Small Businesses, Self Storage, and Record Keeping for Tax Season
It's just around the corner. I know you probably didn't want to hear that, but it's true.
It's tax season and if you have not heard it, Uncle Sam extended the 2021 Tax Day to May 17.
If you own a small business, you are busy! You probably thought hiring an accounting firm to handle your taxes would keep you from ever having to interact with the Internal Revenue Service ever again. While that may be the case, your accountant will still want you to make sure you've kept all necessary receipts and records needed to fill out the lengthy, yearly (and sometimes quarterly) forms. Also, don't forget you have to keep certain records for a period of time following each tax season.
Below you will find some handy advice to keep you in the good graces of the IRS. Keep in mind, no matter what the government says about keeping files on record, you have a place to store documents right here at A-1 Self Storage.
According to the IRS, the length of time you should keep a document depends on what it is and where it's from. About as clear as mud, right? Let's sort that out a bit. This means all records of income, deductions, and credits on your tax return should be kept until the period of limitations for that specific tax return has run out. That is the period of time during which you can legally amend your return to claim a credit or refund.
To ensure your small business (and you personally) receive everything you're entitled to, it's important to keep ALL filed tax returns. Yes, that can be a lot of paper if you've been in business for a while. No sweat though, A-1 Self Storage can help you rent a cost-effective place to store these files year after year.
IRS advises keeping your records for up to seven years, depending on the complexity of your situation. You can learn more about record-keeping guidelines, click here. Please consult with your tax advisor as nothing in this article is intended to be legal or tax advice.
So... Basically, Keep Everything?
Once your records are no longer needed for tax purposes, the IRS suggests not discarding them until you've checked to make sure you no longer need to keep them for other purposes. Sometimes insurance companies or creditors will require you to keep these documents longer than the IRS. Also, keep in mind property documents are vital both for personal and business purposes. Keeping property documents both while you have ownership as well as when you have sold is important.
Of course, you need to hold on to essential tax documents, contracts, and various paperwork, even if you don't own your own business! Everyone should always protect their assets by keeping important legally binding documents secure.
This space doesn't have to be for documents either! You can use this vital storage space for other things as well, things made of paper. Books, photographs, and party supplies that you may want to hold onto. Wouldn't it be nice if these seldom looked at or used items were stored somewhere dry, secure, and out of the way? We think so. And self storage is the perfect solution.
If the IRS has a question, don't worry about needing documents at a moment's notice. Consider making copies that you can keep at home while storing the originals in a self storage unit. "Backing up" paperwork like this is also a way to ensure that all your irreplaceable documents are safe from fire or water damage in the event of a natural disaster.
Think of every time you've gone searching for that certain item and all the time you wasted due to being unorganized! Then, if you found it, maybe it was torn, wrinkled, or damaged from the weight of all the other things on top of it!
"There's a place for everything and everything in its place", maybe you heard someone say that to you as a child. Well, this is an excellent way to do just that. Create an inventory of what you have and keep everything looking as good as the day you got it by using self storage.
The Take-Away
You can lessen a lot of stress associated with tax season by not attempting to fit everything into your limited home storage space. When tax time rolls around, it seems like everyone is scrambling to find the necessary documents. Don't be one of them! Save time, energy, and resources by keeping everything orderly in an A-1 Self Storage unit.
