Saturday, March 31, 2012

Today is the LAST day of March - Sunday marks the countdown to tax season - are your books prepared??? If not, give us a call!

Friday, March 30, 2012

An ABSOLUTE MUST for boaters - our new client invented an invaluable device here in CT: check it out: http://ping.fm/qCQrP
ANOTHER great article on our clients and friends @Nonscentsflower (nonscentsflowers.com) - read their wonderful story! http://ow.ly/9YH1J

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Just about 2 weeks left until your taxes are due!!! Have a cleanup? Give us a call! http://ow.ly/9XNyP
Out with the old - in with the new! Tomorrow ALL Facebook pages will be switched over to the new timeline sytle! Tips: http://ow.ly/9XL9g

Friday, March 23, 2012

Have some quesstions about how this tax refund debit card works? Check this out: http://ping.fm/JSXWI

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

QuickBooks Training Deadline Reminder: The deadline has been extended to the end of this week, call to register! http://ow.ly/9NvTN
Quirky yes - but still funny http://ping.fm/AK9ed

Ways to Protect Your Business and Clients

Ways to Protect Your Business and Clients 


1. Those who are involved in family businesses need 2 checking accts. Because the IRS closely scrutinizes transactions between family members in family businesses, it is highly advisable for a family business to keep a separate checking account for the business and pay all business expenses out of that account.


2. Send ICs a 1099 . . . and a 4669. Companies with few or no employees that make payments to ICs risk having the IRS (and Tax Court) deny the deductions as phony. What to do: Send each IC a 1099-MISC and get from each IC signed Form4669, Statement of Payments Received.


3. "The check is in the mail.” When a customer says the check is in the mail, politely ask for check number and date written. If the customer fumbles instead of agreeing to get the number or refer you to the bookkeeper, you should suspect that the check was never written or mailed.


4. Put collections efforts where they count. Overdue receivables are usually just 10% uncollectable after 60 days. But after 6 months, they are 33%-67% uncollectable.


5. Protect the firm against the IRS. If your firm is audited, the IRS will examine its electronic files. Some requested files may contain data outside the period under audit that the IRS could use for a “fishing expedition” or to access unrelated customer or private data outside the scope of the information request or audit. Find a method for isolating all data for a given year that excludes data from other periods. If you cannot do this, at year-end back up that year separately.

From http://www.aipb.org/



----------
Timothy Dugan
Marketing Specialist
Comprehensive Business Solutions
1395a Tolland Turnpike
Manchester, CT, 06042
P: 860.645.0273 - F: 860.647.7610
http://www.comprehensivebusinesssolutions.com/

"Let us maintain your books, so you can maintain your business." SM

Monday, March 19, 2012

ATTN: We have extended our deadline for our quickbooks training course registration to this week-call us if interested! http://ow.ly/9KlRz

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

This weather have you in the mood for spring cleaning? 1st on the list, have your books cleaned up :) swing by our office on Tolland Tnpk!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

We're more than bookkeeping - we offer HR, Internet Marketing, Web Maintenance, Training and more! Ask us how we can help your business!
This video says it all - outsource bookkeeping a good idea? YOU BET! :) http://ping.fm/fIkPk

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Need a recommendation? We proudly support these local professionals: www.cbsbookkeeping.com/business-professionals-and-resources.php

Saturday, March 10, 2012

REMINDER: Register this week for our upcoming QuickBooks & Bookkeeping Training Course: www.cbsbookkeeping.com/training2012
Straight from the Source: Four Tax Credits that Can Boost your Refund: http://ping.fm/1rKqv
Our client of the month is our friends at www.NonScentsFlowers.com - check out their online store!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

www.CBSBookkeeping.com/training2012 for the latest details on our evening course coming up the end of this month - contact us to register!

Business Bookkeeping Quiz

Whats your score on this quiz?  If you're on the lower end you may want to give us a call!:

reblogged from:  aipb.org

Our goal as your national association is to raise bookkeepers' professional status. One way we do this is by keeping you current and offering practical, on-the-job help in our member newsletter, The General_Ledger.



The quiz below is based exclusively on one recent issue of The General Ledger. See if you are up to date. Scroll down for answers.



1. You are required to retain records of fringe benefits provided, including _____ and _____-_____ _____ calculations for at least 4 years, but to be safe, 5 years.



2. You are required to retain documents that support calculations for work tickets, piece-work tickets, wage-rate tables, work and time schedules, additions to or deductions from wages, and time cards for at least _____ years.



3. You are required to retain W-4s, copies of W-2s and W-3s, state and local payroll and employment tax returns and expense reimbursement substantiation for at least _____ years from _____ __ (month, day) following the _____ _____ of the tax returns and employment-related tax forms and data.



4. Under new IRS regs, if you file a return using an IRS-authorized private delivery service, is that alone considered evidence that the documents were delivered to the IRS on time? Is it evidence to the Tax Court?



5. To ensure that the IRS (and Tax Court) will accept deductions for payments to independent contractors (ICs), companies with few or no employees that make payments to ICs should obtain from each IC a signed Form _____ [form number], _____ _____ _____ _____ [form name], for each 1099-MISC sent out.



6. Because the IRS closely scrutinizes transactions between family members involving family businesses, it is highly advisable for a family business to keep a separate _____ _____ for the business and pay all _____ _____ out of that account.



Questions 7-10: New regs for start-up businesses:

7. Up to $_____ of start-up expenses can be deducted up-front and the rest _____, but this amount is reduced dollar-for-dollar by start-up expenses over $_____.



8. The amortization period has been increased to _____ years.



9. The amortization applies to expenses incurred in the year the business begins _____.



10. The regs can be used retroactively for start-up expenses paid or incurred after _____ __, _____ (month, day, year).


ANSWERS:

9-10 correct You're up to date. To stay that way, join AIPB today.
6-8 correct You're missing information affecting your job. Join now to keep current.
5 or less correct Too busy to stay current? Let AIPB keep you up to date. Join now.

1. value, fair-market value
2. 2
3. 4, April 17, due date
4. yes, yes
5. 4669, Statement of Payments Received
6. checking account, business expenses
7. 5,000, amortized, 50,000
8. 15
9. operating
10. Oct. 22, 2004


 
 






----------

Timothy Dugan
Marketing Specialist
QUICKBOOKS TRAINING 2012

Comprehensive Business Solutions
1395a Tolland Turnpike Manchester, CT, 06042
P: 860.645.0273 - F: 860.647.7610
www.cbsbookkeeping.com

"Let us maintain your books, so you can maintain your business." SM






 


We've purchased a new domain: www.connecticutbookkeepers.com for our blog - check it out for the some helpful bookkeeping tips!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Our 2nd QuickBooks/Bookkeeping Training Course is set (it's an evening course!) www.cbsbookkeeping.com/training2012 - contact us to attend!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Need help finding a CPA? We work with many and can recommend one to you!
Facebook Tip: For anyone with a Facebook Page - the platform will be switching over to the 'timeline' style on March 30!
Our new client (www.autotether.com) invented a wireless device that sends a signal to shut down your motor if you go overboard. How cool!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

ATTN: Our 2nd QuickBooks & Bookkeeping Training Class is in the works! It's expected to take place in late March - contact us for details!
Please give our busines a star rating by visiting: http://ow.ly/8XlJv (Yahoo Users) OR http://goo.gl/9s5Ex (Google Users) - Thank You!
Some tips from the BBB about preparing your taxes - http://ow.ly/97hOG
Still stuck in old bookkeeping habits? http://ow.ly/9qLLz Give us a call!
In case you haven't heard http://ow.ly/97gIR
:o) http://ping.fm/q8vD7
A reminder to those of you interested in learning QuickBooks - we're offering an EVENING class at the end of March, contact us for details!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Please give our busines a star rating by visiting: http://ow.ly/8XlJv (Yahoo Users) OR http://goo.gl/9s5Ex (Google Users) - Thank You!
Another training course will be offered at the end of this month (evening class) details are being set now - contact us if interested!
A GREAT blog for you small business owners from our friends at intuit. http://blog.intuit.com/
Don't think that the extra day in Feb. gives you an extra day for the taxes (due 4/17)...we'll clean your books and prep them for your cpa!