What Is One Thing That Would Make Your Tax Planning and Filing Easier?
We know your time is crunched, and the more we can free it up, the better off you are. Since tax planning and tax filing is in high swing, we asked a few residents in and around Westchester to comment on what an accountant could do to up their game, and better serve the public. Here is a selection of wisdom culled from the crowds.
Last year, the way the calendar and holidays fell out, the deadline wasn’t till April 18th. That extra 3 days was really helpful.
In all seriousness, anything the IRS could do to reduce the paperwork and preparation on my end would be appreciated! I don’t earn all that much, but my circumstances are complicated by running my own business and dealing with the aftermath of my parents’ recent deaths. Even though I use an accountant, I spend a lot of non-rewarding time getting all the documentation in order.
With thanks to Bruce Segall of Marketing Sense.
When I do taxes for Spoken Interludes, I use Quick Books which my accountant recommended. As much as I disliked having to learn a new program – couldn’t Quicken be good for business, too? – in January, all I have to do is print out the reports for my accountant, and he does the rest. I could never figure out the taxes for a nonprofit!
With thanks to Delauné Michel of Spoken Interludes.
We have sometimes had questions about different tax rates in different counties [as we sell to folks residing in a geographically dispersed area]. So it has been somewhat unclear when it is time to pay our taxes. We usually are searching to get answers, and when your accountant is really good in providing service, and when they are easy to reach, that is key. It can sometimes take a good deal of time to get a live person on the line [from the tax prep software firms], so we appreciate that since our business is small, we can rely on our accountant for answers.
With thanks to Jill Selbst-Abraham of The Chintz Giraffe.
For us [as a full-service insurance agency], its painless because we have a very good accountant and we use Quickbooks, which is an industry standard. She has the ability to dial in and do everything they need to do.
With thanks to Todd Wallach of the Brian Wallach Agency.
Do away with income tax; use a value-added tax (but not on food).
With thanks to Renee Marks Cohen, Freelance Medical Writer and Editor.