How To Set Up A Tax-Saving Bookkeeping System

One of the most important, but least understood or appreciated aspects of any business is its bookkeeping or accounting system. And, because very few people know much about the reasons for a bookkeeping system, most people are frightened by the thought of the work involved in setting up such a system, and the drudgery of daily maintenance.

Why bookkeeping is important for your business?

First of all, you can track where the money are from, ane where the money goes to. Find out which ones are the most valuable resources or advertising methods.

Secondly, it is for your Tax purpose. When tax season is coming, if you have a bookkeeping, you need not spend 5 days to dig out all the receipts and sales reports.

There's really nothing complicated to bookkeeping it's as simple as keeping a daily dairy and' or maintaining your personal checkbook. At the bottom line, it's simply a matter of recording your deposits-your incoming monies-and keeping a record of the money you spend.

So, the first thing you need to do is open a business account for your extra income business or endeavors. Generally, this is simply a matter of asking the new accounts teller at a local bank for a business account registration fee, send it in to the appropriate commissioner, and from there, open you a new business account-complete with imprinted checks.

Drop by a local stationery store and pick up a loose leaf notebook, and a supply of paper. We've always picked up a supply of index tabs at the same time--either to separate the months or the accountability sections for each item we sell.

Assuming that you want to make it as simple as possible, while at the same time keeping it as efficient as is necessary-here's what you do and how to do it.

On the first page in your notebook, write on the top line and in the middle of the page: Monday, January 1st, 2004 or whatever day you officially start your business...Then, as your orders come in, if by mail, as you open your mail-jot down starting from the left side of the page, the amount you received-dash-for what-from whom, and their address. The page might look like this:

Monday--- January 1 2006

$ 14 Tapes 100 S.W Fee-Barton 10 Hong Kong Dir #261 10 " " #261 3 Whsle Prt Dir #49 70 Hot Line Lst--Morgan

TOTAL INCOME $207 EXPENSES 0

That's all there is to it, and boiling it all down, it amounts to recording what you receive and what you spend. The next entry, immediately under that first day's entry might look like this:

$207 Deposit 11 Printer-for copies 10 Sec & riches thru R Est #302-Rogers( 75010) 3 Simplified annual M.O bkkp Sys (21104) 10 Money Magnetism-Kline (88033) 36 R.W Fee-Magnuson (10067 6 Manual on Bookselling-#291-Magnuson (10067 15 display Ad- Smith 948089) 22 Ideal Ofc Supplies-printer paper

TOTAL INCOME $80 Expense $33 Deposit $207

And then, carry on with this recording of the money you deposit, receive and spend each day with similar entries for each day of the week-every day Monday Thru Saturday for each week. It's simple uncomplicated, and a positive record of your business activity.

Then at the end of each month, transfer this daily information to one of the low cost bookkeeping registers that your tax consultant or accountant can work from. These people won't work from your daily dairy, ad will not transfer the information you record in it to a formal bookkeeping register without charging you a small fortune. it's not that big of a job, ad if you do it after te close of the business on the last day of the month, it will take at the most a very few minutes. Then, of course, when you're ready to do your taxes, you simply give your bookkeeping register to whoever is going to do your taxes, and you're home free.

The bookkeeping register you'll need can be any simple columnar notebook-All you really need is some sort of notebook with a number of columns marked off, a title written at the top of each column, and a record of te money received for each day relative to the product or service each column represents. Then at the end of each month, you can simply add the totals from each column and you'll instantly know how much money you took in from each of your offers.

Beyond te date column, will be your record of expenses or money spent. Again, you should title each of the columns you'll be entering figures into, and then record your expenditures for items falling into those categories. Then at the end of each month, it's a simple matter to add the total from each column and know exactly where you stand relative to profit or loss-how much you took in compared to how much you spent.

Bookkeeping and/or accounting is a very simple and should not scare you. Just keep it simple, ad up-to-date.

Seven Key Tax Deductions for the Self Employed

As a sole proprietor, it's wise to familiarize yourself with the some key deductions that may reduce your tax bill.

Small-business consultants generally recommend that you hire an accountant to prepare your tax returns, payroll and financial statements. But you should also meet with your accountant well before the year-end rush to discuss such matters as tax planning, and record keeping for tax deductions.

1. Employee Benefit Plans - You may deduct contributions to employee benefit plans (such as health insurance plans and retirement plans). Depending on your circumstances the maximum contribution that you may deduct per employee in a qualified retirement plan can go up to:
$100,000 or more For a Defined Benefit Plan
$44,000 For a 401(k) plan
$41,000 For a SEP-IRA or Keogh

2. Automobile Expenses- You can elect to deduct the actual expenses incurred (including gas, oil, tires, repairs, insurance, depreciation, and rent or lease payments) for the business-related portion of your car or truck expenses, or simply take the 2004 standard mileage rate of 37.5 cents per business mile.

3. Taxes - You may deduct Social Security and Medicaid taxes paid to match required withholdings on employee wages, federal unemployment taxes, sales taxes and real estate or personal property taxes paid on business assets.

4. Home Office - Depending on whether you use your home or other real estate for business purposes, you may deduct some or all of any mortgage interest paid, as well as some or all of the maintenance and repair expenses associated with the property. The cost of utilities and business supplies associated with business use are also deductible.

5. Depreciation - Depreciation may be taken on passenger cars, equipment used for entertainment or recreational purposes (i.e., photographic equipment, cell phones and computers), as long as these items are used solely for the business.

6. Professional Fees - You may deduct professional fees, such as those paid to a lawyer or accountant.

7. Meals and Entertainment - You may deduct 50 percent of meal and entertainment expenses directly associated with the conduct of your business Remember to keep on file the records and documentation necessary to substantiate all of your deductions.