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Why January is Crucial to Optimize Your QuickBooks

The start of the new year beckons business owners in Virginia Beach to finally get their finances in order. This often includes setting revenue goals and promising that this will be the year when finances are more organized. However, we often find that previous financial disorganization doesn’t magically disappear at the stroke of midnight on January 1st. QuickBooks is left recording those imperfections — and this is the perfect time to fix them.

Unresolved issues from last year, including miscategorizations, could adversely affect your new fiscal year as these problems are not auto-cleared. These discrepancies compound and complicate matters especially when tax season is in full swing.

That's why January sets you up for success — giving you a pristine financial template to work with for the coming year.

Your Starting Balances Dictate Success

On January 1st, QuickBooks projects an initial picture of your enterprise — from cash balances, credit cards, and loans to receivables and owner equity, based on the previous year’s data.

If there were errors last year, they morph into "opening balances."

  • Last year’s overstated income inflates this year’s equity.

  • Miscategorized expenses might lead to faulty tax returns.

  • Incorrect loan entries might make QuickBooks overestimate or underestimate your financial position.

Fixing such errors in March or April means re-opening a closed tax year, creating complexities. However, resolving these in January simplifies your financial life significantly.

February: The Ideal Time for Clear Bank Feeds

Many businesses leverage QuickBooks bank feeds to pull in transactions automatically. By February, last year’s transactions have cleared, easing reconciliation processes.

Prolonging this can lead to:

  • Incorrect bank rules application to old transactions.

  • Duplicate transactions crossing your path unnoticed.

  • The piling up of unmatched deposits and payments.

Reconciling in late January or early February ensures your starting cash balances are accurate and ready for the year ahead.

Your Accountant Prefers Clean Books — Not a Murky Puzzle

Each tax season, firms like Knights & Company spend precious time cleaning QuickBooks files, which depreciates efficiency and inflates billing time. Clean books facilitate quicker tax preparations, minimize the likelihood of amendments, and avert IRS-triggered perturbations.

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  • Prompt and precise tax return filing.

  • Reduced chances of filing amended returns.

  • Fewer IRS notices due to mismatches.

  • Optimal tax planning insights.

QuickBooks is not just bookkeeping; it’s the keystone of your financial structure.

Payroll Errors Must Be Rectified at Year-End

The issuance season of W-2s and 1099s reveals payroll concerns. QuickBooks payroll often faces issues like improperly classified employees, wrongly taxed benefits, and erroneous state withholding.

  • Incorrect employee classification.

  • Taxing of benefits inappropriately.

  • State withholding inconsistencies.

  • Forgotten payroll tax deposits.

Neglecting these leads to penalties and potential audits later down the line.

A Pristine QuickBooks File Fosters Informed Decision-Making

Accurate bookkeeping transforms QuickBooks from a basic tool into a strategic financial powerhouse:

  • Assess true profitability.

  • Delineate cash flow trends.

  • Determine budget allocations for hiring.

  • Plan tax liabilities proactively.

  • Identify under-utilized financial resources.

Without precision in your data, QuickBooks remains merely a jumble of digital records.

Recommended Actions for Business Owners

Consider adopting this strategy as January begins:

  1. Invite our firm, Knights & Company, to audit your QuickBooks files — we’re equipped to assist!

  2. Reconcile every bank and credit account.

  3. Ensure your chart of accounts aligns with tax filings.

  4. Correct any misclassified revenue and expenditures.

  5. Verify payroll and taxation settings for accuracy.

  6. Freeze last year’s records once all is accurate.

Implementing these measures not only saves resources and reduces stress but also enhances your business valuation, as potential buyers, lenders, and investors prioritize financial accuracy.

Feeling overwhelmed with QuickBooks is understandable. Let’s make this the year of clarity.

Knights & Company is a Virginia Beach–based advisory and accounting firm providing bookkeeping, tax planning, virtual CFO services, and IRS support for growing businesses, medical professionals, and real estate investors.
Firm address: 6465 College Park Square, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23464

Get Started Today
Book a free discovery call and let us show you how our expertise can help you save money.
Click here
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