Your Accountant Needs Before Filing Taxes
Tax season becomes much easier when your books are organized before your accountant starts preparing your return.
Unfortunately, many business owners wait until the last minute to gather documents, reconcile accounts, and sort through receipts. This often creates unnecessary stress, delays, and additional accounting fees.
The good news is that a little preparation can make tax season significantly smoother.
Why Accurate Bookkeeping Matters
Your accountant relies on accurate financial records to prepare your tax return.
If your bookkeeping is incomplete, inaccurate, or months behind, your accountant may need additional time to sort through the information before they can begin filing taxes.
Clean and organized books help:
- Reduce tax preparation costs
- Identify legitimate deductions
- Improve financial accuracy
- Reduce filing delays
- Minimize tax-season stress
When your records are organized, your accountant can focus on tax planning and preparation instead of bookkeeping cleanup.
Documents Your Accountant Will Need
Before filing taxes, most accountants will request:
Profit and Loss Statement
This report summarizes:
- Revenue
- Expenses
- Net income
It helps determine your business’s taxable income.
Balance Sheet
This report shows:
- Assets
- Liabilities
- Owner equity
Many accountants require an updated Balance Sheet before filing.
Bank Statements
Your accountant may request copies of:
- Business checking accounts
- Savings accounts
- Credit card accounts
- Loan statements
These records help verify account balances and transactions.
Payroll Reports
If you have employees, your accountant will need payroll information, including tax filings and payroll summaries.
Prior-Year Tax Returns
Previous tax returns help provide historical information and identify carryovers that may affect the current year.
Common Problems Accountants See
Many business owners unknowingly create problems that slow down tax preparation.
Common issues include:
- Missing transactions
- Unreconciled accounts
- Duplicate entries
- Personal expenses mixed with business expenses
- Missing documentation
- Books that are months behind
These issues often lead to delays and additional fees.
How Remote Bookkeeping Works
One concern many business owners have is whether bookkeeping can really be done remotely.
The answer is yes.
Today, most bookkeeping is performed securely online using QuickBooks Online and cloud-based tools.
If You Already Use QuickBooks Online
The process is simple.
You can invite your bookkeeper directly into your QuickBooks Online account.
Your bookkeeper can then:
- Review transactions
- Categorize expenses
- Reconcile accounts
- Generate reports
- Clean up bookkeeping errors
No office visit is required.
If Your Bank Is Connected to QuickBooks
Many banks automatically connect to QuickBooks Online.
Transactions can download directly into QuickBooks, making bookkeeping faster and more efficient.
If You Don’t Use QuickBooks Yet
No problem.
You can provide:
- Bank statements
- Credit card statements
- Excel spreadsheets
- PDF transaction reports
Your bookkeeper can use those records to organize and prepare your books.
If needed, a QuickBooks Online account can be created and configured for your business.
How Our Remote Bookkeeping Service Works
At Copper Sun Bookkeeping, we specialize in helping small business owners get organized and tax-ready.
Whether you’re months behind or simply need ongoing support, our process is designed to be simple and stress-free.
Step 1: Schedule a Consultation
We discuss:
- Your business
- Your bookkeeping challenges
- Your goals
- Your current accounting system
Step 2: Financial Review
We review:
- QuickBooks records
- Bank statements
- Credit card accounts
- Existing bookkeeping data
Step 3: Cleanup and Catch-Up
If your books need work, we organize and update your records through our Cleanup & Catch-Up Bookkeeping Service.
This includes:
- Categorizing transactions
- Reconciling accounts
- Correcting errors
- Preparing accurate reports
Step 4: Ongoing Support
Once your books are organized, we can provide ongoing monthly or quarterly bookkeeping support.
Why Business Owners Hire a Bookkeeper
Most business owners don’t start a business because they enjoy bookkeeping.
They start a business because they enjoy serving customers, building products, and growing their company.
Hiring a bookkeeper can help:
- Save time
- Reduce stress
- Improve organization
- Avoid costly mistakes
- Prepare for tax season
- Free up time to focus on growing the business
Many business owners find that outsourcing bookkeeping gives them peace of mind because they know their financial records are being maintained consistently.
Ready to Get Tax-Ready?
If you’re behind on bookkeeping or unsure whether your records are ready for tax season, now is the perfect time to get organized.
Our remote bookkeeping service helps small business owners:
- Clean up messy books
- Catch up overdue records
- Prepare accountant-ready reports
- Maintain accurate financial records year-round
Get Started Today
Click the “Schedule a Free Consultation” button on our website to begin the onboarding process.
We’ll review your situation, answer your questions, and provide a custom bookkeeping solution for your business.
How to Get Started
Getting started is simple.
Step 1
Schedule a free consultation.
Step 2
Discuss your bookkeeping needs.
Step 3
Receive a custom quote.
Step 4
Securely share your records.
Step 5
Let us organize your books and help
Related Reading
If your bookkeeping is already behind, start with our article:
Behind on Bookkeeping? Here’s What to Do Before Tax Season
In that guide, we explain how to catch up overdue books, organize financial records, and prepare your business for a successful tax season.
