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QuickBooks Run Down

Quickbooks offers a variety of solutions for business owners. It provides features for accounts, payroll, receivables, payables, inventory, and much more. If you feel QuickBooks could be beneficial to your company, read more to learn how it can be beneficial to your business.

Benefits Of QuickBooks

QuickBooks provides many benefits for business owners. It allows for a better organization system to help keep all of your business’s information in one spot. It also allows for integration by connecting your bank account to import and categorize transactions. Finally, businesses are able to use templates such as invoices, spreadsheets, charts, and business plans that are customized to their business.

Integrate Your Point Of Sales System

The point of sales system (POS) your business uses is extremely important. Integrating your POS system with QuickBooks is extremely beneficial. QuickBooks Online is able to connect with several POS, making it a great way to increase efficiency. Integrating the two systems can save time. The information entered will be saved in both systems. It also will reduce human error because there are fewer steps to take with an automated process. Finally, integrating the two systems provides all the necessary information at your fingertips!

Create A Secure Environment

With all your financial information in one place, make sure to change the password in your account to a unique, strong password. Also, be sure to change the password every so often to continue with a secure environment.

What A QuickBooks Pro Adviser Can Do

At David Mills CPA, we have QuickBooks Pro Advisers that can help with all your QuickBooks needs. If you are looking for a professional adviser, look no further than David Mills CPA. Here is what our Pro Advisers can help you with:

  • Installation: An adviser can help you establish which version is best for you. They can install the software and enter the beginning balances.
  • Training: An adviser has the knowledge and experience to provide companies with tools and training to maximize their capabilities with QuickBooks. Our training focuses on each company’s specific needs. We can come to your location to train your people with your information.
  • Support: An adviser is able to answer questions for your individual business and how to best use QuickBooks for your industry.

David Mills CPA Is Here For You!

If your business wants the skills and knowledge from a QuickBooks Pro Adviser, contact the professionals at David Mills CPA today! We will be happy to answer any questions that you have or provide you with more information.

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Spring Clean Your Finances

Spring Clean Your Finances

With April right around the corner, warmer days will be here before we know it. While many people associate spring cleaning with cleaning and organizing your home, have you thought about spring cleaning your finances? Spring cleaning your finances is a great way to get back on track with paying off any debt, getting organized, and evaluating your overall financial situation. By following our five spring cleaning tips, you will be on your way down a more stable financial path.

Evaluate Your Debt

Take a look at how much total debt you owe. To truly understand your debt load, you will need to calculate how much debt you owe compared to the amount that you earn. If your total consumer debt is less than 20% of your net income, you are in fine standings. But, if your total consumer debt is above 20%, it is time to assess your debt load. Don’t let it overwhelm you though as there are many solutions to becoming debt free such as cutting expenses, creating a debt-free plan, setting goals each month, getting a second job and numerous of additional solutions.

Get Organized

Organizing your finances is a vital part of being able to gain control over your financial situation and to make sure that additional wealth is going to be created. A few ways to organize your finances can include consolidating accounts, filing important documents, determining your personal net worth, estate settlement, and shredding documents that you no longer need. All of these tasks will help you be on your way to better-organized finances.

Tweak Your Budget

Your budget is one of the most important parts of your financial planning. Without a budget, you could be at risk of overspending on items that could cause you to go into debt, or further into debt. The best way to tweak your budget is to look back at the past couple of months and analyze what you spend the most and least money on. From there tweak it accordingly if you see any trouble spending areas or areas that you’re budgeting more than you need to.

Check Up on Insurance

It is always a good idea to check up on your insurance policies, whether it be health, property, casualty, or any other insurance policies you may need to evaluate. There are many benefits by doing this such as catching any mistakes, finding better rates, or realizing it may be time to bundle. As your life changes over the years, it is always best to ensure you are not paying for insurance you no longer need or that you are not underinsured.

Evaluate Your 401K

Evaluating your 401k is important for a number of reasons. Many people make basic mistakes such as overlooking retirement plan fees, getting scared by market volatility, or getting overly aggressive. Reasons like these are why it is important to think about retirement sooner than later so that you are able to take on an appropriate level of risk all along.

If you are looking for financial services to help get your finances in order this spring, contact David Mills CPA LLC. David Mills offers financial and accounting services to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals in Peoria, IL as well as the surrounding areas. To learn more about the services we offer, or to learn more about David Mills CPA LLC as a company, contact us here. We look forward to speaking with you!

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5 Reasons to File Your Taxes Early

5 Reasons to File Your Taxes Early

When it comes to paying your taxes, many people find themselves scrambling in April trying to get their act together. While you may think it would be an annual routine for many, about 20% of people wait until the last week to pay their taxes. Are you in that 20%? Whether you are or are not, understanding the benefits of filing taxes earlier than later is very important and will help taxpayers in the long run.

1. The faster you file, the faster you receive your tax refund.

The most obvious reason to file your taxes early is to receive your tax refund as soon as you can. Last year the IRS made it possible to have your tax refund direct deposited into your account, which will allow you to receive your tax refund even faster rather than waiting weeks for a paper return.

2. Filing your taxes early helps prevent tax fraud.

Tax fraud is a major issue that many people end up having to deal with. While tax fraud is more common than you think, there are ways to prevent it. One of these ways is to file your taxes as early as possible. By filing taxes early, it will be more difficult for criminals to pull off. This is because if the IRS receives a duplicate return after you have already filed yours, it will be noted as fraudulent. If you have not filed yours yet, you could be in trouble.

3. If you end up owing taxes, you’ll have extra time.

If you discover that you owe a balance to the IRS, filing taxes early will allow you extra time to sort everything out. If you file as soon as you can in January, then you will have until mid-April to come up with the extra money that you owe. The extra time makes it much less stressful for you and your financial situation.

4. Filing early ensures you won’t need a tax extension.

If you wait until the last minute to file your taxes, you may find yourself scrambling in search of receipts, personal information, etc. Thus, leading to the need for a tax extension. This turns into a serious issue when you owe a balance to the IRS and do not pay what you owe. The IRS will charge you interest and penalties until the full amount is paid off. Filing your taxes early will help you avoid all of these potential issues.

5. Save yourself the stress of waiting until the last minute.

Waiting until the last minute to file taxes will do nothing but add additional stress to your life. You will feel the pressure to find your needed information and file as fast as you possibly can, which can lead to errors and other problems down the road. Tax season is stressful enough, there is no need to add even more stress by waiting until the last minute.

If you are in need of additional tax information or need assistance in filing your taxes, contact David Mills CPA LLC today. We provide expert accounting and financial services to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals across Morton, Peoria, & the rest of Central Illinois. We look forward to answering any questions you may have!

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Get Your Books in Order

Get Your Books in Order

No matter the type or size of your business, the tax man will come knocking on your door when tax season comes among us. It is always best to have your books in order and up to date when that time comes. We know this may seem like a hassle to keep up with yourself, but by following our tips below, you will be on your way to better, more organized accounts this year and a more successful business.

1. Stay Organized

Becoming and remaining organized is incredibly important to keep your finances in order. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be complicated. Keeping up with basic spreadsheets showing all your funds received and paid out is a simple way to track your finances. At the end of every month, check to ensure your records align with the money in your bank account to ensure balanced accounts.

2. Hire an Accountant

We understand that handling your financials is not the most straightforward task to take on yourself, which is why we always recommend hiring a professional accountant in your area to take care of the dirty work for you. By hiring a professional, you can rest assured knowing your accounts are in good hands, you are up to date with all rules and laws, and you aren’t missing out on any tax allowances. By hiring an accountant, you can put all of your attention on growing your business.

3. Separate Personal & Business Finances

There are many benefits when separating your personal and business finances. Not only will it make your business look more professional, but it will make it much easier to separate personal and business expenses when tax time comes. Depending on how your business is set up, it may be required by law to have separate accounts. Ask a local accountant in your area if you are curious whether this is necessary for your business.

4. Don’t Procrastinate

Waiting until the last minute to get your finances in order is never a good idea. Procrastinating this task usually leads to additional issues down the road; by then, it is too late to have it sorted out. Staying on top of your receipts and invoices will make it easier for you and your accountant to get your accounts sorted out promptly. And not to mention it will help your overall business run more smoothly.

Following the four tips above, you should be on your way to better, more organized accounts. The more you keep track of and have up to date, the easier it will be when tax season comes along. If you are looking for additional help with your finances or have questions about getting your books in order, contact a professional accountant in your area. David Mills CPA LLC provides expert accounting and financial services to small and medium businesses and individuals across Peoria, Morton, and the rest of Central Illinois. Contact us if you want to get your books in order this year.

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8 Reasons You Should Outsource Payroll

8 Reasons You Should Outsource Payroll

Are you a small business owner who is handling payroll processing yourself? Payroll may seem like something that you can operate on your own. However, there are many demands that come along with handling payroll. Some demands include keeping up to date with payroll laws, tax deposit rules, and filing state and federal mandated forms on time so you are not penalized for missing a deadline. By partnering with a payroll provider, a small to medium-sized business can reap significant benefits, including cost and time savings, having access to expertise and increasing the level of compliance with regulations.  Outsourcing payroll  provides many benefits and allows the business owner to focus on aspects of the business that directly affect its future. 

1. It saves you time.

Processing payroll is time consuming.  It requires a lot of time that many businesses do not have. From entering data to researching new laws or updates, the amount of time that payroll takes up is not desirable to many business owners. Outsourcing payroll tasks allows you and your employees to offer their full attention to the direct needs of the business.

2. It saves you money.

Outsourcing payroll can be more cost effective than hiring and training an in-house payroll specialist.  The cost savings include the avoidance of not only salary and benefits for an additional employee, but also other associated costs such as office space, equipment and specialized software.  Having a payroll expert on your side can also reduce the chance of making costly errors and running into potential financial penalties. 

3. No need to worry about payroll tax filing.

Payroll is a complex and sometimes confusing business operation.  Federal, state, and local payroll tax laws are becoming more and more detailed. Without having the time to research, learn and apply yearly updates, you run the risk of calculating or filing your payroll taxes incorrectly or late. By outsourcing payroll to a company that specializes in payroll processing, you can rest assured that this important business task is being handled by experts who are up-to-date with the latest laws and regulations.

4. You eliminate security risks.

Your payroll contains sensitive information about your employees, including their social security numbers and bank account information. Companies can run the risk of an employee tampering company records, embezzlement of funds, or identity theft. Even with the most trusted employees, business owners should be cautious. In-house payroll software is also something you need research carefully to see how secure your payroll data really is.  Choosing to outsource payroll with a reputable company can reassure you that your confidential payroll data is secure at all times. 

5. Being able to simply understand reports.

Payroll operations can be a difficult subject to learn and understand. Receiving payroll reports tailored to your company is a significant benefit when considering outsourcing. A company that offers payroll services has the ability to create reports that you need for your business and should be able to help explain data in a way that you will understand.  Some examples of reports you may need include payroll summaries, tax liability reports, general ledger reports, union reports, and many others that can be customized to your business needs.

6. Online payroll processing is available.

It is important to make sure you are hiring a company who has the ability to provide online payroll processing. Online payroll processing ensures that your employees will have 24/7 access to their information such as current payroll stubs or last year’s W-2 forms. Employees are able to request changes to their withholdings, etc., at their convenience.

7. Reporting issues are taken care of.

A company providing payroll services can take care of any reporting issues that come about. Some examples include child support audits, Worker’s Comp audits, 1099 processing, W-2, and Wp3 processing, preparation of federal and state registration forms, or any other issues that may arise.  This will save your business valuable time and energy.

8. The peace of mind when hiring a professional

Hiring professionals who have expertise in payroll will put your mind at ease. You can feel confident knowing that they will take care of every last detail associated with payroll processing.  Payroll errors can be costly, both in terms of time and money.  By outsourcing payroll to a company that specializes in it, your small business can ensure that the payroll is being handled accurately and reliably.

Overall, outsourcing payroll can provide many benefits to your business.  Consider all of the benefits that come along with it. Some benefits include saving time and money, securing your data, and allowing you to no longer worry about handling payroll functions and all of the complexities that come along with them.

David Mills CPA, LLC provides expert accounting and financial services for both small and medium businesses, as well as to individuals. Our CPAs can assist you with a multitude of accounting services in Peoria, IL, Morton, IL, and the rest of Central Illinois. 

Contact us today to see how our payroll services or any other financial services, can benefit your business. 

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Understanding Identity Theft or Identity Fraud

How Common is Identity Theft?

identity theft in Peoria, Morton, ILIdentity Theft (also known as identity fraud) is a type of crime where an individual uses someone else’s personal data to deceive. It is typically used for financial/economic gain. It’s more common than we would like to think. In fact, in a recent story on NBC News, it cites a study that says 1 in 5 Americans identifies themselves as a victim of identity theft or fraud. The researchers of the study estimate that means this crime has hit 44 million people. That number is eye-opening, or it should be. So what can you do to protect yourself from such theft?

1. Know the common types of identity theft: There are multiple ways people can steal your identity. First, they can watch you from a nearby location (also called shoulder surfing). They can listen in on calls where you give out personal information. Another type of identity theft that can occur is stealing your information off of pre-approvals from credit cards that you discard in the mail without shredding, or use email “spam”. They can also use computer technology to steal large amounts of personal information.

2. Take steps to protect personal information: Taking advice from USA.gov, you should protect your information. For example, only give your social security number out when completely necessary. See the complete list on their website located here: https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft

3. Sign up for free credit reports using annualcreditreport.com or creditkarma.com. Also, sign up for alerts to changes in your credit reports through these companies.

What if you are a victim of identity theft?

First and foremost, stay on top of your credit and bank accounts. Be sure to watch for changes that don’t seem normal. You can get your credit information for free via websites like www.creditkarma.com now. If you notice changes that aren’t normal, take action immediately.

1. Contact your bank and your credit card companies. Check for a fraud department and inform them of the problem. Make sure to close and freeze accounts. Also, change any logins or passwords associated with any of your financial accounts. If there are PIN numbers associated with any of your financial accounts request they be changed as well.

2. Alert all of the major credit report companies to the fraud. Here is the contact information for each of the main credit reporting companies:

Experian.com/fraudalert
1-888-397-3742
TransUnion.com/fraud
1-800-680-7289
Equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance
1-888-766-0008

3. Report the fraud to the police.

4. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission. You can go to their website IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338.

If you need advice on this topic you can contact the team at David Mills CPA in Morton, IL. We are here to help the Peoria area, including Washington, Morton, Germantown Hills, East Peoria, and the rest of Central Illinois with all their financial concerns. Identity theft is a growing problem in our country. It’s important to stay on top of your own financial situation to be aware of identity theft the moment it happens.