Tax preparation intake form

A tax preparation intake form collects a new client's basic information and tells you which documents they will provide before you start their return. This reduces follow-up emails and sets clear expectations.

The form beside this text is live. Fill it in and submit it — it validates exactly as it would for a real respondent, and saves nothing.

Document checklist prevents back-and-forth discovery

Checking W-2 vs. 1099 upfront signals whether the client is an employee or self-employed.

Asking about life changes identifies deductions and filing status changes early

A client who married mid-year or started a business will tell you in this field, not after you've already started the return.

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Tax Preparation Intake Form

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How to build this form

6 steps in the editor. Nothing here needs a paid plan.

Add text fields for client first and last name.
Add email and phone fields for contact.
Add a dropdown for filing status: Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household.
Add a number field for tax year (e.g., 2024).
Add a checkbox group for documents the client will provide: W-2, 1099, 1098 (mortgage interest), Capital Gains/Losses, Business Income/Loss, Charitable Contributions, Medical Expenses, Other.
Add an optional textarea for "Life changes this year?" (e.g., new job, home purchase, marriage, self-employment start).

Fields in this form

8 fields, using 7 of the 19 field types available.

Question	Field type	Required
Client first name	Short text	Yes
Client last name	Short text	Yes
Email address	Email	Yes
Phone number	Phone	Yes
Filing status	Dropdown	Yes
Tax year	Number	Yes
Which documents will you provide? (select all that apply)	Checkboxes	Optional
Any major life changes this year? (optional)	Long text	Optional

What goes wrong with this form

Specific to a tax preparation intake form, not general advice about forms.

Accepting actual tax documents (W-2 PDFs, SSN) through this form

Files submitted via this form are not encrypted or secure. Never collect sensitive tax data here; handle via secure email or portal.

Requiring a document checklist answer for every possible form

Most individual returns only need W-2 and 1099s. A long list overwhelms and confuses clients; keep it short and optional.

Forgetting to ask about major life changes

A client who switched jobs, got married, or started a side business will miss deductions if you don't ask and they assume you already know.

Questions about this form

Does this form securely accept tax documents like SSNs and W-2 PDFs?

No. This form collects non-sensitive intake info only. For sensitive documents, use a secure document portal or ask clients to email through a certified channel.

What if a client doesn't know which forms they'll have?

Leave the documents field optional and note "unsure" as an option, or add a note that you'll follow up by phone.

Can I ask about estimated tax payments or prior-year adjustments?

Yes. Add optional textareas for prior-year issues, estimated payments, or other notes to surface during intake.

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