Harris: Getting Ready for Tax Season! 

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp

If you are reading this, congratulations – you’ve made it to the new year of 2026! Happy New Year to everyone! 

Now, let’s get down to business. Tax season is upon us, and some of us are still procrastinating when it comes to organizing our tax documents. That’s OK – you still have time.

In this article, I will discuss the tax documents you need to prepare your return and let you know that certain Southern Bancorp Bank branches are IRS-certified free tax prep sites. That means if your income falls below $69,000, you can have your taxes prepared for free.

A VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site is a physical or virtual location sponsored by the IRS that provides free tax preparation and electronic filing for eligible taxpayers. Let’s review the list of documents you may need to file your tax return.

List of Personal Documents

1. Identification – A government-issued photo ID for you and/or your spouse.
2. Social Security Card(s) or ITIN – An original Social Security card or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) for you and any dependents claimed on your return.
3. Birth Dates – Dates of birth for you and your dependents listed on the tax return.
4. Bank Information – Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of refunds or direct withdrawal of any balance due.
5. Identity Protection PIN – A number assigned by the IRS to verify you as the taxpayer filing the return.
6. Health Coverage Documents – Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C.
7. Form 13614-C – The IRS-required intake/interview and quality review sheet that helps the volunteer tax preparer complete your return efficiently.

List of Income and Expense Documents

1. Form W-2 – Wage and earnings statement from your employer.
2. Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV – Interest or dividend statements from banks and other financial institutions.
3. Form 1099-G – Unemployment compensation.
4. Form 1099-C – Statement of forgiven debt.
5. Form SSA-1099 – Social Security year-end statement (contains pink boxes).
6. Form 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC – Statement for self-employed individuals or contractors.
7. Form 1098-T or 1098-E – Educational tuition statement or student loan interest.
8. Form 1098 – Statement of mortgage interest payments and property taxes.
9. Childcare Expenses – Total amount paid to your childcare provider, along with their name, address, and tax identification number (Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number).

This is not an exhaustive list, so check with your nearest VITA site for any additional requirements. To find your nearest Southern Bancorp VITA site, visit www.banksouthern.com/taxes or go to www.irs.gov for other locations in your area.

The volunteers at these sites are IRS-trained, but in some cases, you may be directed to seek assistance from a paid professional tax advisor or preparer. Southern Bancorp provides this free service as a courtesy to the communities we serve. You do not have to be a Southern Bancorp customer to take advantage of this service, but you must follow VITA program guidelines.

If you have questions, call your nearest Southern Bancorp branch to find out when their tax preparation services begin and to get details about operating days.

For more information on this and other financial topics, email me at charlestienharris77@gmail.com or write to: P.O. Box 1825 Clarksdale, MS 38614

Until next week – stay financially fit!

Charlestien Harris is our financial contributor, a retired financial coach with Southern Bancorp.