ProMatcher

If I have electronic statements or records, do I have to physically organize my personal tax receipts?

Top Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts (74% of 89 votes).
If I have electronic statements or records, do I have to physically organize my personal tax receipts?
No, just put them in a single box or folder
24%
Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
74%
Not sure
1%

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Updated on October 24, 2014

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Comments From Our Pros

Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Yes, it's still better to organize your physical tax receipts—even if you have electronic records. While digital statements are helpful, physical receipts provide detailed proof of specific purchases, dates, and business purposes that may not appear in bank or credit card records. Organized physical documentation can be essential in the event of an audit and helps ensure you don't overlook any deductions. Keeping both digital and physical records in order strengthens your overall tax preparedness.
Dr. Campbell's Tax Services
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: If you do not have them organized, it will increase my time on the project which could increase the fee.
Income Growth & Taxes LLC
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: Your bank and credit cards statements, records and receipts are for the purpose of "proving" your bookkeeping or tax returns. You only need these IN CASE of an audit. Otherwise, we don't want or need these during the tax preparation process with the exception of a few key documents (tax forms, real estate closing summaries, etc).
Next Tax Advisors
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Even if you have electronic statements or records, organizing your physical tax receipts is beneficial for several reasons. It ensures that all relevant documents are easily accessible, reduces the risk of missing important information, and facilitates a smoother and quicker tax preparation process. Having your receipts well-organized can also help in case of an audit, where physical documentation may be required to support your electronic records. Proper organization ultimately saves time and minimizes stress during tax season.
MG Business Services LLC
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Yes, it’s better to organize by each category of expense
Bharmal & Associates, Inc.
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is always better to have an organized paper file with your receipts. If technology goes down there is always the paper backup.
Phoenix Rising Financial Services
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Generally, we encourage current and potential clients to organize their information in the best manner possible. This is recommended for a few different reasons. First, this allows us to better understand your business and personal story better in helping to advise you. Second, we want to be more than a compliance oriented CPA firm, by communicating with clients on a regular basis. Additionally we strive to increase our clients' value through efficient and effective work.
Sponsel CPA Group, LLC
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Keeping your "hard copy" receipts organized and in a safe and secure space provides another layer of backup in the event of the electronic receipts getting lost or destroyed.
Mark S. Powell, ABA- Bookkeeping & Tax Services
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: If audited, the IRS requires 2 things, one proof of payment like canceled check, CC charge etc., and a copy of the invoice or receipt. Learn more at myirstaxrelief.com
Mike Habib, EA
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is much safer to keep the paper receipts in an organized fashion. Often we need backup and it is a real pain to try and put it together later in a crisis. They can then be put away in a box witht the rest of the tax year documents.
THE ORGANIZER
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: It is not necessary to organize them as long as you keep them together in a folder available in case of an tax audit or examination.
MT Gonzalez Accounting Services
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The better organized the tax records the less time the accountant have to spend organizing them which relates in saving for the client
KSM
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: I recommend organizing your physical receipts by month or attach to the statements that they correlate to. In the event there is an audit it makes the process less stressful to have well organized receipts. If you scan your receipts electronically then I recommend organizing folders by month and as long as you keep regular backups or scan to a cloud based service you may decide not to keep receipts where the ink fades eventually. I highly recommend scanning receipts for this reason.
Blue Ridge Business Services
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: While it is not necessary it is highly recommended that you organize your tax receipts in a manner that is easily accessible in the future. Such as by month, quarter, or year. The key is to be able to access the information quickly some time in the future.
JFB Financial Services Inc
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: As long as you can have access to those E files and also you keep a back-up copy in a safe and secure place, you are in compliance.
Capstone Financial & Tax Service
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Even if you scan everything some type of precise record keeping system to record expenses such as Quicken or other program is essential to assure you receive credit for all deductions you are entitled to receive.
Amy Rose Herrick, ChFC
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It's more professional to be organized with you records. Or we will organized them for you.
Ayesha Tax SERVICE
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: By reviewing your receipts, you are able to sort them and better organize yourself. But you can send your receipts if you wish to.
Virtual Ventures LLC
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The best way to manage your receipts is to store them electronically. Although you may have electronic bank or credit card statements, they are not considered proper support. I would suggest using an application or bookkeeping software that allows you to take pictures of the receipts to store online.
Stephanie Cuningkin CPA PLLC
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: If you have electronic statements I would move them to a separate file in your email so they are easily accessible. You may want to create sub-files by year under the main file so that you can sort quickly should you need to find any records.
Collier's Accounting & Bookkeeping Services, Inc.
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: I recommend that you organize the receipts. Because receipts will fade. So if you could scan them onto a computer or database. It will prevent them from damaging.
Suncrest Financial Services
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is important to physically organize personal tax receipts along with maintaining and electronic copy for a minimum of three years and often six years if any audit or inquiry has been made by a government authority.
Smart Tax Professional Services - CPA Firm
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is better to be organized than to have to hunt for something. It ultimately takes a lot less time and is certainly less frustrating.
In The Black Professional Bookkeeping, Inc
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is great to have the records in statement but the IRS wants to see the receipts. You can also scan those in as well but never figure that anything is better proof to the IRS then the original receipt.
Your ATP
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The true answer is NO but it is better if you organize all documentation so you are aware of the information given to the accountant.
Richardson & Associates, P.C.
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: They will be archived and stored for proof and support. Tax, finance & budgeting purpose etc.
Ensisinfo Inc
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: The IRS is not specific about how you maintain your records and receipts as long as they can be accurately produced when needed. In my office we can all tax records we receive from our clients and return them back for their records. Many professionals are doing that now.
Capstone Financial & Tax Service
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: I organize mine by month.
Business Made Simple
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The more organized your receipts are, the more accurate your tax return.
Sheltra Tax & Accounting, LLC
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: You should organize your personal receipts as proof for future tax filings.
Robert J. Valas, CPA
ProMatcher
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: Electronic statements are fine just make sure you place them in a folder and back the information up digitally in case you ever need to find it down the line. As far as any physical receipts go do save these too. Whether you want to do more than put them all in the same place so you can find them down the line if you need them, is up to you.
Zest Business Consulting
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The better organized your documents, the lower your ultimate fees will be.
Rumbold Financial & Tax Advisory
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: Physical receipts are for your own use and should be presented if needed upon the unlikely event of an audit. The client will sign a verification stating possession of physical receipts.
Abacus Accounting Solutions
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Yes, you attach the physical statement to the electronic statements after printing them out so that you have a thorough paper trail should you ever get audited.
Digital Excellence, LLC, Admin +, LLC, Jenny's Basketique, LLC
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is good to have electronic statements and records, but systems can crash so having paper backups is a good practice.
Qazztek, LLC
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Sometimes questions may arise on electronic statements. If you have the physical receipt with detailed information such as the names and company of the clients, and it is organized and easy to access, any questions will be much easier to answer.
HERO Employer Services
ProMatcher
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: Physical receipts on thermal paper fade or turn black in heat.
El Lodge Taos
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: With tax, the answers are never straight forward. The answer is yes and no. Electronic statements only get you so far. For full audit protection from the IRS, you need receipts for some of your expenses. Organizing them isn't necessary, but if you are audited, the audit goes smoother if you give the IRS agent what he is asking for in neat piles. That being said, there is a level of satisfaction one may receive in just handing a box of receipts to the auditor.
Incite Tax and Accounting
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: You do not need original receipts. I advise scanning them and keeping them on your computer and on a backup hard drive.
Goldburd McCone LLP
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The more organized you are, the more you understand what goes in to your tax calculation. Plus, the less time we have to spend organizing for a client, the less we need to charge them.
Bottom-Line Bookkeeping & Accounting
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Though you could keep tem in a single file better organization makes it easier to identify and retrieve specific types of dasta
Aries Business Group
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: The IRS will provide you with a document that outlines what receipts and under what category (Meals, Flights, Auto, Home Repair, etc...) that business receipts will fall under. I advise to match your electronic records with the physical receipts. So while you have electronic receipts and these are accepted by the IRS if audited, I recommend also having either a backup or paper copy. Lastly, I recommend not only organizing by Category, but also by the month, this allows you to reconcile each month and ensure your tax estimates are correct when paying your quarterly estimates. Hope that helps
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