Tax Organizers

Heather Jackson |
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Why Your Tax Organizer Matters: A Simple Guide for the Tax Filing Season

As tax season begins, you’ll start seeing tax organizers arriving in your mailbox or through our secure portal. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly a tax organizer is or why it matters, this post (and the video above) walks you through everything you need to know.

What Is a Tax Organizer?

A tax organizer is a personalized guide built from last year’s tax return. It lists:

  • Your prior‑year income sources
  • Common tax documents you’re likely to receive
  • Your dependents and filing information
  • Deductions you’ve taken in the past
  • A questionnaire to help surface life changes that may affect your return

Think of it as a roadmap—it helps you collect the right documents, avoid missing something important, and streamline the entire tax prep process.

How You’ll Receive Your Organizer

Once you sign your annual engagement letter, our admin team will:

  • Mail a paper organizer, or
  • Upload a PDF version to Onvio, our secure client portal

Most clients receive theirs within about a week of signing.

If you’re unsure whether your organizer has been sent or you don’t see it in Onvio, just let us know, we’re happy to resend it.

Three Key Sections to Review

Your organizer contains three important components:

1. Personal & Contact Information

This is where you tell us what changed.

  • Did you move?
  • Change your email or phone number?
  • Have a new baby?
  • Have a dependent age out of the household?

You can simply cross out old information and write in the updated details.
For new Social Security numbers or banking information, please upload securely to Onvio instead of mailing or emailing.

2. Tax Questionnaire

This yes/no questionnaire helps uncover important tax events you may forget to mention, such as:

  • Selling or buying a home
  • Changing jobs
  • Opening or closing investment accounts
  • Contributing to an HSA or IRA
  • Starting a rental property
  • Earning foreign income

If a question needs extra explanation, you can write notes directly in the margins.

3. Document Checklist (Your “Do Not Miss” List)

This checklist reminds you of:

  • W‑2s you had last year
  • 1099s you should expect
  • Brokerage statements
  • Mortgage interest forms
  • Any other recurring documents

If something no longer applies (e.g., you closed a bank account), just cross it off. If something is new, you can write it in.

This section is one of the best tools for preventing IRS or state notices caused by missing documents.

Why Completing the Organizer Helps You

A complete organizer helps us:

  • Prepare an accurate return the first time
  • Reduce the risk of IRS or state notices
  • Spot tax‑saving opportunities
  • Understand major life updates that affect your tax situation
  • File your return faster and with fewer follow‑up questions


The more complete your organizer, the smoother (and faster) your tax season will be.

Your tax organizer is more than just paperwork, it’s a collaborative tool that helps make sure nothing is overlooked. As life changes, the organizer becomes the easiest way to keep us updated and ensure your return reflects the whole picture.

If you have questions about completing your organizer or need help accessing Onvio, our team is here to help. We look forward to working with you this tax season!