Checklists
Checklists for accounting firms
Each checklist lists what to ask a client for, item by item, with the form names and a short note on what to send. Use them as a reference, or send one to your clients with Usual.
Looking for the process behind a checklist? Read the guides, copy an email template, look up a term in the glossary, see the solutions for your firm type, or try a free tool.
Firm security
Accounting firm security checklist
What a small tax or bookkeeping firm needs in place under the FTC Safeguards Rule and IRS guidance.
29 itemsAccounts payable close
Accounts payable month end close checklist
Open bills, vendor statements, unbilled receipts, accruals and 1099 vendor data to collect before you close payables.
26 itemsAmended returns
Amended tax return checklist
The original return, corrected documents and tax effect to collect before filing a Form 1040-X.
23 itemsAudit PBC
Audit PBC checklist
The prepared-by-client records an audit or review team requests before fieldwork.
39 itemsBookkeeping cleanup
Bookkeeping cleanup checklist
The records and decisions to collect before catching up or cleaning up a client's books.
26 itemsClient onboarding
Bookkeeping client onboarding checklist
Documents, access and prior records to collect from a new bookkeeping client before the first close.
33 itemsBusiness insurance
Business insurance review checklist
Policy, coverage and claims records a business client collects for an annual insurance review.
19 itemsBusiness loans
Business loan application checklist
Entity, financial and collateral records to collect before a client applies for a business loan.
28 itemsBusiness tax organizer
Business tax organizer checklist
Year-end books, ownership, payroll and asset records to collect for a business return.
39 itemsBusiness valuation
Business valuation document checklist
Financials, returns, ownership papers and add-back support to collect before a small business valuation starts.
29 itemsClient offboarding
Accounting client offboarding checklist
The records, access and open items to close out when a bookkeeping or tax client leaves.
20 itemsConstruction bookkeeping
Construction bookkeeping checklist
The job cost, billing, subcontractor and payroll records to collect from a construction client each month.
18 itemsContractor onboarding
Contractor onboarding checklist
W-9, contract and payment records to collect before a business starts paying a contractor.
22 itemsCorporate tax return
Corporate tax return checklist for Form 1120
Documents and answers to collect from a C corporation client before you prepare Form 1120.
29 itemsCrypto tax
Crypto tax documents checklist
Exchange reports, wallet history and income records a client gathers for digital asset reporting.
17 itemsEcommerce bookkeeping
Ecommerce bookkeeping checklist
The sales, payout, inventory and fee records to collect from an ecommerce client each month.
18 itemsEmployee onboarding
Employee onboarding payroll checklist
Payroll, tax and compliance records to collect before a new employee's first paycheck.
24 itemsEstate planning
Estate planning document checklist
Will, trust, beneficiary and asset records to collect when a client reviews or updates an estate plan.
24 itemsFixed assets and inventory
Fixed asset and inventory checklist
Purchase, disposal, depreciation and inventory records to collect before the year-end close.
22 itemsClient identity
Know your client checklist for accountants
Identity, entity, authority and e-file checks to finish before you accept a new tax or bookkeeping client.
30 itemsLaw firm bookkeeping
Law firm bookkeeping checklist
The trust account, billing, payroll and vendor records to collect from a law firm client each month.
17 itemsLease and property
Commercial lease and property checklist
Lease, cost and property records a business client collects for a commercial space.
21 itemsMedical practice
Medical practice bookkeeping checklist
The payer, patient, payroll and vendor records to collect from a medical practice client each month.
17 itemsMonthly bookkeeping
Monthly bookkeeping checklist
Statements, sales records, payroll and receipts to collect from each client before you close the month.
20 itemsNew business
New business formation checklist
Formation, tax election and registration records to collect when a client starts a business.
26 itemsNew tax client
New tax client questionnaire for individual returns
Questions to put to a new individual client before engagement, with the reason each one matters.
29 itemsNonprofit 990
Nonprofit 990 checklist
Governance, revenue, expense and program records a nonprofit collects before filing Form 990.
33 itemsNonprofit bookkeeping
Nonprofit bookkeeping checklist
The donation, grant, restricted fund and expense records to collect from a nonprofit client each month.
16 itemsNonprofit governance
Nonprofit governance checklist
Board, policy and meeting records a nonprofit collects before the 990 and state filings.
23 itemsPartnership K-1
Partnership K-1 checklist
Ownership, capital and partner records a partnership collects before preparing K-1s.
26 itemsPayroll onboarding
Payroll onboarding checklist
Business, employee and prior-payroll records to collect before the first payroll run for a new client.
27 itemsPrior-year returns
Prior year tax return checklist
Identity, income and deduction records to collect before filing a missing prior-year return.
26 itemsProfessional services
Professional services bookkeeping checklist
The time, billing, expense and contractor records to collect from a professional services client each month.
18 itemsEstimated taxes
Quarterly estimated tax checklist
Income, withholding and payment records to collect before each federal and state estimated tax payment.
17 itemsReal estate bookkeeping
Real estate bookkeeping checklist
The rent, property cost, loan and tax records to collect from a real estate client each month.
17 itemsReceipts and expenses
Receipt and expense checklist
Receipts, business purpose and missing-document notes to collect before the monthly close.
21 itemsRental property tax
Rental property tax checklist
Income, expense and improvement records a client gathers for each rental property.
25 itemsRestaurant bookkeeping
Restaurant bookkeeping checklist
The sales, tip, payroll and inventory records to collect from a restaurant client each month.
17 itemsRetail bookkeeping
Retail store bookkeeping checklist
The sales, inventory, vendor and tax records to collect from a retail store client each month.
18 itemsS corporation election
S corporation election checklist
Eligibility, election and payroll records to collect before a client elects S corporation status.
24 itemsSaaS bookkeeping
SaaS bookkeeping checklist
The subscription, revenue, cost and tax records to collect from a SaaS client each month.
17 itemsSales tax
Sales tax checklist
Registrations, sales records and exemption certificates a business client collects for sales tax.
24 itemsSales tax exemptions
Sales tax exemption certificate checklist
Certificate, buyer and state details to collect before treating a sale as exempt.
24 itemsSales tax registration
Sales tax registration checklist
Nexus, permit and filing records to collect before a business registers for sales tax.
22 itemsSelf-employed tax
Self-employed tax checklist for Schedule C
Income, expense and vehicle records a self-employed client gathers for Schedule C.
23 itemsHome purchase
Tax documents needed after buying a house
The closing, mortgage and property tax documents a preparer needs from a client who bought a home.
26 itemsHome sale
Tax documents needed after selling a house
The closing, basis and residence records to collect when a client sold a home, with the Section 121 questions that decide the tax.
25 itemsTax extensions
Tax extension checklist
The forms, payments and records to collect when an individual or business client files an extension.
20 itemsTax organizer
Tax organizer checklist for a 1040 return
The documents an individual client gathers for a tax year 2026 Form 1040 return.
36 itemsPreparer due diligence
Tax preparer due diligence checklist for Form 8867
Documents and answers to collect when a return claims the EITC, child credits, AOTC or head of household.
29 itemsTax return review
Tax return review checklist for 1040s
The checks a second pair of eyes makes on a 1040 before the Form 8879 goes out.
25 itemsTrust and estate tax
Trust and estate tax checklist
Trust document, income, deduction and beneficiary records a trustee or executor collects for Form 1041.
30 itemsTrust funding
Trust funding checklist
The deeds, accounts and records to collect when a client funds a revocable trust.
24 itemsW-9 collection
W-9 collection checklist
Who needs a W-9, what to collect and how to keep the records ready for year-end 1099s.
23 itemsYear-end and 1099s
1099 collection checklist for year end
Vendor totals, W-9s and year-end payroll to collect from each business client before January 31.
25 itemsYear-end bookkeeping
Year end bookkeeping checklist for small business clients
What to collect and reconcile to close a small business client's 2026 books before tax season.
34 itemsYear-end payroll
Year-end payroll checklist
Payroll registers, tax returns and owner details to collect before W-2s and year-end payroll forms are filed.
25 items