Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses...

16
CLIENT HANDBOOK

Transcript of Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses...

Page 1: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

CLIENTHANDBOOK

Page 2: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page1of15

TABLEOFCONTENTS

1) TiretTeamconcept2) AccountingProcedures

a. EnteringchecksintoQBOb. Reconcilingpaymentsreceivedatthecloseofeachday

i. RecordingReceiptsinGoogleDrivespreadsheetii. Makingdailydeposits

c. Sendingmonthlyreportsatthecloseofthemonth3) DeductionGuidelines

a. Meals&Entertainmentb. InsurancePremiumsc. EquipmentPurchasesd. Autoexpenses

4) PayrollProcedures5) InsuranceGuidelines6) InternalControlGuidelines7) IndependentContractorvsemployee8) EmployeeHandbook9) RecordRetentionGuidelines

Page 3: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page2of15

THETIRETTEAMCONCEPT

WelcometoTiret&CompanyCPAs.Tiret&Co.isstructuredtoprovideyouwithanentireteamofpeopletoserviceyouraccounting,tax,payroll,andfinancialneeds.Theteammembersarecomprisedofthefollowingroles:

Partner:Thefirmpartnerwillbeyourprimaryconsultativerelationshipattheoffice.Yourmeetingswilltakeplacewiththepartner,andalltaxandfinancialplanningmatterswillworkthroughthepartner.

StaffAccountant:Youwillhaveadedicatedstaffaccountantthatwillprepareyourmonthlyaccounting.Theaccountantwilloccasionallyhavequestionsforyourelativetocompletingtheaccounting.Anyquestionsthatyouhaverelatedtothelogisticsoftheaccountingcanberunthroughyourstaffaccountant.

PayrollDepartment:Yourpayrollinfo(employees,rates,hours,vacation,etc)willbecommunicatedtoourpayrolldepartment,whowillthantakecareofpreparingyourpayrollandyourpayrolltaxes.

TaxPreparer:Whileyourtaxreturnwillalwaysbereviewedbythepartnerinchargeofyouraccount,thereturnitselfmaybepreparedbyoneofourhighlyqualifiedtaxpreparers.Tofacilitatetheproperandtimelycompletionofyourreturn,thepreparerwillcommunicatewithyoutorequestneededdocumentsortoresolvequestions.

AdminDepartment:Wehaveatop-notchadmindepartmentatTiret&Co.CPAsthatwillassistyouinnumerousways,includingschedulingmeetingsandarrangingforthetransferofdocumentsandinformationbetweenyouandthefirm,orthefirmandathirdpartyasnecessary.

Page 4: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page3of15

ACCOUNTINGPROCEDURES

Generally,Tiret&Co.willtakecareofallactionsnecessarytocompleteyouraccounting.Therearesomeactionitemsrequiredfromtheclientsidetoenableustodothis.

DAILY:Writingchecks:Asyourwritemanualchecks,theyneedtobeenteredintoyourcheckregister

inQBO(QuickBooksOnline).Thiscanbedonefromacomputer,orfromasmartphonewiththeQBOmobileapp.PleasenotethatyoucanalsouseQBOandyourprintertoactuallyprintchecksdirectlyfromthecomputer.

MakingandRecordingDeposits:Atthecloseofeachdayyoushouldreviewyourposted

collectionsforthedayandtheactualchecks,cash,andcreditcardreceiptsrelativetothosepostedcollections.YoushouldenterthedepositinformationintotheGoogleDrivedepositspreadsheetthatwascreatedforyoubyTiret&Co.Ideallyyoushouldmakeadepositoftheday’schecksandcashatthecloseofeachday.Ifyouareunabletomakeadepositonedayandneedtomaketwoday’sdepositsinthesameday,theyshouldbedepositedastwoseparatedeposits.Ifyoumakeyourdepositsviaascanneranddon’thaveabranchatwhichyoucandepositcash,youshouldwriteapersonalchecktotheofficefortheamountofcashreceived,andkeepthecashforyourself.Thisensuresapapertrailofallcollections.Theseareimportantcashcontrolstepstohelpdefendagainstpotentialembezzlement.

MONTHLY:

SendinginPracticeReports:Atthecloseofthemonthyouwillsendtoyourassignedstaffaccountantapacketofyourinternalsoftwarereportsthatwewillneedinordertocompletetheaccounting.Thiswillincludeproduction,collections,andadjustmentsforthemonth,alongwiththeaccountsreceivableagingasofthecloseofthelastbusinessdayoftheparticularmonth.Youwillbeprovidedwithachecklistthatwilllistindetailtheparticularreportsneededeachmonthfromyourparticularinternalsoftwareprogram.Thereportscanbeemailed,postedtotheportal,orifeitherofthosetwomethodsdoesnotworkforsomereason,snailmailedtous.

Answeringquestions:Asyouwillseeonthedeductionguidelinepage,therearesome

expendituresforwhichwewillneedsomeclarificationfromyou.Thiswillleadtoyourstaffaccountantemailingyoueachmonthquestionsthatwillneedtobeansweredtofinalizetheaccounting—mainlyrelatedtomealsandentertainmentexpenses(splitbetweenstaffandnon-staff).

Page 5: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page4of15

DEDUCTIONGUIDELINES

TheIRSdefinesadeductiblebusinessexpensesassomethingthatis“ordinaryandnecessary”forthesakeofthebusinessoperations.Therearehowevermorestringentguidelinesonsomeparticulartypesofexpenses.

1) InsuranceExpense:Thereareparticularrulesdeterminingthedeductibilityofinsuranceexpenditures.Assuch,wewillneedtoknowfromyouwhattypeofinsuranceaparticularpremiumisfor:

a. Disabilityincome(non-deductible)b. Disabilityoverhead(deductible)c. Lifeinsurance(non-deductible)d. Worker’scomp(deductible)e. Malpractice(deductible)f. OfficerHealthinsurance(generallydeductible,butwithsomeparticularreporting

guidelines)g. StaffHealthinsurance(deductible)h. OfficeUmbrellaInsurance(deductible)i. Etc.

2) Mealsandentertainmentexpenses:Anymealsandentertainmentthatarerelatedtofeedingand/orentertainingyourstaffare100%deductible.Anymealsandentertainmentthatarenotstaffrelated(i.e.dinnerwithareferralsourceorsomeotherbusinesscontact)areonly50%deductible.Assuch,wewillneedfromyou,andwewillaskyouforguidanceeachmonthastothesplitofmealsandentertainmentcostsbetween:

a. Staffmealsandentertainmentb. Non-staffmealsandentertainment

Pleasenotethatinordertosupportthedeductibilityofmealsandentertainmentexpenses,itisagoodideatobothkeepreceiptsrelatedtomealsandentertainment,andtojotdownthebusinessreasonandbusinessassociatewithwhomthemealtookplace.

3) Equipment:Pleasetakecaretonoteifapurchaseisforequipment,andwhenequipmentispurchasedpleaseincludetheinvoicewiththeaccountingworkpacket.Alternatively,youcouldalsoemailacopyoftheinvoicetoyourassignedstaffaccountantwhenthepurchaseismade.Equipmentforthesepurposesisanythingwithacostover$500.00thatrepresentsanassetthatwillremainintheofficeforanextendedperiodoftime.Notethatwetreathand-piecesassupplies,notequipment.Examplesofequipmentwouldbesomethinglikeanx-raymachine,aninter-oral

Page 6: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page5of15

camera,anofficedesk,awaitingroomTV,etc.Thecostofequipmentisdeductedthroughdepreciationdeductions,notdirectlythroughtheexpenseofpayingfortheitem.Dependingonthetaxlawsinplaceforaparticularyear,theequipmentwillbedeductedallintheyearofpurchase,oroveraperiodofyears(rangingfromaslittleas3toasmanyas39,dependingonthetypeofequipment).

4) AutomobileExpenses:Commutingmilesrepresentnon-deductibleautomobileexpenses.Allothermilesrelatedtobusinessrepresentdeductiblemileage.Thisincludestripstothebank,tothepostoffice,tothestoreforbusinesspurchases,tripstocontinuingeducationmeetings,etc.YourcommuteforIRSpurposesisdefinedasthetripfromhomeinthemorningtoyourfirstplaceofbusinessforthedayandyourtripfromyourlastplaceofbusinessforthedaytoyourhomeatthecloseoftheday.Soifyoufirstdrivefromhometothepost-officeforworkrelatedactivities,andthenfromthepostofficetoyouroffice,thetriptothepost-officewouldbeconsideredyourcommute.Thetripfromthepost-officetoyourofficewouldbeconsidereddeductiblebusinessmiles.Likewise,ifyouleaveyourofficeattheendofthedayanddrivetothebanktodepositthatday’scollections,andthenheadhomefromthebank.Thetriptothebankwouldbebusinessmiles,andthetripfromthebanktoyourhomewouldbecommute.Businessautoexpensescanbetakenintheformofapercentageofactualautoexpenses.So,ifyoudrive10,000milesintheyearand6,000arebusinessmiles,then60%ofallexpensesrelatedtothebusinessautomobilewouldbedeductible.Alternatively,thedeductioncanbebasedonacalculationoftheIRSapplicableautoexpenserateforaparticularyearmultipliedbythetotalbusinessmilesdrivenfortheyear.Whenpreparingthetaxreturn,wecangenerallychoosewhichevermethodwillgivethebetterdeduction.Whicheverdeductionmethodisultimatelychosen,youshouldpayforallexpensesrelatedtoyourbusinessusecarthroughthebusiness.Thisincludes,gas,repairs,carwash,registration,etc.

5) TravelExpenses:Travelexpensesthatareordinaryandnecessarybusinessexpensesaredeductible.Themostcommonreasonforbusinesstravelisforcontinuingeducationandconventions.Whileyoumaybringyourfamilyalongonyourtravels,notethatonlytheexpensesthatwouldhavebeenincurredwithoutthepresenceofyourfamilyaredeductible.Thisincludesyourairfare,butnotyourfamily’s.Itcouldincludealllodgingexpenses,ifthepresenceofyourfamilydoesnotcauseyoutobookalargerroomthanyouwouldhavebookedforyourself.Itincludesbusinessrelatedmealsandentertainmentforyou,butnomealsandentertainmentexpensesforyourfamily.Alsonotethatifyouextendyourtripbeyondthetimeframeofthebusinesspurpose,theexpensesrelatedtotheadditionaldaysarenotdeductible.

Page 7: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page6of15

Someexamplesofdeductiblebusinesstravelexpensesareasfollows:

1. Travelbyairplane,train,busorcarbetweenyourhomeandyourbusinessdestination.(Ifyouareprovidedwithaticketoryouareridingfreeasaresultofafrequenttravelerorsimilarprogram,yourcostiszero.)

2. Usingyourcarwhileatyourbusinessdestination.Youcandeductactualexpensesorthestandardmileagerate,aswellasbusiness-relatedtollsandparkingfees.Ifyourentacar,youcandeductonlythebusiness-useportionfortheexpenses.

3. Faresfortaxisorothertypesoftransportationbetweentheairportortrainstationandyourhotel,thehotelandtheworklocation,andfromonecustomertoanother,orfromoneplaceofbusinesstoanother.

4. Mealsandlodging(stillsubjecttothepotential50%limitation).5. Tipsyoupayforservicesrelatedtoanyoftheseexpenses.6. Drycleaningandlaundry.7. Businesscallswhileonyourbusinesstrip(Thisincludesbusinesscommunicationsbyfax

machineorothercommunicationdevices).8. Othersimilarordinaryandnecessaryexpensesrelatedtoyourbusinesstravel(Theseexpenses

mightincludetransportationtoandfromabusinessmeal,publicstenographer'sfees,computerrentalfees,andoperatingandmaintainingahousetrailer).

9. Shippingofbaggage,andsampleordisplaymaterialbetweenyourregularandtemporaryworklocations.

Page 8: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page7of15

PAYROLLPROCESSINGPROCEDURES

Itemsneededforpayrollsetup:

• FederalTaxID#(EIN)(Wecanacquirethisnumberforyouifneedbe)• StateTaxID#(EDD)(Wecanacquirethisnumberforyouifneedbe)• Voidedcheckforbusinessaccount• 4digitpinnumberforEFTPS(thisnumberismailedtoyoushortlyafteryoureceiveyourFederal

EIN)• W4forallemployees(linkbelow)

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf

• I9forallemployees(linkbelow)http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf

• Payrates• Anyotherpay/deductioninformation(vacation,sick,medical,401k,etc)• Voidedchecksfordirectdeposit• PayrollFrequency–Everyotherweek(bi-weekly)ortwicepermonth(semi-monthly)?• Payrollperiods• Paydates

Submittingpayroll:

Payrollhoursareduenolaterthan1pmtwobusinessdaysbeforeyourpaydateifyouremployeesareondirectdeposit(onebusinessdayforregularchecks).WeekendsandbankholidaysdoNOTcountasbusinessdays.

Onthedaythatyouareduetosubmitpayroll,youshouldrunreportsforthepayperiodandcalculateovertimeifyourtimekeepingsoftwaredoesnotalreadydoitforyou.Hoursshouldbetotaledandreportedasseparatecategoriesifyouwishforthemtobebrokendownonthecheckstub(regularhours,OThours,vacation,sick,holiday).

Receivingpayroll:

Thepayrollpackagewillbedeliveredtoyouroffice(orotherlocationifspecified)viacourier.Uponreceipt,youshouldreviewthecheckstubsorreportstomakesureeverythingisaccurate.Thecheckstubsshouldthenbegiventotheemployeesonpaydayfortheirrecords.Itisalsorecommendedthatyoumakecopiesandretainthemforyourrecords.

Page 9: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page8of15

Alternatively,youcanelecttoreceiveyourpayrollrecordselectronicallythroughourclientportal.Inthiscase,eachemployeewillhavetheirowndedicatedportallog-inwheretheywillaccesstheirpaystubs.

PayrollTaxLiabilites:

Thepayrolltaxesthatyouareresponsibleforpayingwillbecalculatedandsubmittedelectronicallybyourofficeonyourbehalf.Eachpayrollyouwillreceiveacoverletterthatdetailsthetotalnetpayroll,totalFederaltaxesdueandtotalStatetaxesdue.

Page 10: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page9of15

INSURANCECOVERAGEGUIDELINES

Therearecertainrisksthatcomealongwiththeroleofbusinessowner.Itisimportantthatyouhavetheproperinsurancepoliciesinplacetodealwiththoserisks.RequiredPoliciesinCAMalpractice:Malpracticeinsuranceprotectsyouagainstliabilityrelatedtoyourprofessionalworkonpatients.Malpracticeinsurancepremiumsaredeductible.Worker’sCompensation:Ifyouhaveemployees,thenyouarerequiredtocarryworker’scompensationinsurance.Worker’scompinsurancecoverspotentiallostwagesofyouremployeesduetoinjuriesincurredwhileonthejob.Asanowner,worker’scompinsurancehelpsmitigateyourrisksassociatedwithemployeesthatarehurtonthejob.Worker’scompinsurancepremiumsaretaxdeductible.RecommendedPoliciesGeneralBusinessLiabilityInsurance:Protectsagainstawidevarietyofbusinessrisks–includingbutnotlimitedtorisksassociatedwithsomeonegettinghurtonyourbusinessproperty,anddamagescausedtoyourbusinesspropertybyyouand/oranemployee.GeneralBusinessLiabilityInsurancepremiumsaredeductible.EmploymentPracticesLiabilityInsurance:Employmentpracticesliabilityinsuranceprotectspotentialsuitsbroughtforthbystaffmembers,suchaswrongfultermination,discrimination,andsexualharassment.Employmentpracticesliabilitypremiumsaredeductible.DisabilityIncomeInsurance:Disabilityincomeinsurancecoversabusinessowner’slostincomeshouldheorshebecomedisabled.Thenatureofdentistryissuchthatinjuriesthatmayberelativelyminorinthegrandschemeoflifecanbedebilitatingtotheabilitytopracticedentistry.Mostdentistscarryhighbalancesofstudentloandebt,anddonothavethesameearningpoweroutsidetheprofessionofdentistry.Therefore,itisimportanttocarryinsurancetopreventapotentialdisabilityfromleadingtoseverefinancialhardship.Disabilityincomeinsurancepremiumsarenotdeductible.Ontheflipside,ifclaimsareeverpaidonthepolicy,theclaimsarenottaxable.OtherPotentialPoliciesBusinessUmbrellapolicy:Anumbrellapolicycoversliabilitiesthatareinexcessofthecoverageprovidedbyyourotherprofessionalpolicies.Dependingonyourpoliciesandyourrisks,itmaymakesensetohaveanumbrellapolicy.Umbrellapolicypremiumsaredeductible.Ownerhealthinsurance:Ifyouarenotcoveredforhealthinsurancethroughaspouse,thenyouwilldefinitelywanttoacquireyourownhealthinsurance.Whileitisnotdeductibleasabusinessexpensesperse,asabusinessowneryouareallowedtodeductyourhealthinsurancepremiumsonyourtaxreturn.StaffHealthinsurance:Differentofficesprovidevaryinglevelsofstaffhealthinsurance,rangingfromzerocoverage,tofullcoverageforallstaff.Payingemployeehealthinsuranceisanaddedcost,butit

Page 11: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page10of15

canhelpimprovestaffmoralandloyalty,andservetoattractbettertalentwhenlookingfornewhires.Whilethereisnorequirementtocoverstaffhealthinsurance,ifyouaregoingtocoveranystafftherearecertainnon-discriminationrulesyoumustabideby.AnystaffcoverageshouldbediscussedwithbothyourTiret&Co.advisorandwithyourhealthinsurancebroker.Coveringstaffinsurancecanalsopotentiallydecreaseyourownhealthpremiumsthroughgroupplanrates.Premiumsforstaffhealthinsurancearedeductible.DisabilityOverheadInsurance:Disabilityoverheadinsurancecoverstheoverheadofyourofficeinthecaseofashorttermdisability.Dependingonyoursituation,thispolicymayormaynotmakesenseforyou.ItshouldbediscussedwithbothyourTiret&Co.advisorandwithyourinsurancebroker.Disabilityoverheadinsurancepremiumsaredeductible.LifeInsurance:Coverstherisksassociatedwithanearlydeath.Anybankwillrequirealifeinsurancepolicyaspartofapracticepurchaseloan.Dependingonyourfinancialandfamilysituation,itmaymakesensetohaveadditionallifeinsurancecoverage.Therearetwotypesoflifeinsurancepolicies.Terminsuranceisapolicythatlastforacertainnumberofyearsandthenexpires.Itcarriesnovestinginvestmentfeature.Wholelifeinsurancelastsuntildeath,wheneveritmaybe.Premiumsarefarmoreexpensivethanterminsurancepremiums,thoughthereisavestinginvestmentthatispartofthepolicy.DiscusswhichtypeofpolicyandhowmuchcoverageisrecommendedwithyourTiret&Co.advisor.Lifeinsurancepremiumsarenotdeductible.Tiret&Co.CPAsdoesnotsellanyinsuranceproducts.Wehavepositionedourselvesthiswaysothatwecanprovideindependentadvicewhenitcomestowhichinsuranceproductsyoushouldhaveinplace.Wedohaveastrongnetworkoftrustedbrokersthatwehavemetoverthecourseofourmanyyearsinbusinesstowhomwecanreferyouforyourvariousinsuranceneeds.

Page 12: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page11of15

INTERNALCONTROLPROCEDURES

1) PrintandreviewDaysheetReportandDepositReportattheendofeveryworkday.

2) Makebankdepositsdaily(includingcashreceipts),makingsurethatdeposittiestodaysheetreceipts.Ifyourbankarrangementdoesnotallowforcashdeposits,youshouldkeepthecashyourselfandissueapersonalchecktothecompanyfortheamountofcashsothatadepositintothebusinessaccountcanbemadeforthatcash.

3) Completedailydepositspreadsheet,makingsuredailydepositamounttiestothepostedcollectionsforthatday.

4) Stampchecksreceivedas“ForDepositOnly.”

5) Donotallowanyfeeadjustmentswithoutownerauthorization.

6) Reviewfeeadjustmentsoccasionally(asoftenasdaily,ifyoulike)toconfirmthatnounauthorizedadjustmentshavebeenentered.

7) Reviewbankstatement,checkregisterandclearedcheckstoconfirmthatnounauthorizedchecksorbankdebitsareclearingthebank.

8) ReviewMonthlymerchantcreditcarddepositsummarytoconfirmthattherearenounauthorizedchargebacks.

Page 13: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page12of15

INDEPENDENTCONTRACTOROREMPLOYEE?

Asabusinessowneryouwillemploytheuseofbothemployeesandindependentcontractors.TherearestiffIRSpenaltiesforerroneouslyclassifyingsomeonewhoisyouremployeeasanindependentcontractor,soitisimportanttomakethecorrectclassification.Therearenohardandfastrulestodefineonefromtheother,buttherearesomeguidelinestobeappliedtothefactsandcircumstancesofeachcase.FromtheIRSwebsite,herearesomeoftheguidingfactorsthatarelookedat:

CommonLawRulesFactsthatprovideevidenceofthedegreeofcontrolandindependencefallintothreecategories:1. Behavioral:Doesthecompanycontrolorhavetherighttocontrolwhattheworkerdoesandhow

theworkerdoeshisorherjob?2. Financial:Arethebusinessaspectsoftheworker’sjobcontrolledbythepayer?(theseincludethings

likehowworkerispaid,whetherexpensesarereimbursed,whoprovidestools/supplies,etc.)3. TypeofRelationship:Aretherewrittencontractsoremployeetypebenefits(i.e.pensionplan,

insurance,vacationpay,etc.)?Willtherelationshipcontinueandistheworkperformedakeyaspectofthebusiness?

Businessesmustweighallthesefactorswhendeterminingwhetheraworkerisanemployeeorindependentcontractor.Somefactorsmayindicatethattheworkerisanemployee,whileotherfactorsindicatethattheworkerisanindependentcontractor.Thereisno“magic”orsetnumberoffactorsthat“makes”theworkeranemployeeoranindependentcontractor,andnoonefactorstandsaloneinmakingthisdetermination.Also,factorswhicharerelevantinonesituationmaynotberelevantinanother.

Thekeysaretolookattheentirerelationship,considerthedegreeorextentoftherighttodirectandcontrol,andfinally,todocumenteachofthefactorsusedincomingupwiththedetermination.

Thereareacoupleofthingstonoteaboutthefieldofdentistryinparticular.Hygienists,inaccordancewithcaselaw,mustalwaysbeclassifiedasemployees.Asforassociatedentists,itismoreofafactsandcircumstancesanalysisofeachsituation.Iftheassociatedoeshisorherownbillingandorscheduling,thatissupportiveoftheirclassificationasanindependentcontractor.Also,ifheorsheworksatmultipleofficesitissupportiveofanindependentcontractorrelationship.Conversely,ifyouhavestrongcontrolovertheassociate’shours,scheduling,andbilling,andthatassociateonlyworksatyouroffice,theIRSwouldclassifythatpersonasanemployee.Withassociates,onewaytoworkaroundthevagariesoftheindependentcontractorvsemployeeissueistorequireyourassociatestoincorporate.Onceincorporated,thereisnoriskfactortoyouclassifyingtherelationshipastheircorporationcontractingforyou.

Asnotedabove,thisisgenerallyafactsandcircumstancessituation.Ifyouareunsureoftheproperclassificationofaworkrelationshipinyourofficedon’thesitatetoseekguidancefromthepartnerthatyouareworkingwithatTiret&Co.CPAs.

Page 14: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page13of15

EMPLOYEEHANDBOOK

BeinganemployerinthestateofCaliforniacanbeaminefieldofHRlaws,andpotentialemploymentdisputesandlawsuits.Withinthisenvironment,itisveryimportanttohaveanuptodateemployeehandbook.Thishandbookisusefulfortwomainreasons.One,itprovidesyouremployeeswithclearguidanceontherulesandregulationsoftheirworkenvironment.Andtwo,itcanserveasalayerofliabilityprotectioninthecaseofanydisputesthatshouldarisewithyourstaff.TiretandCo.willnotcreateyouremployeehandbookforyou,butwedohaveseveralreferralsourcesthatcanhelpyoucreateyouremployeehandbook.

Page 15: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page14of15

RECORDRETENTION

TaxRecords:TheIRScanauditareturnupto3yearsfromthelaterofthedateitisfiled,ortheduedateofthereturn(includingextensions).TheCAauditperiodis4years.Werecommendkeepingtaxrecordsforfiveyearstobesuretocoveryourbasesonpotentialaudits.

Additionalnotesonrecordretention:-Ifincomeisunderstatedonyourreturnby25%ormore,thentheIRSstatuteoflimitationsisexpandedfrom3yearsto6years.-Ifnoreturnisfiled,orafraudulentorfalsereturnisfiled,thenthereisnostatuteoflimitationsonthatyear.

-Aslongasyouhavecapitallosscarryforwards,thestatuteoflimitationsrelativetothatcapitallosscarriesforwarduntil3yearsfromthetimethecapitallossisusedonthereturn.Forthisreason,werecommendkeepingcapitaltransactionrecordsindefinitely,aslongasyouhaveacapitallosscarryover.

-Whilewerecommendthatyousavetaxreturnsandtaxdocumentsforatleast5years,alsonotethatyourreturnsandworkpaperswillbesavedinourpaperlessstoragesystemindefinitely.

AccountingDocuments&Receipts:Ifaudited,itiswithintheIRSrightstoaskforabill,invoice,and/orreceipttosupportadeductedtransaction.Werecommendkeepingallinvoicesandbillsrelatedtoaccountingandtaxrecordsfor5years.Thesedocumentsneednotbeheldinpaperformthough.Ifyouwanttoscanthedocumentsortakepicturesofthem,thosedigitalrecordswillbesufficientforIRSauditpurposes.Someadditionalnotesonreceipts:Formanytransactions,simplyseeingthelineitemdescriptionoftheexpenseonthecheck,bankstatement,orcreditcardstatementissufficienttosupportthetransaction.Forexpensesatmerchantswhichcouldeitherbebusinessand/orpersonalinnature,suchasgrocerystores,drug-stores,andgeneralstores(suchasTargetorCostco),anauditormaywanttoseeanactualreceiptofthetransactiontoseetheindividualitemsofthepurchaseandjudgeeachofthemastotheirbusinesspurpose.Unfortunately,thesereceiptsgeneralfadetoillegibilitywithinamatterofmonths.Assuch,asavedreceiptlosessomevalueforauditpurposes.Tocombatthis,werecommendeitherhavingreceiptsemailedtoyouifpossibleortakingpicturesofreceipts.Ifyoulike,youcantakeanextrastepandattachthosepicturestotheirrelatedtransactioninQuickBooksOnline.Withoutthesereceipts,uponaudittheIRScouldattempttodisallowalloraportionoftheexpenses.

Page 16: Client Handbook - Tiretfinalize the accounting—mainly related to meals and entertainment expenses (split ... Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses. 6. Dry cleaning

Page15of15

AdditionalNotesonMealsandEntertainmentExpenses:TheIRSwouldverymuchliketoseecontemporaneousnotesonbusinessmealsandentertainmentexpensesindicatingwhothebusinessassociatewasandhowtheexpensewasbusinessrelated.Inourexperience,thiscanbedifficulttorecreateyearsafterthefact.Assuch,werecommendkeepingnotesonbusinessrelatedmealsandentertainmentexpenses.Therearetwomainwayswerecommenddoingso.Thefirstway,wouldbetogointoyourQuickBooksOnlineaccountandwritethosenotesintothememosectionoftherelativetransaction.Thesecondwaywouldbetoaddnotestothelistofmealsandentertainmentthataresenttoyoueachmonthfromyourdedicatedstaffaccountantwhenyouindicatewhichofthemealsarestaffrelatedandwhicharenon-staffrelated.