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Archive for the ‘Tax Preparation’ Category

Starting a Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Business

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

When you are in request of money a quick payday loan is always useful for your money terror. You end up with costs that weren’t anticipated or car repairs that usually happen in the worst times. And if you aren’t covered for that additional expense because you’ve got no money laying around, then you may wish to apply for a cash loan or payday loan. These cash advance financial loans are close to bank financial loans but not exactly.

Nobody likes to do taxes, and it can be a especially complicated task for those who own their own business. Although most of your potential customers will maintain accounting records of their weekly, you can provide this additional service to those who want it.

To sell your service you should make a minimum investment in a Yellow Pages listing under “Tax Return Preparation” (or “Bookkeeping Service”), as well as placing small classified ads in your local newspaper. Personal visits to community retailers are helpful, especially if you have the time to strike up a conversation, mention what business you are in and leave a business card for the retailer’s reference.

A natural outgrowth of this business is, of course, individual tax return preparation. Most owners of businesses tend to use their business tax returns for their personal profit. Although personal tax preparation is a seasonal business, it can be extremely attractive. H&R Block has grown to become a multimillion-dollar business on this “seasonal” work alone.

For your business clients you should set your rates so that you make at least $20 an hour. Since quarterly tax returns will come due for different customers at different times (because they are not all on the same financial schedule), you can plan your time for appropriate. To keep your rates competitive, check the competition. Call a few of the bookkeeping or tax preparation services listed in the Yellow Pages and ask them their rates as if you were a potential client.

Your goal in this business is to establish a growing list of clients. But even as a solo practitioner, handling only the number of clients you can service by yourself, your income can easily top $50,000 a year. If you wish to grow larger, you could end up supervising an office full of trained staff members. Your initial investment to start this business need be nothing more than the cost of a supply of business cards and letterheads.

5 Benefits of Online Income Tax Preparation

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Online income tax preparation provides a safe, easy way to file your taxes. According to the IRS.gov official website, electronic filing (e-file) has been an accepted way to file by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since 1986. Some accountants have been using this method to file for their clients for more than two decades. Let’s take a look at five major benefits of filing your taxes online.

1. Saves Time and Money for Everyone Involved

Online income tax preparation saves time and money for you, the online tax service, and the federal and state government. You’ll save time because you can fill in your information using an online form or through e-file software without hand writing all your information. Even if you opt for paid assistance with your online tax filing, you won’t have to visit a physical accounting office to achieve this task. You can save money by paying less for online services, or you might be able to take advantage of free e-file services available through the IRS via many online tax services. You can also receive your refund much faster by filing electronically….usually within a couple of weeks if there are no complications. You can opt for direct deposit of your tax refund into your bank account for faster payment.

Filing electronically saves time and money for the IRS because there’s less paperwork when taxpayers use this method. Tax preparers also save by providing online services. They can work primarily through e-mail, thus, reducing in-office appointments. Some accountants only offer services through the Web, so they don’t have the typical overhead expenses of operating a physical office.

2. File Your Income Taxes from the Comfort of Your Own Home

Another benefit of online tax filing is you can file your returns directly from your home computer. This provides a great convenience if you have a busy schedule or usually work long hours. You can fill in your tax information through e-file forms any time, day or night, without missing a day of work or wasting a Saturday just to prepare your tax returns. Whether you use e-file software, an online free e-file service or opt for other paid tax services, you’ll be able to take care of all your filing needs from home or the office.

3. Reduce Errors when Filing Your Own Taxes

We can all make mistakes – even on important tax forms! Online income tax preparation can reduce errors because paid or free e-file forms will calculate your mathematical totals for you. Online e-file forms will catch other errors as well and prompt you to correct them before moving forward with the form submission. This also reduces errors on the IRS side, which can easily occur as the taxpayer information is keyed into computer systems from handwritten forms. After all, the person keying in the information is human, and not everyone has very neat handwriting! Less errors means less of a chance for an audit and quicker processing of your tax return.

4. Get Help for Complicated Tax Needs

Online income tax prep is not only for simple filing, but can also be helpful for complicated tax needs. If you own a business and need paid tax services, many online tax companies provide an array of services to cater to your needs. Get help with business expenses and mileage deductions, corporate tax needs, home or business tax credits, and more. If you usually work as an independent contractor, an online tax service can help you maximize your tax benefits. You’ll find that many paid services online are less expensive than local tax offices while providing the same caliber of service. Some offer year round business accounting services…not only during the tax season.

5. Easy Filing for Federal and State Income Taxes

When filing your federal income taxes, some e-file services provide a quick way to transfer your personal data to a form for state filing. You may have to pay a small fee to do this, but it can be well worth it if you wish to avoid filling out other tax documents. Keep in mind that state filing is always separate from federal income tax, and the duration and amount of your refund for state taxes will differ from federal taxes.

With online income tax preparation, you’ll no longer have to dread filing taxes each year. Enjoy this quick, simple method of tax preparation now and for all future filing needs!