Small business owners are notorious bootstrappers, driven to succeed by their own volition and generally super vigilant when it comes to their expenses. If they can do something themselves to save money, they probably will. While at times this can be advantageous, in many instances it’s actually counterproductive. Sometimes, it’s better to part with some funds so you can save time and ensure the task is done efficiently and correctly.

So many questions pop up all the time for small business owners, especially when it comes to taxes and determining what is and isn’t deductible. Naturally, we want to deduct as many legitimate business expenses as possible to lower our taxable income and lessen our tax burden. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to figure out which expenses are deductible in our specific industry.

There are lots of ways to describe small business owners. From smart and ambitious to creative, decisive, and resilient, there are many notable qualities that help those of us in this position succeed. But what about organized? While maybe it doesn’t sound quite as exciting as the rest, being organized is incredibly important when you’re running a business. After all, there’s surely a lot on your plate and all those details matter!

It can be tempting as a small business owner to cling to every dollar. After all, sometimes we’re strapped for cash, and even when we aren’t, it’s natural to want to put every cent back into the business so we can keep growing it. The idea of giving away our funds might feel counterintuitive to our mission. It might even seem flat-out wrong from a business standpoint, despite knowing in our hearts that it’s good to give to others in need.

It’s time to discuss one of the most common questions tax preparers get from clients: What documents do you need from me to file my taxes?