Beginner's Guide to Starting a Small Business

When bringing your idea to life, it is important to recognize if there is a need in the marketplace for your product or service offering. However, even if the odds are in your favor, it takes a lot more than passion and commitment to transition from a startup to a well-established company. If you want to reach the latter, you’ll need to go through the process step-by-step.  

To cover every base before your launch, JLDE Services has formulated a Beginner’s Guide to starting a small business. Through this guide, we want to lay out the necessary steps needed to get your business up and running.

Getting Started

Research: The only way to validate your business idea and find out whether it will survive the real world is by conducting market research. You can ask experienced business owners to review your concept or potential customers to provide feedback.

Formulate a business plan: Investors will be interested in financing your new venture only if you can prove to them that you are serious about your business. A thorough and well-detailed business plan is an effective way to get them on board.

The Next Steps

Choose a business structure: Your business structure will have an impact on the amount of taxes you have to pay, the paperwork needed to file as well your personal liability. 

The most common business structures include sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. Each type of structure comes with different legal requirements and tax consequences, so it is crucial to select one that suits your business requirements and also offers legal protection and benefits. Besides, you can register for the correct license and permits only after picking a business structure.

Work with an accountant: As a small business owner, you will not possess accurate knowledge of the accounting practices and procedures. Therefore, it makes sense to hire a professional accountant who can shoulder time-consuming tasks such as bookkeeping, tax returns, payroll, etc. Apart from managing complex financial duties, they offer a wealth of small business advice to ensure your business succeeds in the long run.  

Advice From The Pros

Prepare in advance: Starting a business takes commitment, but more importantly, it needs planning. Before commencing business operations, there are many ways to prepare yourself, test your idea and improve performance. If there are modifications required, it is advisable to be flexible and incorporate those changes.

Seek expert advice: Utilize an accountant or accounting firm that has knowledge and experience in your business area. This will save you a ton of time, prevent you from making similar mistakes, and gives you an opportunity to focus on growing your business. It is also vital to clearly communicate your goals to your accountant and to make sure everything is taken in writing.

At JLDE Services, our goal is to exceed your expectations. As the leading accounting firm in Lindon, Utah, you can feel confident starting a new business with us. We are profit and growth experts for small and medium-sized businesses, and it has become our mission to add value to your company.

In addition to accounting and bookkeeping, we also specialize in providing tax preparation, business consultation, and payroll services to individuals and small businesses.

Visit our website to learn more or contact JLDE Services today.

Why should I hire a Tax Pro

6 Reasons Small Business Owners Should Hire a Tax Pro.

1. Taxes are Complex - even simple tax situations can be complex, especially if you own a small business.
2. Your Time is Money - the average taxpayer spends 13 hours preparing their tax return.
3. Tax Pros can save you Real Money - know what deductions you can and can not take.
4. Mistakes will Cost You - small mistakes can cost $100's in fines and penalties.
5. Peace of Mind - tax pros work to make sure your tax return is in compliance and out of the scrutiny of the IRS
6. Planning Ahead - looking at the current year, but also begin planning for the following years.

www.jldeservices.com
612-201-2717

How IRS Collections Work

How IRS Collections Work?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is charged with collecting taxes owed to the US Government. The mission of the IRS Collection Division is to collect delinquent taxes and secure delinquent returns.

Though most taxpayers who deal with the Collection Division view it and its employees as little more than ruthless collector agents, the IRS does have guidelines that its employees who are involved with collections are expected to follow.

1. Service and Assistance
2. Taxpayer Rights
3. Compliance
4. Case Resolution

Call or email us if you or someone you know need help dealing with the IRS.

Joseph Dressel EA

JLDE Services

joe@jldeservices.com

www.jldeservices.com

612-201-2717

Enrolled Agent

What does the term "enrolled agent" mean?
"Enrolled" means to be licensed to practice by the federal government, and "agent" means authorized to appear in the place of the taxpayer at the IRS.  Only enrolled agents, attorneys, and CPA's have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS.   The enrolled agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department.
If you need assistance in dealing with the IRS, please give us a call to see how we can help you.
jldeservices.com

IRS tax refund

If you're one of the millions of Americans who are asking, "When can I expect my income tax refund?" we have the answer. It depends on a couple of things, but the good news is that there are several tools to help find out.

First of all, taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for an estimated date. Taxpayers who've already filed can also go to the Internal Revenue Service's website, which has a tool designed specifically for that called, "Where's My Refund?"

If you have any questions, visit our website for more information.

IRS warns of new twist to old phone scams

An article published by Forbes, 6/15/2017

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean that scammers are taking a break. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning about a new telephone scam.

In the scam, callers posing as IRS representatives advise potential victims that two certified letters were sent to the taxpayer in the mail but were returned as undeliverable. The callers then threaten to arrest the potential victim if a payment is not immediately made through a prepaid debit card. The scammer also tells the victim that the purchase of the card is linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) system: it is not.

To ensure that the potential victim doesn’t back out, the caller warns the taxpayer not to contact their tax preparer, an attorney or their local IRS office until after the tax payment is made. This should be a red flag. You should always have the opportunity to contact your tax professional before resolving a tax dispute. Additionally, if you’re not sure that you owe taxes, you always have the opportunity to hang up and call the IRS directly (1.800.829.1040) for more information. Don’t be pressured into making a spur of the moment payment.

The scammers are hoping that you’ll recognize the EFTPS: it’s a real government system used for paying your federal taxes electronically. Paying taxes through EFTPS is free through the U.S. Department of Treasury and does not require the purchase of a prepaid debit card, so don’t be fooled. Also, the EFTPS is an automated system, which means that you won’t receive a phone call from the IRS. It’s one of a number of ways that you can pay what you owe (you can find out more about how to pay your taxes here).

If all of this sounds familiar, it is. Scammers have been targeting taxpayers by pone for years.  In the most popular version of the scam, IRS impersonators call and demand payments on iTunes and other gift cards.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said about the latest scam, “This is a new twist to an old scam. Just because tax season is over, scams and schemes do not take the summer off. People should stay vigilant against IRS impersonation scams. People should remember that the first contact they receive from IRS will not be through a random, threatening phone call.”

Other IRS and tax-related scams involve the nonexistent “Federal Student Tax” and scams targeting tax professionals.

As a reminder, the IRS will never:

• Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill (this is true even with the use of private debt collectors).
• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Don’t engage or respond with scammers. Here’s what to do if you receive a suspicious phone call or message:

• If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, and you do not owe tax, or if you are immediately aware that it’s a scam, don’t engage with the scammer and do not give out any information. Just hang up.
• If you receive a telephone message from someone claiming to be from the IRS, and you do not owe tax, or if you are immediately aware that it’s a scam, don’t call them back.
• If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be with the IRS, and you owe tax or think you may owe tax, do not give out any information. Call the IRS back at 1.800.829.1040 to find out more information.
• You can also contact TIGTA to report scam calls by calling 1.800.366.4484 or by using the “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” form on their website. You may also want to report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission by using the “FTC Complaint Assistant” to report persons pretending to be from the government; please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

Don’t fall for the tricks. Keep your personal information safe by remaining alert. For tips on protecting yourself from identity theft related tax fraud, click here.

IRS Warns About ‘Federal Student Tax’ Scams

A new IRS warning about scammers targeting students and parents.

Telephone scammers may target students and parents during the back-to-school season and demand payments for such non-existent taxes as the “Federal Student Tax,” the IRS has warned.

IRS impersonators may call students and demand that money be wired immediately to pay a fake federal student tax, according to the Service. As in other similar scams, if the taxpayer doesn’t comply, the scammer becomes aggressive and threatens to report the student to the police to be arrested.

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