Our Services
Individual Tax Returns
Individual and business tax returns are essential filings required by the IRS to report income, calculate tax liabilities, and ensure compliance with tax laws.
Individual Tax Return (Form 1040):
- Used by individuals to report income, deductions, credits, and calculate federal income tax.
Covers wages, interest, dividends, capital gains, and other income sources.
Includes schedules for itemized deductions, credits, and additional taxes.
Key Points: Individual Tax Return
Accurate recordkeeping is essential to ensure all income, deductions, and credits are properly reported.
The Form 1040 is used for reporting individual income, including wages, interest, dividends, and other sources.
Filing deadlines and payment requirements must be met to avoid penalties and interest.
Consulting a tax professional can help ensure compliance, maximize deductions, and optimize overall tax outcomes.
Business Tax Returns
Business tax returns are official filings required by the IRS for partnerships, corporations, and S corporations to report income, deductions, credits, and other financial activity. These returns calculate the business’s tax liability and ensure compliance with federal tax laws.
Business Tax Returns Forms:
- Form 1065 (Partnerships): Reports income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits of partnerships. The partnership itself does not pay income tax but passes income to partners via Schedule K-1.
Form 1120 (C Corporations): Used by corporations to report income, deductions, and calculate corporate income tax.
Form 1120S (S Corporations): Similar to Form 1065, S Corps pass income, losses, and credits to shareholders via Schedule K-1; the corporation generally does not pay federal income tax.
Key Points: Business Tax Returns
Accurate recordkeeping is critical for tracking income, expenses, and shareholder/partner distributions.
The required form depends on the business type like 1065 – Partnerships, 1120 – C Corporations, and 1120S – S Corporations.
Filing deadlines and compliance requirements differ by entity type and may include reporting schedules for shareholders or partners.
Professional tax guidance can help ensure compliance, optimize deductions, manage payroll and estimated taxes, and avoid penalties.
Accountants for Attorneys
Accounting for solo attorneys and small law firms requires specialized attention due to unique financial and regulatory requirements. Accurate financial records helps attorneys and firms manage cash flow, comply with ethical rules, and prepare taxes efficiently. Here are the services we offer our clients:
Bookkeeping for Attorneys
- Track day-to-day financial transactions such as client payments, expenses, and payroll.
- Manage client trust accounts and Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) separately to comply with client fund regulations.
- Assist in preparing and sending client invoices.
- Timely reconciliation of credit cards and bank accounts.
Accounting for Attorneys
- Involves preparing financial statements like profit & loss, balance sheets, and cash flow reports.
- Helps analyze profitability by client, case, or practice area.
- Supports budgeting and financial planning for growth.
- Ensures compliance with tax laws and ethical guidelines.
Important Considerations
- Proper segregation of client funds and operating funds.
- Adherence to legal ethics and jurisdictional rules.
- Use of legal-specific accounting software for efficiency.
- Regular audits and internal controls to prevent mismanagement.
Effective bookkeeping and accounting provide transparency, improve decision-making, and protect the law firm’s reputation.
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the process of recording and organizing a business’s financial transactions systematically. It provides the foundation for accurate financial reporting and helps businesses track their financial health on an ongoing basis.
Key aspects of bookkeeping include:
- Recording daily transactions such as sales, purchases, receipts, and payments
- Maintaining journals and ledgers to categorize financial data
- Reconciling bank statements to ensure accuracy
- Managing accounts payable (amounts owed) and accounts receivable (amounts owed to the business)
Bookkeeping ensures that financial data is accurate and up-to-date, which helps business owners monitor cash flow, control expenses, and comply with tax regulations. It also supports budgeting and strategic planning by providing clear financial insights.
With advances in technology, many businesses use accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero to automate bookkeeping tasks, increasing accuracy and efficiency. Regular bookkeeping is essential for preparing tax returns, generating financial statements, and facilitating audits.
In summary, bookkeeping is a crucial business function that organizes financial information, enabling better decision-making and ensuring legal compliance.
Accounting
Accounting is the comprehensive process of recording, classifying, summarizing, and interpreting financial transactions to provide meaningful information for decision-making. It builds on bookkeeping by analyzing and reporting financial data to stakeholders such as management, investors, and regulators.
Key components of accounting include:
- Recording Transactions: Capturing financial events systematically
- Classifying: Sorting transactions into accounts such as assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses
- Summarizing: Preparing financial statements like income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements
- Analyzing and Interpreting: Evaluating financial data to assess business performance and health
Accounting helps businesses understand profitability, liquidity, and financial position. It supports budgeting, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Accounting follows standardized principles such as GAAP or IFRS to ensure consistency and reliability.
The accounting process involves various types, such as financial accounting, management accounting, tax accounting, and auditing. Modern accounting relies heavily on software tools like QuickBooks and Xero, which improve accuracy and streamline reporting.
In summary, accounting transforms raw financial data into actionable insights, enabling businesses to make informed decisions, maintain compliance, and plan for growth.