Year-end money checklist

The start of a new year is a good time to look over four things: your account disclosures, your bank and card statements, your credit report and any forgotten money. Add your IRS online account and the forms for your 2025 return.

The account papers

• The deposit disclosure for each accountThe deposit account disclosure, also called a truth in savings disclosure, covers the APY, interest rates, minimum-balance requirements and fees.
• The disclosure for each loan and cardThe truth in lending disclosure for a loan or credit card shows the APR, the finance charge, the amount financed and the total of payments.
• The privacy disclosureYour bank's privacy disclosure tells you who it can share your financial information with, and whether and how you can opt out.
• A copy if one is missingIf you don't have a copy of a disclosure, ask your bank or credit union for one.

The statements

• Last year's bank statementsLooking back over them helps you check your spending habits, plan the new year's budget and avoid future fees.
• Last year's card statementsThey show where the money went, which is the starting point for a budget.

For the bank's own list of charges, see How to read a checking account's fee schedule.

The credit reports

• The one official websiteAnnualCreditReport.com is the only website authorized to provide these free reports, and each of the three nationwide bureaus offers its report there. The site and the bureaus won't email you asking for your Social Security number.
• What to look forCheck that the information is accurate, complete and up to date. A mistake can be a sign of identity theft.

The taxes and the forgotten money

• Your IRS online accountIt shows key details from returns filed in recent years, and information returns such as Forms W-2 and certain 1099s.
• An Identity Protection PINAn IP PIN prevents someone else from filing a federal return with your Social Security number. The online account is the best way to get one.
• A new address or nameTell the IRS if your address changes, and tell the Social Security Administration about a legal name change.
• The year's tax formsFor a 2025 return, wait to file until you have your tax records, such as Forms W-2 and 1099. The list is in The tax documents checklist.
• Money you forgotSearch for any forgotten or unclaimed funds in your name. See Checking for unclaimed money in your name.