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The Pros and Cons of Filing a Tax Extension

11/26/2019

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The tax season is getting closer and closer as we reach the holiday season. With the ending of the most wonderful time of the year, that also means the end of the last fiscal period of 2019. Are you ready or do you think you might need a little more time? 

Happy November everyone! We hope you enjoyed our most recent blog about safe shopping tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday! As we are still heading towards all of these wonderful holidays, there is still so much to think about. Taxes need to start making their way to the top of your priorities list. With the end of 2019 looming so close, tax season will be here before you know it. Are you ready for this next tax season or do you think you might need a little more time? There is no problem with needing that extra time - that's why tax extensions can be such a relief. Do you know the pros and cons of filing a tax extension? If you're new to the process, you've come to the right place. In this blog, we will be discussing the pros and cons, which will hopefully help you decide the best route for you before April 15 is here! To begin with, you file an extension request using the IRS form 4868. You fill it out and mail it right to the IRS. 

THE PROS! 
  • It's fairly easy to file a tax return. You can do it on the IRS website. Just make sure to do it as soon as possible! 
  • If you are in the military serving abroad or in a similar situation, you may get an automatic extension due to the nature of the job. 
  • You don't need to explain why you need an extension. 
  • It moves your deadline from April 15th to October 15th! 
  • Filing an extension can help reduce late penalties or avoid them completely. 
  • Filing for an extension can often end up becoming a necessity not because you need time for yourself, but because you've been waiting on tax documents from your employer(s) or you need more time to organize your deductions.
  • Filing gives you more time to file gift tax returns if you've been overly generous that year. 
  • It allows you to still get your refund. You will have to wait for six months to get it, but you'll still get it. If you don't file or file late without an extension, you won't receive it. 
  • It gives you time to decide what you can write off, provide all the paperwork to do so, and if you're qualified for the write-offs you have. 
  • You don't have to rush to fill everything out and you can avoid making mistakes on your paperwork. 
  • Getting an extension can save you money. Fees to pay for someone to file taxes for you close to the 15th gets more expensive the closer you hire time to tax day. After the 15th, their prices will drop back down to a much more reasonable price. 

THE CONS! 
  • The extra time does not mean you have extra time to pay for your taxes, the amount you owe is still due on April 15th. 
  • The extension doesn't give you more time to report on your IRA accounts. Those reports are still due on April 15th. 
  • If you're married and you want to file separately you only have until the 15th to make this switch. 
  • If you don't pay your taxes by the 15th, you will begin to accrue penalty fees that can add up very quickly. 
  • It will delay getting your tax refund. 
  • You might not know how much you owe without filling out all of your paperwork on time. If you miscalculate and don't pay enough, you'll still end up paying penalty fees. 

There you have it! The pros and cons of filing a tax extension. If you have any more questions or need to talk with us, please don't hesitate to pick up the phone. We are here to answer all of your questions and get you ready for the next step in your taxes. 

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The Easy Failings of Bookkeeping

11/1/2019

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Running a business is hard, anyone can acknowledge that.  Today, one of the biggest downfalls of any company is its bookkeeping. Simple mistakes and errors can not only make the running of the business difficult but it can also be its downfall. Try and avoid these easy bookkeeping mistakes to make your business run smoothly.

Bookkeeping is something that all businesses, big or small, have to do. The pen to paper bookkeeping for many is a thing of the past thanks to amazing online programs and applications, like Quickbooks, that do a lot of the hard work for you. For some, making and keeping a note of everything by pen and paper is still preferred. But your bookkeeping and how you handle it is just as uniquely personal as your business model and strategy. But the biggest factor, however you decide to do your bookkeeping, is to avoid some of the most simple and common mistakes out there. Today we will be discussing how to avoid these common mistakes to keep your small business working smoothly no matter what!

The First Steps
When it comes to the point where your small business can grow and expand, that is so exciting! But it's so easy to overlook the important steps of your full bookkeeping to successfully make those steps. Many new business owners will just do the bookkeeping themselves. They rush the process, they don't account enough time or attention to the process, and completely mess up a good chunk of all of it by doing so. Our first recommendation is to work with a professional. If you don't want one full time or on staff, at least learn from them how to properly do everything that needs to be done. Take more classes, attend seminars, or even bend the ear of professional bookkeepers. Or hire someone like us at Hoods, who can help you understand Quickbooks and how to properly use it for your company! Most importantly when you sit down to do your bookkeeping, take your time and breathe.

Budget Time
This might be obvious, but it still needs to be said. You have to budget for your small business or the outcome could be a disaster! You raised and created the fund to create the company in the first place. So you know that your bank account doesn't have unlimited spending for the year or years to come. You need to plan how the money of the company will be spent, or in other words, what will your budget be. A budget will help you track your accounts and records, any issues can be corrected quickly, you can plan for any emergencies, keep the company running, and pay your employees. In 2018 alone, 61% of small businesses didn't create a budget. How scary is that? A lot of young companies don't have a full appreciation of what a budget can do for the company itself. Without one there is no way to evaluate the performance or even the goals for the company. You also can't continue to develop the business without one, and you can't see any growth either.

The Paperwork
One of the most important steps in bookkeeping is the reconciliation of your books. This is making sure all of the bank accounts, credit cards, and all the reports match and you have proof to show that they do. This is a huge step when it comes to paying your taxes based on how much the company made, how much was spent, and how much was paid to the employees. These factors will all factor in how much you owe the IRS come tax season. Not doing this properly can lead to over or underpaying your taxes. This might have you re-doing your taxes, owing more, and possibly accruing late fees. Not to mention the hours spent on the phone and in front of your computer to fix these issues. You can also become a victim of fraud, have bank withdrawals that were not authorized, several other bank errors, and the disappearance of money you can't account for.

It Doesn't Mix
Many small businesses start in garages or home offices. Some of the greatest companies of all time have started this way. But don't make the mistake of mixing your home and business bills, expenses, or taxes. Make sure you know exactly how to write off business expense items and what they are before doing so. The IRS is very well versed in what you can and cannot call business expenses from your home, so don't try and fool them. Even if you make an honest mistake, it can still hurt you come tax time. Separate your credit cards, your living space from your workspace, your landlines, and cell phones. Keep meticulous records of expenses and receipts, mileage, and time. Don't muddy or blur the lines between home expenses and business expenses. This will make your life and dealing with the IRS much simpler!

There are a lot of small moving parts to bookkeeping, but all of them have to be well oiled to keep the machine running. Don't rush, make sure you know what you're doing, and never be afraid to ask for help. We are here to offer you the best tax services for your business and to help you do your bookkeeping with Quickbooks. Don't let your small business become prey to these easy mistakes. Take the time to educate yourself and keep your bookkeeping focused and accounted for.

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The Benefits of Estimated Quarterly Taxes

10/16/2019

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For some companies it's a choice and for other's a necessity. We are going to be discussing the benefits of estimated quarterly taxes, and why it might be one of the best ways to tackle your taxes head-on. 

We have talked about how to prepare for your taxes, where to get help to prepare your taxes, how to save money for your taxes, and the best ways to do so. Now it's up to you to decide how you will file your taxes. Paying once a year vs. quarterly is just as unique as your financial situation and your company. The choice on how to pay for your taxes depends on your preference and financial situation. It's very common to wait until the end of the fiscal year and fill out the tax forms and pay for everything by April 15th. But, for others, this isn't an option or is the worst option for them personally. For this group of people, their best option is to pay estimated quarterly taxes. So, instead of paying in one large chunk, you pay four small chunks throughout the year. It might sound intimidating and more of a hassle than its worth. But you might be surprised to find that it's more beneficial than you think! 

So, who does estimated quarterly taxes benefit? By IRS ruling, you have to file your taxes quarterly if you are expected to owe over $1000 in taxes for the current year or you expect your withholdings and refundable credit to be less than 90% of the tax shown on your current tax return or 100% of the tax shown on last year's return. Sounds a little harsh, right? But for a lot of businesses and even those who are self-employed, there are many benefits to filing taxes this way. Contracted persons or independent contractors and people who receive dividend income or real estate and rental income receive all of their pay upfront and no taxes are taken out of this pay. But that doesn't mean taxes won't be taken out of this pay. These persons are the perfect candidates to pay quarterly taxes instead of paying on a giant lump sum at the end of the year. They can live well off of their earnings, but a lot of the time one giant tax bill is more than this type of lifestyle can afford. If you cut it up into four smaller payments, it is much easier to handle. 

The Pros
  • If you choose to pay quarterly, you're going to avoid the shock of owing so much at the end of the year. By the time you've made it through the year living on lump sums that have come sporadically throughout the year, you may not have enough to pay off all of your taxes at one time. Plus, no taxes have been taken out to begin with, so it's going to seem like you owe way more than you should. If you stretch out the payments throughout the year, there won't be any unexpected shock. You will have smaller payments that are easier to handle and easier to prepare for. 
  • It's easier to adjust to unforeseen financial changes. 
  • You will have more cash on hand throughout the year, not having to save and prepare for a possible large sum owed to the IRS. 
  • You'll be able to avoid unpleasant penalties. If you are unable to pay your taxes at the end of the year, the IRS tacks on penalty fees, and you'll end up owing even more than you did when you started the process. 
  • You will have a better understanding of your cash flow. You will have to track your spending and earning closer and more often since you'll be paying four times a year. You'll need to understand the ebb and flow of the expense of your company and what you're making far better than you did before. This way you can understand what your expenses are every quarter to then turn around and pay taxes on everything. 
  • You might think filing this way will be a lot of paperwork. But you can catch mistakes faster and fix them quickly throughout the year. It's easier to track down and keep receipts too since you'll have to start looking for them and claiming them sooner than waiting a year to do so. 

The Cons
  • You have a greater chance of penalties and interest for underpayments. You have to stay on top of your finances and pay exactly what is expected for each quarter. There can't be any guesswork, and you have to save and report everything. 
  • It's hard to remember to pay quarterly and cut the check and fill out all the forms on time. 
  • It has the chance of not being viewed by the government as paid evenly through the year. 

These lists are heavy. Even though the list of Pros is much longer than that of the Cons, the shorter list might outweigh its component. But however you decide to pay your taxes, or how they are dictated that you must pay, just be very smart in preparing. Stay educated, stay prepared, stay organized, and stay alert. In this case, with so many moving parts, having someone do your taxes for you just might be the best way to go. We are here to help you no matter what. Until next time, prep well! 

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