Calculating and keeping track of your taxes are two of the most difficult aspects of running a business. This can turn into an even harder endeavor if you have a small business and do not have a professional accounting team to help you out. It is not a lost cause, though. By keeping some vital documents and having a keen eye for detail, you won’t have to dread tax season anymore. However, this can be difficult to implement without proper guidance but don’t worry,  we’ve got you covered. If you are having trouble keeping track of your business taxes, check the following guide for more insights.

Hire an Accountant

Do you have a small business and not enough liquidity to have a fully-fledged accounting department? Well, you do not have to completely write off hiring professional help. By enlisting the help of just one accountant, you can keep your books in order and avoid tax miscalculations. However, you have to be 100% sure of the person you are going to hire. Doing some background checks before you make your decision is vital since that person will be responsible for handling the company’s finances. By doing the appropriate research, you'll end up filing taxes with the highest-rated CPA in NYC - or wherever required - in no time at all! If you do not have enough capital to hire someone with extensive experience, seeking the help of an independent contractor (a freelancer) can be just what you are looking for. Most freelancers have lower rates than traditional accountants, so you will not have to waste tons of money to keep track of your taxes.

Use Software

The year 2021 is just a month away, so it does not make sense to rely on old-fashioned methods to track your business income and expenses and calculate taxes. Bookkeeping is still pretty much a thing, but it is not done with pen and paper anymore. Currently, there is a plethora of user-intuitive software you can leverage to finish complex tax-oriented and accounting tasks in just a few hours instead of days. Even if you have an accounting team, investing in such programs is bound to increase their productivity. To choose the best tax software for your company, figure out which forms you need to fill and make sure that the program you have in mind supports them. Some of the tax software such as Drake Hosted are also accessible on cloud using Hosted Virtual Desktop which supports multi-user access to users. Cross-platform support is also a big thing in today’s business world, as you must be able to access the system even when you are not at your office. Moreover, we recommend that you compare different programs before investing in one just to be sure that you are not squandering precious resources.

Take Advantage of Write-Offs

Decreasing your tax burden should always be one of your main priorities. After all, you do not want to lose all your hard-earned capital to taxes! Luckily, there are many deductions you may be eligible for, depending on your business expenses. The expert tax managers from keepertax.com point out that the deductions 1099 employees can benefit from include home office expenses, health insurance premiums, and internet costs. Traditional businesses also have many write-offs, including the cost of meals, bank fees, and travel expenses. Whether you are an independent contractor or a traditional employer, you should look for software that automatically applies these deductions to make it easier for yourself. 

Hone Your Bookkeeping Skills

Let’s face it; not having basic tax skills can hurt your business. Although you may have an expert team by your side, it does not hurt to have a general understanding of how taxes are filed, particularly if you are a very hands-on person who likes to directly supervise their employees. Even if you are not naturally gifted with strong arithmetic and organizational skills, you need to work on yourself instead of simply letting someone else do everything for you. As for the skills you need to hone, these include invoicing, expense/income tracking, and auditing. There are plenty of great sources you can find online if you are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to become an expert bookkeeper. You may also opt for crash courses to improve quickly in case you do not have enough time to spare.

Considering the hefty fines of miscalculating tax liabilities, filing your business taxes accurately will save you a lot of trouble down the line. It does not matter whether you are an independent contractor or the owner of an established business; technology has made this process a breeze. Just make sure to hold onto important invoices and separate your business and personal accounts to have solid proof of your expenses and avoid confusion.