What do I need for my CPA to file my taxes if I bought or sold Real Estate in 2025?

Here’s a practical checklist of what you should gather for your CPA/tax preparer if you bought and/or sold real estate during 2025 — so they can prepare your tax return accurately and maximize deductions while complying with IRS rules.Jackson Hewitt+1

📁 1. Personal & Basic Filing Info

These are needed even if you didn’t have a real estate transaction, but are still required for your return:Jackson Hewitt

• Social Security numbers or Taxpayer ID numbers (for you, your spouse, and dependents)

• Your prior-year tax return (helpful for reference)

• Bank account & routing numbers (for refund or payment)

• Any IRS correspondence you received in 2025 or early 2026

🏠 2. Documents Related to Real Estate You Bought

If you purchased property in 2025:HomeLight

• Closing Disclosure / Settlement Statement from the purchase — shows purchase price and closing costs

• Form 1098 (Mortgage Interest Statement), if your mortgage lender issues one — shows interest you paid that may be deductible if you itemize deductions (usually only if you itemize)

• Records of real estate taxes paid during 2025 (from escrow or directly)

• Receipts/invoices for points or other deductible purchase costs (if applicable)

🏠 3. Documents Related to Real Estate You Sold

If you sold property in 2025:HomeLight+1

• Form 1099-S (Proceeds From Real Estate Transactions) — shows gross proceeds from the sale

• Settlement Statement / Closing Disclosure from the sale — includes seller costs, property taxes paid at closing, etc.

• Documentation of your cost basis:

  • Original purchase closing docs

  • Receipts for capital improvements you made over the years (e.g., renovations or additions)

  • Records of any adjustments (e.g., depreciation if it was a rental property)

• If you used a 1031 like-kind exchange (swap one investment property for another to defer taxes), bring exchange paperwork (e.g., Qualified Intermediary docs) — because that affects how gain is reported and computed.Wikipedia

📊 4. Income & Expenses Tied to the Property

Depending on how the property was used:If it was a rental/investment property:

• Records of all rental income received in 2025

• Expense records (repairs, maintenance, utilities, management fees, insurance, HOA fees)

• Depreciation schedules that your CPA prepared previously

• Mortgage interest and property tax documents (1098, bills, escrow statements)

• Any 1099-MISC / 1099-NEC / 1099-K forms for rental income or payments you received

If it was your primary residence:

• Closing docs (purchase & sale)

• Proof of use and ownership to claim the home sale tax exclusion (may eliminate capital gains tax on up to $250K/$500K of gain)

🧾 5. Other Relevant IRS Forms

Your CPA will also want copies of any tax forms you received that relate to income or deductions for the year:TurboTax

• W-2s (wages)

• 1099s (interest, dividends, miscellaneous income)

• 1098 (mortgage interest)

• Any other 1099s you received (e.g., 1099-INT, 1099-DIV)

🗂 6. Additional Records Your CPA Might Ask For

These help with deductions, reporting, and substantiation:Jackson Hewitt✔ Receipts for energy-efficient home improvements (if claiming credits)✔ Property tax bills and proof of payment✔ Records of estimated tax payments you made in 2025✔ Documentation of casualty losses (if applicable)

❓ Tips Before Your Appointment

• Organize by property — separate folders for each property you bought or sold.

• Sort by “purchase” vs. “sale” docs — this makes it easier for your CPA to calculate basis and capital gains.

• Keep digital and physical copies — some CPAs prefer emailed PDFs of all documents ahead of time.