All year long there’s been a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me, “You’d better sit down and work on the farm books before it gets too late in the year.” Do I listen? Sometimes, but not very often.
I don’t know about your accountant, but mine offers end of the year tax estimates, and it helps us wrap the year up and plan for next year. Hopefully. She even provides a nice list of reminders to help make the appointment as painless as possible.
I’m a procrastinator by nature, and this year is no different. Although I did download part of the banking transactions in a spreadsheet back in October, I still haven’t finished sorting them. I have to accomplish that feat before I can come up with some numbers for our accountant for the tax estimate. Plus, I need to total up my side gig photography business numbers.
For me, the paralyzing fear of having to pay taxes makes me want to procrastinate even more. Not knowing how big or small the tax bill will be makes me drag my feet well up to the last minute. However, this year I did get on the ball in November and ask our accountant when she was available to look at our numbers, but she wasn’t taking appointments until after the Thanksgiving holiday. I procrastinated in setting our appointment with her, but I bit the bullet last week and made an appointment during the first week of December.
When my husband and I were discussing the numbers before we sold calves in October, I made the comment that I need to find some software for accounting instead of the “stupid spreadsheets” that I use. Once again, I haven’t done that, and I’m relying on my spreadsheets for another year. If I got the software now, I’d have to go back and re-do my work anyway.
This could very well sound like such a first world problem. Crappy computer skills or a lack of trying is all on me. I need to remind myself that we have so much to be thankful for this year. Calves sold well. We made all the payments we needed to for the cowherd and even have a little bit left over. We can continue to build the cowherd and make the improvements we need to on the property.
I say every year that I’m going to do better planning and making sure my books are in order before visiting with the accountant. Maybe 2025 could be my year. What are some resources you use to keep track of things? Do you use software to categorize expenses and incomes? Is it online or a desktop version?
Help a girl out who wants nothing more than to pay less in taxes and make the accountant happy.
Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].
