🏁 Racing Toward Tax Season: How to Prep Your Books Before Year-End

A checklist for small businesses to ensure a smooth race through tax season without last-minute panic

Tax season doesn’t have to feel like a mad dash to the finish line. A little prep work now can save you time, money, and stress later. Use this checklist to make sure your books are tuned up before tax time.

✔ Reconcile All Accounts Make sure your bank statements, credit cards, and loan balances match your accounting records.

✔ Review and Categorize Expenses Accurate expense tracking means more deductions—and fewer surprises. Revisit uncategorized transactions to ensure every dollar is accounted for.

✔ Update and Send Outstanding Invoices Unpaid invoices affect cash flow and year-end totals. Send reminders and follow up before the year closes.

✔ Review Payroll and Contractor Payments Double-check that W-2s and 1099s are accurate. Clean data now avoids headaches later.

✔ Meet with Your Bookkeeper A year-end meeting helps identify deductions, plan for tax savings, and ensure compliance. Think of it as a pre-race tune-up before the green flag drops.

With solid bookkeeping and expert guidance, you can enter tax season prepared, not panicked.