Taxes and the Expenses Related to the Business of Writing
Spring is in the air, trees are beginning to bud, flowers are rising up toward the sun after a long winter of sleep and April is just around the corner. Along with these joyous signs of spring, April brings a sense of dread to many. It’s tax time… the day when taxpayers in the United States must file federal income tax returns or request extensions.
Many new clients come into my office with the proverbial shoe box filled with papers they have frantically gathered hoping for salvation in the experienced hands of their tax professional. Most are frazzled, embarrassed by their lack of attention to recordkeeping, and seem to be caught off guard by the fact tax day is once again upon us.
Tax time isn’t fun by any stretch of the imagination, but it does not have to be stressful or chaotic. There are many things writers can do to minimize the anxiety of filing tax returns.
Recordkeeping for Writers
As a writer who is self-employed, you are your business. With any business, it is important to keep accurate records reflecting all income and expenses. This information should be organized, easy to maintain and readily available for your own use or in the event of an audit.
I recommend writers break recordkeeping tasks into manageable steps which can be completed daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. Examples can include:
- Daily task: Open incoming business mail and sort into groups such as checks received, invoices to be paid, junk mail to recycle.
- Weekly task: Complete a deposit slip and bring money received to your bank.
- Monthly task: Balance your business bank statement.
- Quarterly task: Send estimated tax payment to the Internal Revenue Service.
- Annual task: Record ending mileage on vehicle used for business purposes.
Your recordkeeping system does not need to be expensive or fancy. Color coded folders may work well if you are a visual person. Purchasing duplicate checks may be helpful if you frequently forget to record transactions in your register. Implement a system that works for you.
Receipts can be stored in large clasp folders which are identified by month and year. Transactions can be recorded on a print or computerized spreadsheet such as Excel. If you are comfortable with bookkeeping, you could consider purchasing software created for this purpose such as QuickBooks.
Stackable trays on your desk can tame the piles of paper as can horizontal desktop sorters and wall-mount tier organizers. File cabinets come in many different sizes, materials and finishes and can integrate seamlessly into your recordkeeping system.
Importance of Recordkeeping
Even though establishing your recordkeeping system may seem daunting at first, it is well worth the time to implement. Accurate records can protect you in the event of an audit and provide the information necessary to determine the profitability of your writing business. Maintaining good records can also reduce your taxable income which will reduce the amount you pay in taxes.