Tag Archives: records to keep
Tax Tips for Newlyweds
Posted on 20. Aug, 2010 by admin.
Getting married involves hundreds of details and decisions, from wedding planning to house hunting to joint checking accounts. Although taxes may not be high on your priority list, it’s important to consider how you will file your annual returns as newlyweds. With tax season less than a year away, it’s a great time to look at some of the changes you may need to make for the IRS.
Here are some basic tips:
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Healthcare Changes for Small Businesses Part 1
Posted on 10. May, 2010 by admin.
Part 1: 2010-2011
American healthcare is poised for some pretty radical changes over the next several years – changes that are relevant to everyone from the youngest child to the oldest retiree. If you’re a small business owner or an employee of a small business, you’re probably wondering whether the new laws and regulations will impact you. Read on to learn about potential changes to your insurance and healthcare premiums.
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Tips for Creating Your 2010 Business Budget
Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Believe it or not, the New Year is just around the corner, leaving many business owners scrambling to create a business plan for 2010. A sound budget is one of the cornerstones of any enterprise, large or small, and taking the time to plan ahead makes all the difference in crafting a realistic plan that will help your business grow stronger and more profitable.
If you’re a small business owner tasked with budgeting your resources for next year, keep the following tips in mind:
Budget conservatively: It can be difficult to accurately predict income or expenses, so err on the side of caution. Assume that costs will be higher than anticipated and that income may be lower, and then craft a budget tailored to those pessimistic figures. You’ll be prepared for the worst, and if business in 2010 is as good as (or better than) you hope, it will come as a happy surprise.
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Tax Records: To Shred or Not to Shred?
Posted on 14. Dec, 2009 by admin.
As we approach the end of another calendar year, it can be tempting to clear out all those backlogged tax files and start fresh for 2010. But don’t start feeding all those old records to the shredder just yet—first, consider the following.
As a general rule, CPAs recommend hanging onto the past three years’ worth of tax records. That’s equivalent to the federal government’s statute of limitations for questioning or auditing your tax information. There are a few exceptions—some states have up to four years to examine your return, and the statute can be extended or removed in cases of fraud, significant income omission, or tax evasion. But taxpayers who have filed in a timely manner and paid any outstanding taxes by the due date can confidently purge any records three years after the date the return was filed.
It’s important to note that the three-year rule only applies to supporting documents and information related to your tax return. Other records, specifically those that detail capital assets, should be kept until the end of the statute period following their liquidation. Below are some examples:
• Tax returns: Although supporting documentation can usually be purged after the three-year mark, it’s wise to keep the actual returns themselves. These can prove invaluable in securing a loan or applying for insurance.
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