Coral Springs, Florida bookkeeping specialist for small businesses: In the months or years since you first became a business owner, how many times have you been told you need bookkeeping services? If you’re like most business owners, the answer is probably, “A lot.” From the time you first opened your doors and collected your very first dollar, advisors, partners, and other well-meaning associates have undoubtedly weighed in and suggested a bookkeeping service to help keep your company’s books and finances on track.
Automate or Outsource Tax Calculation and Filing: While the IRS has made an effort to simplify tax forms and reduce the time and complexity of filing a tax return, it remains a daunting task, especially since it occurs only once per year and is often stressful. Fortunately, companies like TurboTax and H&R Block offer sophisticated tax software programs to help filers complete the task quickly and relatively inexpensively. The IRS even offers free tax filing software for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $69,000 or less. To determine whether you’re eligible for the free software, check last year’s return for your adjusted gross income (AGI), which appears on line 7 of the 2018 version of Form 1040. For those with incomes greater than $69,000, the IRS provides Free File fillable forms for electronic filing. However, these forms offer only basic guidance, so you must know how to do your taxes yourself. Most of the filing programs allow you to keep track of any refund due and select your preferred method of payment – direct deposit, paper check, or holding and applying the refund for the coming tax year. When deciding whether to use a professional preparer or a software program, consider your income, the complexity of your return, unusual events that significantly affect your income or expenses, and your concern about a tax audit.
Hold Off on Mutual Fund Purchases: People should be wary of buying mutual funds at this time of year if they will be held in a taxable account. You could get hit with a tax bill for year-end dividends even if you just purchased shares. “That’s how mutual funds work, but people don’t realize it,” says Joanna Powell, managing director in the Boston office of accounting firm CBIZ MHM. To avoid paying additional taxes, consult with a broker before making a purchase to find out when distributions are made.
Set up your system: There’s more than one way to organize your tax records, but having some kind of filing system will help you keep everything in one place. Don’t wait until January to start organizing important documents. While many important tax documents will arrive in the beginning of the year, some — such as receipts for deductible expenses — will crop up throughout the year. Save documentation for deductible items: If you own a business or plan to itemize your deductions, you should hold onto your receipts and other documents for eligible expenses. You won’t need to submit your receipts with your tax return, but you may need to substantiate your expenses if the IRS audits your return. Do the same for home improvements, especially if you’re planning to sell your home. The amount you spent on home improvements increases your adjusted basis on your home, which is what the IRS uses to determine how much tax you owe when you sell it. Read additional information on South Florida Bookkeeping by Accountants.
In some states, provisions exist that allow employers to seek reimbursement from the employee for administrative costs related to excessive garnishments. Additionally, some types of garnishments, such as child support, allow for similar provisions that authorize employers to recoup administrative expenses. The limits on the maximum amount of the administrative fee that can be deducted vary by state. When considering employment actions in relation to an employee who has active garnishments, it is recommended to consult a knowledgeable HR source or employment attorney.
Student loan interest paid by you or someone else: In the past, if parents or someone else paid back a student loan incurred by a student, no one got a tax break. To get a deduction, the law said that you had to be both liable for the debt and actually pay it yourself. But now there’s an exception. You may know that you might be eligible to take a deduction but even if someone else pays back the loan, the IRS treats it as though they gave you the money, and you then paid the debt. So, a student who’s not claimed as a dependent can qualify to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest paid by you or by someone else.
Learning QuickBooks fundamentals can be very challenging and requires training since it contains thousands of features to handle all types of industries and businesses. In order to fully comprehend the features, it would be advised that one not only understood the technical basics but had some experience in accounting and bookkeeping. Our accounting and bookkeeping firm has been using Quickbooks for clients for over 20 years. QuickBooks is one of the most comprehensive and widely used premier accounting software for small businesses. One of the most widely used versions of QuickBooks is QuickBooks Online which provides access for the accountant and the client at the same time. See additional information at https://bookkeepinghelpcoralsprings.com/.