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 (75% of 85 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
23%
Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
75%
Not sure
1%

Get matched and get quotes from accountants near you

Home | Accounting | Accounting Cost Reports | Accountants Directory

Updated on October 24, 2014

By

Comments From Our Pros

Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: It is always better to have documentation of your tax receipt to keep track of how much you spend on a day-to-day basis.
Z's Brookkeeping & Tax's Service Express
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.
ProMatcher
Answer: Not sure
Explanation: The more preparation you do, the less we have to do, and the more money you can save.
Blue Bell Wealth Advisors
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
ProMatcher
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: Receiving information electronically is actually more helpful.
CPA Tax Advisors, Inc
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Please organize your physical reciepts by category. It will help prepare you for tax season.
LTX Tax and Business Services
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: Organize by type of expense or income for better record keeping.
Tucker & Associates Small Business Accounting LLC
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
ProMatcher
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: We recommend you keep all receipts. If you do not have a formal filing system for receipts we suggest using large ziplock bags as it will assist in keeping the receipts from fading and keeps everything in one place.
Vanetta Stringfield Keyes, CPA, PC
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.
ProMatcher
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: It is always a good idea to be organized with everything you do regarding personal tax receipts. As technology continues to grow, physical receipts will be a thing of the past. I always advise my clients to treat their electronic copies the same as they would a physical copy.
Gross Mendelson CPAs and Advisors
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: IT IS BETTER TO KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS ORGANIZED AS A BACK UP IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICE
AMERICAN TAX AND BUSINESS SERVICES
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
ProMatcher
Answer: No, just put them in a single box or folder
Explanation: I will be glad to organize in any order specified.
BYG Bookkeeping Services
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: I use a filing cabinet along with file folders to keep track of documents that are needed for year end tax preparation
Dudgeon's Bookkeeping
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: IRS auditors look at such organization as clues to whether you filled out the information correctly. A more organized organization is less likely to bring up red flags than a disorganized one.
Veritas Business Advisors
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: it is easier to give an accountant papers to look at verses having to open the email to verify
Divorce Planner
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
ProMatcher
Answer: Yes, it is better to organize physical tax receipts
Explanation: To organize your receipts, put them in by month or at least within a category that fit within what you are going to use when you complete your income taxes.
Burgis Successful Solutions
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
ProMatcher