Tax season is upon us, but never fear, Xero & Bizwize are here to help! Steve Larsen from Xero and HPC Accounting CEO Bruce Phillips share their advice for small business at tax time and beyond. ~ WizeOwl
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As a small business owner, taxes are likely at the bottom of the list of things you’d like to do in your spare time. Doing your taxes can be painful, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
As I’ll share at an upcoming joint Periscope from Xero and PayPal, with the right technology tools and advisors, you can make managing your business financials, and tax season, a breeze.
Until then, here are some tips to help you get through this season:
Ditch the spreadsheets
There’s lots of technology tools you can use at tax time that will do the heavy lifting for you. This can free you from those cells and rows. Tax calculation is made even easier when your data is in one place on the cloud. Cloud-based software is also accessible from anywhere, at anytime, on any device.
We’re moving towards a more paperless world, so why shouldn’t that apply to managing your cash flow and preparing for tax filing? Opt for e-filing and e-payment so you don’t have to print and fill out forms by hand. Most states provide this option, while some require it. Do things online to save yourself time.
Don’t wait ‘til the ball drops
Bruce Phillips, CPA, and CEO of accounting firm, HPC, says that December is typically too late for small business owners to start thinking about their taxes. By thinking about them year-round, you can prevent the early-year scramble.
To stay on top of things, leverage a cloud accounting app like Xero, and our ecosystem, to keep your accounts in order.
“Taxes are one of the most significant expenses that a small business can have, and yet they typically spend the least amount of time dealing with it,” Bruce says.
“Using Xero and PayPal and getting accurate, timely financial information will actually give you up-to-date information all year long. This way you can stay on top of and talk about your taxes before it’s too late.”
When your payments feed directly into your accounting software, you can reconcile regularly. This ensures that your accounting information is always up-to-date. And, when accepting online payments through PayPal, you’ll get paid faster – up to 80 percent as seen by Xero customers.
By leveraging a single ledger in the cloud, you can collaborate with an accountant not just on taxes, but for much-needed strategic business advice.
Once you’ve clicked ‘file’, take stock
With the real-time data in your accounting software, and the advisory expertise of your accountant, you can plan for taxes proactively and prevent any problems before they arise.
There’s no better time than right after you’ve filed to start thinking about next year. Talk to your accountant about how you can be better prepared and budget for next year.
“We try to push our clients to do forecasts, budgeting, be proactive and be forward thinking,” Bruce says. “So, when you get advice in summer and fall, you can actually plan and do something about it before you get the tax bill.”
With help from the right advisors and cloud technology, you can get back to what you do best – running your business.
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Want some help? Bizwize are certified Xero experts and we’d love to help you stay on top of your books. We can even help prepare your finances for your tax accountant. Contact us today.