July 15, 2022
Taking Care of Business Involves Keeping Good Records.
Small business owners should keep good records. This applies to all businesses, whether they have a couple of dozen employees or just a few. Keeping good records is an important part of running a successful business. Here are some questions and answers to help business owners understand the ins and outs of good recordkeeping.
Why Should Business Owners Keep Records?
A business owner needs good records to monitor the progress of their business. Records can show whether business is improving, which items are selling, or what changes you need to make. As described below, good records will help and increase the likelihood of business success.
Monitor the progress of their business
Prepare financial statements
Identify income sources
Keep track of expenses
Prepare tax returns and support items reported on tax returns
What Kinds of Records Should Owners Keep?
An owner may choose any recordkeeping system suited to their business that clearly shows income and expenses. Recently in the US, relatively inexpensive accounting software such as QuickBooks has become a choice for many small businesses. The business they are in affects the type of records they need to keep for federal tax purposes. The recordkeeping system should include a summary of a business’ transactions. For most small businesses, the business checking account is the main source for entries in the business books.
Supporting Business Documents
Purchases, sales, payroll, and other transactions in a business will generate supporting documents. Supporting documents include sales slips, paid bills, invoices, receipts, deposit slips, and canceled checks. These documents contain the information an owner needs to record in their books. It is important to keep these documents because they support the entries in the books and on the tax return. An owner should keep them in an orderly fashion and in a safe place. For instance, organize them by year and type of income or expense.
Gross receipts are the income you receive from your business. A business owner should keep supporting documents that show the amounts and sources of gross receipts. Documents for gross receipts include the following:
Invoices
Cash register tapes
Deposit information (cash and credit sales)
Receipt books
Forms 1099-MISC
Purchases are the items a business buys and resells to customers. If the owner is a manufacturer or producer, this includes the cost of all raw materials or parts purchased for manufacture into finished products. The supporting documents should show the amount paid and a description that shows what the cost was for. Documents for purchases include the following:
Canceled checks or other documents that identify payee, amount, and proof of payment/electronic funds transferred
Cash register tape receipts
Credit card receipts and statements
Invoices
Expenses are the costs incurred (other than purchases) to carry on a business. The supporting documents should show the amount paid and a description that shows the amount was for business expenses. Documents for expenses include the following:
Canceled checks or other documents that identify payee, amount, and proof of payment/electronic funds transferred
Cash register tapes
Account statements
Credit card receipts and statements
Invoices
Petty cash slips for small cash payments
Assets are the property, such as machinery and furniture, owned and used in the business. The business must keep records to verify certain information about the business assets. The business needs records to compute the annual depreciation and the gain or loss when the assets are sold. Documents for assets should show the following information:
When and how you acquired the assets
Purchase price
Cost of any improvements
Estimated useful life
Deductions taken for depreciation
Deductions taken for impairments, such as losses resulting from fires or storms
How you used the asset
When and how you disposed of the asset
Selling price
Expenses of sale
Documents such as purchase and sales invoices, real estate closing statements and canceled checks or other documents that identify payee, amount, and proof of payment/electronic funds transferred may show this information.
Travel, Transportation, Entertainment, and Gift Expenses. If a business deducts travel, entertainment, gift or transportation expenses, the business must be able to substantiate certain elements of expenses.
Employment taxes. There are specific employment tax records you must keep. Keep all records of employment for at least four years.
How Long Should Businesses Keep Records?
The length of time a business should keep a document depends on the action, expense, or event which the document records. Generally, a business must keep your records that support an item of income, deduction or credit shown on the tax return until the period of limitations for that tax return runs out.
The period of limitations is the period in which you can amend your tax return to claim a credit or refund, or the IRS can assess additional tax. The information below reflects the periods of limitations that apply to income tax returns. Unless otherwise stated, the years refer to the period after the return was filed. Returns filed before the due date are treated as filed on the due date. Keep copies of the filed tax returns. They help in preparing future tax returns and making computations if you file an amended return.
Period of Limitations That Apply to Income Tax Returns
Keep records for 4 years from the date the business filed the original return.
Keep records for 7 years if the business files a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
Keep records for 6 years if the business does not report income that it should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on the return.
Keep records indefinitely if the business does not file a return.
Keep records indefinitely if the business files a fraudulent return.
Keep employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.
What is The Burden of Proof? The responsibility to prove entries, deductions, and statements made on your tax returns is known as the burden of proof. The business owner must be able to substantiate certain elements of expenses to deduct them. Generally, taxpayers meet their burden of proof by having the information and receipts (where needed) for the expenses. The owner should keep adequate records to prove the expenses or have sufficient evidence that will support the statement. The business must have documentary evidence, such as receipts, canceled checks, or bills, to support your expenses. Additional evidence is required for travel, entertainment, gifts, and auto expenses.
How Long Should Businesses Keep Employment Tax Records?
Keep all records of employment taxes for at least four years after filing the 4th quarter for the year. These should be available for IRS review. Records should include:
Your employer identification number
Amounts and dates of all wages, annuity, and pension payments
The fair market value of in-kind wages paid
Names, addresses, social security numbers, and occupations of employees and recipients
Any employee copies of Form W-2 that were returned to you as undeliverable
Dates of employment
Periods for which employees and recipients were paid while absent due to sickness or injury and the amount and weekly rate of payments you or third-party payers made to them
Copies of employees' and recipients' income tax withholding allowance certificates (Forms W-4, W-4P, W-4S, and W-4V)
Dates and amounts of tax deposits you made
Copies of returns filed
Records of allocated tips
Records of fringe benefits provided, including substantiation.
The IRS website also explains the need to keep business records, so if you are interested, please refer to the link below as well.
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