. You don’t need fluff. You need structure, reminders, and a few pro tips that won’t insult your intelligence.
And if you’re only here for that checklist, scroll to the bottom. We won’t mind.
Step 1: Get the Full Picture of Client Documents (Without Sending 13 Follow-Up Emails)
Tighten the intake. Avoid email ping-pong. Use secure portals, client-specific checklists, or upload links that don’t require another forgotten password. Bonus points if you can set an auto-reminder for clients so it’s not on your plate anymore.
What To Look For
Income Forms
W-2s from every job. Yes, even the one they quit in February.
1099-NEC and 1099-MISC for side gigs, freelance, or contract work.
1099-Ks from PayPal, Etsy, Airbnb, Venmo, etc. (Check local thresholds.)
1099-INT, 1099-DIV, and 1099-B — and crypto transactions, if they invested in chaos.
K-1s for partnerships or S corps. If they’re late, make a paper trail.
Foreign bank account income. If balances topped $10,000, FBAR applies.
Deductions and Expenses
Mortgage interest and property taxes (Form 1098).
Charitable donations — written proof is required for amounts over $250.
Medical expenses above 7.5% of AGI.
Tuition (1098-T) and student loan interest (1098-E).
Childcare costs with provider EINs.
IRA, SEP, or solo 401(k) contributions made before the filing deadline.
Tax Payments and Refund Routing
All federal and state estimated payments. Confirm dates and amounts.
Bank account info for direct deposit. Clients change banks more than they admit.
Pro Tip: Pull last year’s return and run a side-by-side. The easiest way to catch missing items is to ask, “Where did this line go?”
Pro Tip 2: There are tools that can automate doc chasing. That’s one less reminder you have to send at 9:37pm.”
Step 2: Hunt for Hidden Deductions and Credits
Once the basics are done, turn to the buried treasure. These credits don’t shout… they whisper.
Commonly Missed:
Educator expenses (up to $300, still overlooked constantly).
HSA contributions made up until the filing deadline.
Energy-efficient upgrades (Form 5695).
Clean vehicle credit for qualifying electric cars.
Self-employed health insurance deduction.
Lifetime Learning Credit for nontraditional education costs.
Pro Tip: Ask clients one question: “What changed last year?”
New kid? New side hustle? Moved states? These unlock deductions clients never think to mention. Don’t wait for them to bring it up — they won’t.
Run a comparison in your tax software. If something feels off (big dip in income, missing deduction), ask. It’s almost always something they forgot, not something that disappeared.
Step 3: Untangle Uncategorized Transactions (Especially the Weird Ones)
Here’s where the ghosts live. “Ask My Accountant” transactions, random $937 payments with no notes, charges labeled “Misc Services”—all” this stuff multiplies in March.
What to Do:
Pull reports filtered by uncategorized or vague entries.
Flag round numbers or high-dollar payments for review.
Match Stripe, PayPal, and Square deposits to what actually hit the bank.
If it’s a cash business, ask for logs or summaries.
For crypto, get them on CoinTracker or TaxBit and save yourself 19 hours of grief.
Pro Tip: Even a quick email from the client explaining, “This was a deposit refund,” is better than guessing. Grab context while they still remember what happened.
Step 4: Verify Compliance and Patch Risk Areas
Avoid the trap of thinking “this looks good” equals “this will pass.”
Double-Check:
Signed Form 8879s.
Correct prior-year AGI (for e-file matching).
Dependents’ names and SSNs match official records.
Charitable contributions aren’t all round numbers.
Home office expenses align with square footage and income level.
Estimated payments match transcripts. (Yes, pull the transcripts.)
Pro Tip: Trust your gut. If something feels off, like a suspiciously clean Schedule C or expenses that don’t fit, dig deeper. You know when something’s off-pattern. And if you’re wrong, well, your intuition will develop. Win-win.
Step 5: Communicate With Clients Like a Human, Not a Portal
After everything’s prepared and filed, the client still wants one thing: to understand what happened.
Don’t just send a PDF of the 1040. Send a short explanation that covers
Total income and major changes.
What credits and deductions mattered?
Refund or payment owed — and why.
A quick look ahead: how to improve or plan better next year.
Pro Tip: Use Loom or record a 1-minute video walk-through. It saves time, shows you care, and reduces those vague “Hey, I had a question about line 33” emails.
If something’s delayed, like a missing K-1, say it clearly. Uncertainty makes clients more anxious than bad news.
Step 6: Organize Your Own Brain (Even If the Calendar Looks Hopeless)
You’re not just filing returns anymore; you’re actually managing decisions. Focus becomes your most valuable asset.
Set Up a Master Tracker:
Clients missing documents
Returns ready for review
Filed and finalized returns
Clients requiring final confirmation before delivery
Color-code (always fun) or rank by complexity. Anything that gives you visibility without mental load.
Pro Tip: Block your calendar and make sure everyone respects these blocks. Mornings for prep, afternoons for review, and emails in two tight windows. Multitasking will cost you much more than a missed lunch.
Check in with your team. The quietest person in the Slack thread is often the one who’s about to snap. Make space.
The Takeaway: Done Is Fine. Accurate Is Better.
Clients don’t remember if you filed on April 4 or April 14. They remember if you made them feel calm, cared for, and clear. You don’t need to rush; you just need to be right.
File strong. Ask good questions. Sleep when you can.
And how about skipping the “What was this $847 charge?” emails? Use Uncat. Your clients don’t need to download anything. You don’t need to follow up a fourth time. It’s built for the part of April no one likes thinking about.
When you’re finally done filing, sit down, exhale, and maybe pour something you didn’t try to write off. And just like Avril, say “see you later, boi” to every uncategorized charge and K-1 that came in 12 days late. You made it.
Last-Minute Tax Prep Checklist
Income Documents
☐ W-2s from all employers
☐ 1099-NEC / 1099-MISC (freelance/contract work)
☐ 1099-K (platform income: PayPal, Etsy, etc.)
☐ 1099-INT / DIV / B (interest, dividends, stocks)
☐ Crypto transaction reports (8949, CoinTracker, etc.)
☐ K-1s (partnership/S corp income)
☐ Foreign income disclosures (FBAR if >$10k)
Deductible Expenses
☐ Mortgage interest & property tax (1098)
☐ Charitable donations (with receipts)
☐ Medical expenses (>7.5% AGI)
☐ Education costs (1098-T & 1098-E)
☐ Childcare expenses with EINs
☐ IRA/SEP/solo 401(k) contributions
Payments & Refunds
☐ Estimated tax payments (federal + state)
☐ State tax payments made online
☐ Direct deposit bank info (updated)
Commonly Missed Credits
☐ HSA contributions
☐ Educator expense deduction
☐ Energy-efficient home upgrades
☐ Clean vehicle credit
☐ Lifetime Learning Credit
☐ Self-employed health insurance deduction
Final Review
☐ Unexplained or uncategorized transactions resolved
☐ All documents signed (Form 8879)
☐ Prior-year AGI matched for e-filing
☐ Dependents’ SSNs and filing status verified
☐ Home office deductions verified
☐ Transcripts pulled for estimated payments if unsure
Client Communication
☐ Short summary or Loom video explaining return
☐ Clear explanation of refund/balance due
☐ Notes on changes from last year
☐ Advice for next year’s planning
☐ Status update if anything is delayed (e.g., K-1s)
Internal Organization
☐ Tracker updated: missing docs / ready / filed
☐ Calendar blocked for focused work
☐ Team check-ins scheduled
☐ Backup plans in place for overload days
