Dec. 31 Checklist: What Missourians Should Wrap Up Before Year-End

Before you sign off and get ready to party, take a quick look to make sure the important year-end items are checked off before 2026 begins.

Lock in Charitable Gifts

If you want to make any donations, today’s the last chance. In addition, if you made charitable contributions this year, confirm the details.

• Save receipts or acknowledgment letters.
• Verify online donations show a completed Dec. 31 transaction date.
• For non-cash gifts, note what was donated and when.

Charitable timing is based on when the gift is made, not when it is reviewed later.

Confirm Missouri 529 Contributions

Missouri allows a state income tax deduction for eligible 529 contributions.

• Confirm contributions were completed by Dec. 31.
• Save year-end contribution summaries.
• Note which taxpayer made the contribution if filing jointly.

Timing matters for the deduction to apply to this tax year.

Property Taxes

Missouri property taxes are due by Dec. 31 each year, with unpaid balances becoming delinquent on Jan. 1.

Since property taxes are often requested during tax preparation, it’s important to check this off.

• Save proof of paid real estate taxes, including escrow statements.
• Keep personal property tax receipts, especially if vehicles were bought or sold this year.
• Note any changes in ownership during the year.

These documents are easy to forget and time-consuming to replace later.

Review Estimated Tax Payments

If you make estimated tax payments, now is the time to confirm what has already been paid.

• Review federal and state payment confirmations.
• Save proof of payment in one place.
• Note any remaining balances heading into January.

Missouri taxpayers who expect to owe $500 or more in state tax should also confirm payments made to the Missouri Department of Revenue to avoid missed credits or duplicate payments.

Capture Your Records

Before the year closes, save the basics.

• Download year-end bank and credit card statements.
• Save payroll reports and contractor payment summaries.
• Pull year-end investment statements if they are already available.

Even partial records are better than tracking them down months from now.

Wrap Up Business Details

Business owners should take a few minutes to close out operational items.

• Capture total mileage for the year.
• List major equipment or technology purchases.
• Download year-end bookkeeping reports, even if they are not final.
• Save sales tax and payroll summaries if your business files locally or at the state level.

This makes January bookkeeping faster and cleaner.

Note Life Changes

Finally, write down anything that changed this year.

• Job changes, raises, or bonuses.
• New dependents or changes in filing status.
• Home purchases, sales, or refinancing.
• Moving into or out of Missouri, or changes in residency.
• Starting or closing a Missouri-based business.

These details often drive filing requirements and are easy to forget by spring.

A few minutes today can save hours later.