Prepare for tax season by starting with this list of important information and documents you'll need to gather.

As tax season approaches now is the time to gather important documents and information. Donna M. Johnson, Vice President and Trust Advisor for Regions in St. Louis, says the following list can be useful to have on hand.

The basics:

• Previous year's tax returns
• Social Security numbers and dates of birth for you, your spouse, and your dependents
• W-2 forms, which may not arrive until the New Year (you'll have a W-2 from each employer you've had this year)
• Estimated tax paid
• Child care records, including any child support payments

Investment information:

• Capital gain, interest, and dividend income from investment accounts
• Savings accounts information
• Contribution to retirement accounts such as a 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA

Additional income:

• Alimony
• Any taxable inheritances
• Jury duty records
• Gambling winnings
• Distributions from Social Security, IRAs or retirement accounts
• Self-employment income/deductions

Itemized deductions:

• Mortgage statement from your lending institution
• Records of medical expenses
• Total amount of state/local income and, in some states, sales taxes
• Real estate taxes
• Records of cash and non-cash charitable donations to schools, hospitals, houses of faith, or other charitable organizations
• Health Savings Account expenditures

Education payments:

• Bills from educational institutions that you or a dependent attended
• Tuition statements and/or records of student loan payments