How to clean up messy books before tax season

A practical guide for organizing records, reconciling accounts, and getting financial statements ready before tax deadlines.

Start with the bank accounts

Make sure each business bank and credit card account is connected, reconciled, and reviewed for missing periods.

Remove duplicate categories, separate owner activity, and create categories that support useful reporting.

Flag uncategorized expenses, transfers, loans, payroll entries, sales deposits, and vendor payments that need context.

A clean month-end process helps tax planning, lending, cash flow, and better decision-making.

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