What does the tax advisor need for the tax return? (checklist)

In order for the tax advisor to be able to correctly prepare your tax return, he needs certain documents. You must provide them to him completely and on time. The exact documents you submit for the tax return depend, among other things, on whether you are employed as an employee in a company, a landlord, a small business owner or self-employed.

In any case, the better you structure your tax return documents and if you meticulously ensure that they are complete, the more efficiently your tax advisor can work. After all, he uses the documents for his evaluation. With the right approach, you can save time and money and also prevent queries.

Here you can find out which tax documents you need and at the same time receive a practical checklist for your tax return.
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Key takeaways

Structured preparation:
Good organization saves time, effort and money — and makes things easier for your tax advisor.
Know mandatory documents:
Regardless of your status — employed or self-employed — there are documents that every tax return should include.
Coordinate processes:
Some tax advisors work with fixed processes. Clarify early on how you can best support him.
More effort for self-employed people:
Small business owners and managing directors generally have to submit more than private individuals. A clean document organization helps.
Legal security:
A tax advisor ensures that all regulations are met — and is familiar with flat rates and optimizations.
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What documents does everyone need for the tax return?

Regardless of whether you are employed or self-employed, and no matter which type of income is relevant to you: There are a few documents that must be included in every tax return.

Tax return documents:

· Insurance proofs:
They show how high the contributions you pay for your health, long-term care, liability or accident insurance are. You can claim these expenses in your tax return.

· Documents relating to special expenses:
Classic special expenses include donations, church tax and contributions for retirement provision.

· Documents relating to your exceptional burdens:
Extraordinary burdens include illness and care costs or maintenance payments.

· Invoices for household-related services/craftsman services:
You can also partially deduct these amounts from tax. A typical example of a household-related service is cat sitting, for example, when the caregiver performs the service in your home.

Eighth at all documents In any case, to a clearly comprehensible structure. In this way, you avoid queries and ensure transparency right from the start.

The tax return: What documents does the tax advisor need?

The documents that your tax advisor For the tax return, depend on the prevailing type of income and on the question of whether you are self-employed or as a small business owner or would like to have a tax return prepared as a private person. The aim should always be to keep the effort that your tax advisor has to prepare your tax return as low as possible. This means that he should be able to navigate your collection of documents easily.

In the following sections, you will find out what your tax advisor needs for your tax return. If you are unsure, you should definitely contact him and have a brief consultation. This also applies to how you prepare the corresponding data. Many tax advisors have developed an individual system here over time. Should you your old Tax advisor terminated , it may be that the new one must comply with other requirements.

Private individuals: documents for employees and landlords

When you submit your tax documents as a private person, a lot revolves around proof of income and expenditure receipts. One of the most important documents The income tax certificate is for employees. This includes information about your salary, tax deductions, and social security contributions.

In addition, employees must provide proof of their insurance, any special expenses and exceptional charges if they want to claim the respective amounts.

If you are a landlord, you should also provide rental agreements, complete overviews of your rental income, receipts for utility bills created and invoices for renovations, repairs and property management. In addition — if this is relevant in your case — loan agreements and the associated interest certificates must also be submitted.

Self-employed and small business owners: Specific documents

In most cases, the tax returns that self-employed persons or small business owners must file are more extensive than those from private individuals. Among other things, because an EER (income surplus statement) or a balance sheet with profit and loss statement must be prepared here. The latter is mandatory for companies subject to accounting obligations.

In addition, as a self-employed person or as a small business owner, you must collect and organize all invoices, receipts, cash books and account statements.

Other specific tax documents that may be relevant include:

· Evidence of your operational expenses, such as costs for office supplies, office rent, training, vehicles, etc.

· Contracts that you have concluded with your business partners

· (in case you employ employees) payslips, social security statements and possibly reports to the professional association.

If everything has been prepared well and is fully available, neither your tax advisor nor the tax office will have to ask many questions in the end.

Checklist for your tax return: Comprehensive preparation for the tax advisor

The following tax return checklist will help you avoid queries, improve cooperation with your tax advisor and make optimal use of your tax options — regardless of whether you file your tax return as a private person, as a landlord, self-employed person or small business owner.

Collect documents

The first step is to collect all documents that are relevant to the tax return in one place. Find out if any documents are missing. You can also request a lot of things from the relevant offices later on. To give you enough time to do this, you should definitely plan a buffer.

Categorize documents

Sort the individual documents by topic. Typical categories in this case may include, for example, “income,” “insurance,” “special expenses,” and “household-related services.” This ensures that a practical overview is guaranteed.

Validation

Make sure that all documents are easy to read. Otherwise, there is a high probability that either your tax advisor or the tax office asks questions. Catering documents, for example, should always be filled out cleanly.

answer questions

Answer questions that you already know are being asked in advance. This applies, for example, if your marital status has changed (attach the marriage certificate) or if there have been new extraordinary burdens that were not relevant in previous years.

Store documents digitally

Organize your filing. Many tax advisors today work digitally. It therefore makes sense to store your documents in well-structured digital (and appropriately labeled folders). The same applies to paper documents. The better everything is structured, the easier it is for uninvolved third parties to find their way around and the easier it will be in the end for your Financial statements.
You can also find a lot of information on the subject of “taxes” on the website of the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors. Here you can, among other things, read about changes to tax law and learn about the tax consultant remuneration regulations and thus about the Tax advisor costs, with which you should calculate, inform.
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1. Tax returns & deadlines under control

Your tax advisor prepares your sales, income and business tax returns — punctually and with reliable deadline management.

2. Industry-specific accounting

Whether it's an agency, e-commerce or SaaS: You benefit from accounting that is based on the specifics of your industry.

3. Financial clarity through reporting

Individual dashboards regularly provide you with insights into profit, liquidity and investment leeway — for well-founded decisions.

4. Strategic tax planning

Take advantage of benefits such as § 7g EStG, check your legal form or plan reserves — together with a tax-savvy sparring partner.

5. Proactive notifications & monitoring

Warnings in the event of budget deviations, new legal information or prepayment deadlines — your tax advisor has everything at a glance.

6. Support during tax audits

In the worst case, you are not alone: Your tax advisor takes care of the preparation, communication and appeal management.

Integral services at a glance

Regardless of whether you are a start-up or an established company — with Integral, our partner tax advisors provide you with a tax advisor service that covers accounting, tax returns and annual financial statements.

Financial statements & tax return

All tax consulting services are provided by Integral Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH, Zionskirchstraße 75, 10119 Berlin.
An example:

General accounting:
· Accounting documents (digital or on paper)
· Documents
· Totals and Balance Lists (SuSa)
· Business Analyses (BWA)

Tax documents:
· Submitted and pending tax returns
· Tax assessments
· Correspondence with the tax office

Digital data:
· DATEV data (client inventory, account framework, etc.)
· Login data or access rights for accounting tools

Payroll (if applicable):
· Payslips
· Payroll accounts
· Social security reports

A change of tax advisor is often the logical consequence — for example in the case of poor advice, lack of digitization or non-transparent costs. The reasons for this are manifold, but almost always relate to the quality and efficiency of cooperation.auf den Seiten der Bundessteuerberaterkammer.
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Ready for your tax return?

Regardless of whether you are an employee, generate rental income, work independently or as a small business owner: With the right preparation and effective cooperation with your tax advisor, you can make your everyday life easier. If you sort and submit your documents in full in advance, you can save time and avoid queries.

The above tips provide you with some important tips when it comes to creating the basis for your tax return and taking advantage of any tax benefits.

And if you don't have the time or desire to deal with your tax return yourself, you should work with a tax advisor. This helps you to be legally on the safe side and supports you when it comes to tidying up invoices, receipts, etc.

Prepare your tax return perfectly — now Contact a tax advisor!
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FAQ - What does the tax advisor need for the tax return?

What do I need for the tax return?

Which documents the tax advisor needs for your tax return depends on your individual situation. In general, documents relating to your income, insurance, special expenses and exceptional charges will almost always be relevant. If you are self-employed, you also submit receipts of your operating income and expenses. It's best to talk to your tax advisor so that you can make optimal use of your tax benefits in the end.

What does the tax advisor need for an employee's private tax return?

For income tax year adjustment, your tax advisor needs, among other things, an income tax certificate, insurance certificates, donation receipts, receipts of exceptional charges and documents relating to advertising costs and household-related services. He also needs the latest information about children, church tax and your address.

How do I prepare my tax documents?

First, sort your receipts into different categories, for example “income,” “insurance,” etc. Everything should be complete and easy to read. If you have questions (or want to prevent questions), you can also note down the relevant considerations or information in a separate document. Whether with paper or digital documents, always ensure that the structure is comprehensible.

Why is a tax advisor worthwhile for the tax return?

Working with a tax advisor for tax returns is worthwhile, among other things, because the experts are well informed about tax benefits and current legislation. Among other things, this also allows you to optimally exploit potential savings. You also save time by working with the tax advisor. If you wish, he will also take care of communication with the tax office for you.

How long does the tax advisor need to file a tax return?

There is no general answer to this question. The time that your tax advisor needs depends primarily on the scope and your preparation. If everything is ready and no questions arise, the tax return should be completed within a few weeks. The more complex the individual case is, the more time you should plan for. It is best to ask your tax advisor when he needs the documents at the latest in order to be ready on time in any case.

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