Happy Nearly September!

There are some important changes coming soon.  Partly due to  a routine annual review, and also due to some rates and policy changes by Intuit.
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• I will be reviewing and updating my rates, and will be also updating service agreements.  You can expect to hear from me directly over the next couple of weeks with the specific details.
• I am looking at some new payment options, which you may see on your next invoice.  If you do try out the new option, please feel free to share you thoughts.
• Intuit has added an automatic after-invoice survey, which you should see after receiving your Sept 1st invoice from me.  I would appreciate some Feedback in the comments below regarding this.  Do you find it relevant, or annoying, or any other thoughts you'd like to share.  This will help me decide whether or not to leave the feature turned on.
• I would also appreciate any thoughts you have regarding a backup service for your QBO data.  I am considering adding this service either as an option or including it by default.

So, please free to comment here on any of the above, or on any other topics.

I wish everyone a wonderful, hurricane-free September!
Thank you!

Hello All,
July has brought some unexpected interruptions, mostly due to the necessary replacement of my computer.  My old faithful (though not that old) was giving me some warning signs, and I decided to listen and get a new one in place to avoid any serious issues.  It's caused a bit of interruption in my work -- but I'm 'nearly' back to normal operations now.
There is not much news to share.  QBO remains in the 'buggy' stages of all of the new features and changes.  If you do find something that isn't working, I encourage you to use the 'Feedback' so they hear about it.  I've seen signs that they are indeed listening and working to stay on top of any glitches.
There are price changes coming in the next couple of months (from Intuit), and I will also be doing my annual review and updating of not only my pricing but also some practice changes.  I expect to provide details no later than September.
Thank You!

Hello All!  Just a few topics this month, but the first is especially important.

BOI - Beneficial Ownership Information Filing
There is a newly required filing for many companies that you need to be aware of, if you aren't already.
You may have received information or solicitations from service providers (and possibly some scams) regarding "BOI" - Beneficial Ownership Information.  This is a new filing required by the US Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network that is due this year from many businesses.
I highly recommend that before you file, and especially before you pay anyone to file for you, you go to the official government website fincen.gov/boi and read the information provided there.
You should be able to determine whether or not your business is required to file, and what information is needed for filing.  If you have any questions or doubts after reading the information provided, you should contact your accountant or attorney.
Since this is very new and unfamiliar territory, I won't be offering to do these filings, but there do appear to be reputable companies offering the service, such as Tax1099.com.
Please let me know if you need any information that I am able to provide for this, or if you have any questions that I may be able to answer.

QBO Backup Service Poll Question
I believe you know that I am big on backups, and backups of backups, etc.  The one thing I don't have 'Backed Up' are the QBO data files, because I feel that Intuit 'has our back' there.
Lately however, I've come to believe that it may just be a good idea to get a backup service in place for those as well -- because "you just never know".
So, my question is -- would you be interested in such a service for a small monthly fee?  I believe I could offer it around $10/mo per QBO file.
Please comment on this post - Yay or Nay - so I can get an idea of whether or not it will be feasible.  The per/file rates change according to how many there are, so it's important for me to get a good idea of interest.

That is all for now -- Thank You for reading and participating!

Just some brief notes and reminders...

• QBO transitioning to new invoicing and reports continue, and it is still creating some glitches and inconveniences in the software.  I feel confident that these will clear up (eventually), so I recommend two things in the meantime -- Patience (though it's not easy), and lots of Feedback!   There are Feedback buttons within some of the QBO screens, but the option is always available under the big gear icon.
• Sales tax rate change on commercial rentals is effective June 1st, so if that affects you this is a reminder to take any action needed.
• There is a website to check the status of any QuickBooks outages or issues.  I recommend that you Bookmark this website, and optionally subscribe so you will receive notices about any outages.  It is https://status.quickbooks.intuit.com/  (I will also be adding this as a Resource in your ClientHub workspace.)
• Monthly Reports -- I found a glitch in the set up of monthly reports scheduled to auto-send on a specific date.  If you aren't receiving your regular monthly reports, please let me know so I can trouble-shoot and get those out to you.

That's all for now!   Happy Summer :-)

Greetings....
As you can see, I skipped posting in March.   There wasn't much news, and I decided to spend that time working to catch things up-to-date after the New Year crunch.
There are a few changes coming up soon:

• May 6th -- The 'Old' invoicing experience will be replaced with the 'New'.  I'm hesitant to add 'And Improved', because the jury is still out on that.  During the transition it's been pretty glitchy, but there are some new good features as well.   I think the two things to remember here are "Plan Ahead" and "Be Patient".  I expect all will go fairly well in that case.
• May 20th -- Final day to process bill payments via Melio within QBO.  After that, you will need to log in directly to Melio.  The transactions will still sync with QBO as they always have.  This is to make room for the new QuickBooks bill payment service.  I don't have any insight to share on the new service, as I haven't yet seen or tested it.  (I am sticking with Melio for the present.)
• May 1st - May 30th - QBO will be transitioning more reports to the New View.   Some will be switched to new view as the Default, and you'll be able to switch to the Classic View.  However, at the end of May more will be switched to the New View permanently.  Here I suggest patience (again), and FeedBack.  The more they hear from users about anything that's not working, the faster it will be fixed.
• The Final Change to mention is the Florida State Sales Tax Rate Change for Commercial Rentals.  The State rate is being reduced from 4.5% to 2% effective June 1st (on the June rent).  The appropriate County surtax still needs to be added.  It is no small thing to make all of the changes necessary to implement the new rate, but it is nice to see it going down again.   I look forward to the day when it is a thing of the past.  I am including a link to the TIP No 24A01-02 issued April 8, 2024 for you reading pleasure.  It does include all of the details you may need to know.  floridarevenue.com/taxes/tips/Documents/TIP_24A01-02.pdf

That's everything I can think of for now.  See ya next Month!

Hello!
The news this month is all about the New Invoicing.  Effective May 6th, all QBO users will be switched to the new invoicing layouts permanently.

In light of this, for those that use invoicing I am recommending that you go ahead and make the switch in the near future.  This will give you time to adjust to the new experience and make the transition as smooth as possible.

There are still some functions you may be using that are not yet available in the new layouts.  For this reason, I think it would be best to choose a time when invoicing is least busy to try things out so you have time to adapt and adjust if needed.
Also, please give QBO Feedback!  They need to hear from you if there are improvements that you need.

Here is a link to a short (under 4 minutes) YouTube video that can help familiarize you with the new invoicing experience.  I recommend watching it when you're ready to make the switch.
https://youtu.be/F_2ip47oO8Y?si=OpUR5NK2Lc9Pcgnc

Besides that news, I am still working to wrap up everything for 2023.  I expect for scheduling to go back to normal by the end of March.

Thank you all!

Happy New Year!
This will likely be the shortest post of the year.
There are lots of changes coming along in QuickBooks this year, so please let me know if you have any questions along the way.
I am still working to meet the 1099 deadline next week, so thank you for your patience while I prioritize this task.
After the Jan 31st deadline has passed, I will be switching my focus to year-end reviews to get everything ready for your accountant to prepare you tax returns.
I look forward to a great year.
Thank You!

Just a brief post this month...

Tops on the list is Last-Call for payroll and payroll information:

• Final payroll deadline for QBOP is December 28th at 5:00 PM PT.   I believe it is the same for Gusto payroll, but please check to be sure.
• Remind your employees to provide any address changes for their W2's, and to complete a new W4 form for any changes in address, name, or status.
• Provide any additional information that needs to be reported on the W2's, such as company-paid health insurance that was not processed through payroll.

My focus for January will be on the normal monthly deadline work, and on preparing the annual 1099 forms by the deadline.  Please take a few minutes to review your records to be sure the W9's are available to prevent any delays.

My availability for any other projects or work will be scheduled after the January deadlines have been met, and I thank you in advance for your patience :-)

I wish you a wonderful Holiday Season, and look forward to working with you in the New Year!  Thank You!

Hello... I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving holiday!

There is not much news to share at this time -- so I'll just provide a few reminders and notes this month.

• Information gathering for 1099's -- I know I touched on this in recent months, but one final reminder to review for and vendors that will be receiving a 1099 this year and check to be sure you have their information, including a W9 form.  An email is also good to have, and it will save additional costs for processing (mailing), and the vendor will be able to receive the 1099 earlier and more securely.
• The new invoice layout is expected to be mandatory for all 'QBO Essentials' customers on December 11th.  If you have an 'Essentials' subscription, you should receive an email directly from Intuit regarding the changes, and will not be able to switch back to the old layout after that date.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  There are some good things that come with the change, such as being able to accept payments via PayPal and Venmo.

That is all I have for this month.  I hope to be able to post again before the next Holiday break, but in case things get too hectic and I'm not able -- I wish everyone a Very Merry! 
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Thank you!

Less News and More Reminders this month...

There is not much QuickBooks news to share this month.  QuickBooks Billpay service is slowly being released, and their 1099 service has some enhancements.  I am not recommending or seeing a benefit of either at this time so will leave those aside for now.

The focus for the next few months is being prepared for the end of the year and reporting requirements and deadlines.

• Payroll.  If you've had any thoughts or questions about changing your payroll service, now is the time to decide where you'd like to be for the new year.  I support both QuickBooks Online Payroll and Gusto, so if you are considering a change and would like to discuss it please let me know asap.  Also, please remind your employees (present and past) to check their information on file, including mailing and email addresses, so they will receive their W2's without issue.
• 1099's - Please review the Expense By Vendor Summary report for vendors requiring a 1099, and be sure that their information (including a completed W9 form) is complete and accurate.  The report is available under the 'Expenses and Vendors' report section, and should be run for 'This Year-to-date' with 'Cash' as the Accounting Method selections.

That's all for now.  Time is pretty scarce from here on in, so deadlines will be taking priority over all other work.
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I appreciate your patience at this time of year (as always).
Thank you, and Happy Halloween!

"New Invoicing" in QBO is on the way, and bringing some big changes along with it.  In the long-run, this looks like it will be a good thing -- but it may be a bit of a challenge in the beginning.  You may also experience some minor 'glitches' in QBO functionality occasionally -- I expect due to related system updates.
You should receive an email from Intuit/QuickBooks prior to the update -- some time between now and May 2024, and should have the option to switch back to the old layout for a period of time (unless you have a Simple Start subscription, at which time it will be permanent effective October 16, 2023).
Please let me know when you receive your letter.  I am working to stay on top of this change so that I can provide help and guidance when needed.  Presently, it may be the most challenging for those who collect sales tax.  Stay tuned.

Year-end preparations are in the works, as they begin every year about this time.  It is important to have all work up-to-date, W9's on file for eligible Vendors, and any projects complete before the Holidays arrive so everything is in place for the January rush to deadlines.  Please book a time with me if you have any concerns or questions, or would just like to review and plan for the new year.

I am going paperless in the new year, and will be in touch to plan how that will affect you, and to address any concerns you may have.

Thank you!

Hello!

The news this month is the change to the QBO left-navigation bar.  It isn't a major change for those that have been using the accountant-view, but will be for anyone that have been using the business-view.  The change was made to end some confusion caused by the different organization and wording between users.  (Note: There will still be a view named 'Business' view, but it will basically be the same as the Accountant view.
The new navigation is being rolled out in stages, but at a pretty fast pace.  I expect you may already have the option to switch, and if not you should see it very soon.  I recommend that you switch as soon as it is available, since it will be an automatic switch before long.
While I'm not totally happy with everything about it, I do think it is a change for the best.  The redeeming feature is that now the Bookmark section is at the top of the panel, so you can bookmark your favorites for easy access.

Regarding the upcoming year-end (yes, it may seem early -- but you know how quickly it creeps up!);  September will be my cut-off for providing any catch-up or clean-up work.  October through February are simply too busy with the normal and year-end preparation tasks and deadlines to be able to fit in any additional jobs.

Also, 2024 is the year for going Paperless(ish).  I have been working toward setting up a (nearly) paperless system for months now, and while I have a little more planning to do, I will be providing most things digitally beginning Jan 1st.  There of course will be exceptions where it is necessary.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.  With all of the resources available to support this, I believe it will be a good move for everyone, and will keep you informed.

Finally, I wish you a good September.  Even though September may bring some stormy weather, it also usually brings a little relief from the heat and a promise of Fall.
​Thanks All!

A little late, and a little short this month of July.  I have been tackling some projects that will payoff in the long run by increasing efficiency, but that are time-consuming at the moment.

So, just a little bit of QuickBooks Online Payroll news for sharing.

If you use QBOP (QuickBooks Online Payroll), there are some new features available.

• Document management -- you may now upload and store employee and company documents.  You can create folders, rename documents, and upload PDFs, JPGs, and PNGs.
• Payroll item report and in-product view -- You can now run a payroll item report to see all the payroll items your company uses, and see all your payroll items in bulk.
• Managing Contractors -- On the Contractor List, you can now see if a contractor's W-9 information is ready, missing, or still outstanding.  Select "Finish setup and pay" to send them an invite or reminder to fill out their W-9
• Filed New Hire reports are available in Archived Forms -- While QBOP has been taking care of your new hire reporting, now the New Hire reports are available as PDFs under Archived Forms.
• More employee information -- Emergency contact & preferred name fields
• Automated I-9 Form.

You may not see all of these new features immediately, but they are being rolled out and should be available soon.

A tiny note here -- I have been certified and will also be supporting FreshBooks users.  I chose this as an alternative to QBO for small companies that need a simpler bookkeeping solution.

Thank you All... please let me know if you have any questions about anything!     

Greetings...
This will be a mini blog, as time is short at the moment and there isn't much new to share.
ClientHub - more of you have come aboard (thank you), and I recently added more Resources to our Workspace for easy access.  You should now see links to QBO, Banks, Calendly (to schedule appointments with me), SOS Splashtop (so we can connect), and to my Website so you can access the 'Tools and Links' page.  Each workspace is unique, so yours may have different options.  If there is anything else you would find useful there, please let me know and I will add it if possible.
I have a new mailing address.  I took the liberty of updating my vendor information in your QBO to save you the task, and you will see it on the next invoice you receive.  It will give me faster, easier access to my mail.
Beginning next month, I plan to include a 'Did-You-Know' item here each month, with little tips about QBO that may save you time or add a little fun to your day.
I wish you all a safe and fun 4th!

Greetings...

May was a good month, with just a few teensy hiccups and delays, but overall a good month!

ClientHub is really helping in keeping the workflow running more smoothly, and I expect that will get even better with time and as everyone gets more familiar and more come aboard.  It is the best way to stay connected with me, and to get any tasks or projects put in the works.  Between ClientHub and Calendly scheduling, it should be much easier for us all to keep on top of things.  I thank you for your time and patience in getting connected!

If we haven't already 'hooked-you-up', there is a really helpful app called RightTool that works with QBO that has some really helpful tools to make working in QBO easier.  There is a FREE version that has lots of goodies included, so let me know if you are interested and we can discuss how it can help you in your work.  I couldn't work without it anymore!  It doesn't take much set up or instruction -- you can be up and running in minutes.  Gee, I sound like a salesperson here, but really I just like to share a good thing.

My work schedule will be changing a bit for the summer months, beginning next week.  I will update my availability for appointments in Calendly soon to reflect the new schedule.
I think that's all from me for now.  I wish you a nice Memorial Day holiday :-)

Finally, April 18th is behind us -- and summer is on the way, along with some much-needed rain.
April was another busy month, which is becoming the norm, but each month brings a different kind of busy.  Keeps things interesting!
ClientHub is up-and-running now, and is really beginning to pay off.  I have plenty of fine-tuning left to do, but I can feel the benefits and hope you as a Client will begin to see them also and come to appreciate it as much as I do.  During this time of learning the app, please feel free to ask questions as you go -- I'm still learning too, and it helps to hear things from your perspective also.
I also added RightTool to my Toolbox last month.  It provides many helpful features to make working with QBO easier and more productive.  I recommend it, and there is a free version if you would like to try it out.  Even the free version has a lot of helpful features.
May promises to be much like April, with maybe a slightly less rushed pace.  Besides the usual monthly tasks, I will still be focusing on implementing and fine-tuning the new apps, reorganization, and catching up on some of the larger projects that were too big to tackle during the seasonal crunch.
And looking forward to some May Flowers after these April Showers. :-)
​Stay Cool til next month!

It was a 'mad' month, what with getting work turned in for the March 15th tax deadline AND scrambling to earn the CPE's required to maintain my certifications AND just work in general -- but it has all been well worth it and rewarding in the end.
I now have my Advanced QuickBooks Online Certification, and have completed Excel University Volume 1 courses -- which I can highly recommend if you would like to advance your Excel skills and knowledge.  The course material was 100% relevant and useful, and was always engaging.
It has also been a kind of exciting month.  I have begun catching up on some things that I really wanted to accomplish, and am doing some reorganizing, which will help me be more productive.
One thing you will be seeing from me in the very near future is an invitation to Client Hub.  This app will be a great way for us to communicate, share documents and information, and work together, all in one place.  When you receive your invitation, please take a few minutes to set up a login and perform the first very short task.  I think it will be really be a benefit to us both.
Good things are happening with QuickBooks Online also, and I will keep you updated as things progress.  In the meantime, please feel free to get in touch if something new comes up that you would like to ask about.
So, that's all for now.  I hope you are enjoying Spring, and I'll be back next month with more updates. 

Happy New Year (a little late)!
For all of you who are using QuickBooks Online, you may be seeing new things pop-up due to New Features that are being rolled out this month and next.
If you do see something new and you're curious and would like to learn, please feel free to just give me a call or drop me a line or choose an appointment time to ask questions and learn about them.
This is also true for questions about anything current.  You may be surprised to find that there may be a solution to something, or a new trick to learn, that can make your job easier and more efficient.  There are so many features that can help, and I love to share them.
I hope you're having a good January -- I know mine has been super-busy with everything that must be done for year-end (including the dreaded 1099's) -- and hope to hear from you.

It is a crazy time for us all -- but life goes on as usual (sort of)...
I haven't had time to post, although there has been a need with all of the out-of-the-ordinary things happening, but am going to try to catch up a little now.

PPP Loans:
I have been monitoring the situation, but please let me know if you receive a request to complete an application for forgiveness and need help.  QuickBooks and Gusto both are providing special reports for this purpose, and I am deferring to your accountant when appropriate.

Familys First Coronavirus Act:
Under this act, Employers pay Employees for Covid-related time off and deduct the cost from their 941 payroll tax payments.  There will be a link (see Tools and Links) with detailed information on this, but please be aware of the requirement to pay employees in certain circumstances and know that it needs to be recorded in a specific way.

Payroll Tax Deferral (Employee SS):
This is the latest via executive order that went into effect September 1st.  Under this order, social security deductions from (most) employees pay are to be deferred until December 31, 2020, and then repaid by the employee between Jan 1 and April 30, 2021.
However, payroll providers have requested clarification as there are many unanswered questions so it hasn't yet gone into effect in QuickBooks or Gusto payroll pending more information.  Stand-by on this one.  In my humble opinion, it will cause many many headaches in implementation, reporting, and re-collection from employees.

Fun Stuff:
So, it's not all doom-and-gloom.  Lots of things going on with Intuit!  
Payroll -- changes that were planned to go into effect months ago were post-poned due to the pandemic.  You may be receiving some notices about the changes -- I believe by October 1st.   Please contact me if you have any questions.  The payroll options are all changing (for the better I think), so please feel free to get in touch to discuss what plan is best for you or to ask any questions you may have.
QuickBooks Labs has some interesting new things!

• QuickBooks Themes (dark theme) -- I really like this one, as it is easier on my eyes.  It is a little bit quirky at the moment, but feel free to give it a try -- you can always switch back if you don't like it.
• Tags -- this could be a very useful feature.  There is a very short video to watch to see if it is something you would like to try.
• Cashflow Dashboard Widget -- for those who like a picture of your inflow/outflow of cash.
• Community Reports -- tap into customized shared reports to save time setting up commonly used reports that aren't 'standard'.
• If you try any of the features in labs, please be sure to leave feedback!  Especially if it is something you really would like to see made permanently available.  Labs is just that -- features being tested to see if they should become an added feature in QuickBooks!

Okay, that is all I have for now.

I would like to thank you all for being so patient with my current work schedule.  I think we are all managing the best we can under the circumstances, and I truly appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

Whew -- the January rush is (finally) over, and I am ready to get on with the February work of reviewing and wrapping up 2019.  This month will be all about getting everything complete and tidy for tax preparation.

A couple of notes of interest...

The AIPB (American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers) states that even though the IRS does not require it, you may want to ask for (not demand) a new W4 from your employees for 2020 to avoid any possible year-end tax surprises.  The IRS Advisory Council recommends that all employees be asked to file a new W-4.  I feel that this is something they should complete at home so they can have their personal information at hand and have some privacy.

For Payroll Clients -- depending on the payroll service plan you are on, I would like to make you aware that there are some changes in the works, and especially that there are additional services available for you and your employees if you are interested, including health care plans, 401Ks, HR services, workers comp, donation matching, etc.  It's a good time to be making changes and get 2020 off to a good start!  Please feel free to ask me if you're interested in anything.

Finally, I plan to post whenever there is something I feel is important to share to keep you informed about changes and issues that may affect you.  I am also going to try out sending this via newsletter.  I promise to try to keep the posts and newsletters short, sweet, and infrequent.   Please sign up if you are interested.

It is turning out to be an even-busier-than-expected year-end with unexpected changes cropping up.

• The half-cent sales tax for the Indian River Lagoon passed. The tax rate will be a total of 7% effective on Jan 1 2017.   That is actually 6% State sales tax plus 1% County surtax. If you need any help setting that up in QuickBooks, please let me know.  In QuickBooks it needs to be set up as two separate taxes and combined.
• The Florida Minimum wage is increasing from $8.05 to $8.10 on Jan 1st 2017.
• I expect you will begin receiving your new Florida Unemployment rate notices (Form RT-1) within the next few weeks.  When you receive them, please shoot a copy to me for my records asap so I can make the changes.
• The DOL's - Department of Labor's - new FLSA regulations go into effect December 1 2016.  In case you aren't familiar with this or need to discuss it, please let me know.  The link to the page on their website with more information is:  https://www.dol.gov/WHD/overtime/final2016/
• The new W2 and 1099 deadlines are still in effect for this year, so please be sure to gather and confirm all of the information needed to process them without any delays.  It is a good time to have your employees confirm their information is correct and current, and to review for 1099's and gather any W-9's you may be missing.  Before people disappear for the Holidays is best.

That's all for now.
I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Normally, January is a nearly-impossibly busy time for bookkeepers, and the upcoming January is unfortunately going to have a newly-added twist.

New Due Dates for W2's and some 1099's -- In an effort to thwart identity theft and false refunds by receiving the information earlier, the due dates to submit these year-end reporting forms has been moved up one month to January 31 2017 for 2016 reporting.

W2's are now not only due to be sent to the recipients by the end of January, but also sent to the government as well.

1099's that have non-employee compensation in Box 7 must also be sent to the government by the end of January.  Otherwise, file them by February 28 2017 if filing on paper, or by March 31 2017 if you file electronically.

So, my request and recommendation here is this.  Since January is quite full as it is, I will be contacting all of my customers shortly to discuss plans to ensure we are ready before the end of 2016 to be able to meet the deadlines.  This means having all information up-to-date, accounts reconciled to current, checking all employee and subcontractor/1099-recipient information is complete and accurate and up-to-date.  I believe this would best be completed before the Holidays arrive, but after the up-coming quarterly payroll reports are completed.  I encourage beginning the reviews on your own in the meantime to expedite the process.

QuickBooks 2017 Release Date is September 19, 2016
If you are due for an upgrade, this new version has some nifty new features.   More news to come when it is officially released.  In the meantime, if you have any questions please feel free to give me a call and I will be happy to answer them.