--- title: "\"I Love Tax Preparation” Said No Boston Business Owner Ever" description: Running a successful small business is hard work, but a single botched tax return can create major headaches for your company. Bellingham, MA tax accountant Ann Irons shows how a CPA can help your business operate smoothly around tax time. image: https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-517591313.jpg --- ![icon-phone](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/file-469552994-png/images/icon-phone.png)508-533-5700 **Call today to book your appointment!** [![Ann M. Irons](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/file-480654324-png/images/circle-logo4.png?width=630&height=168&name=circle-logo4.png "Ann M. Irons")](https://www.ironscpa.com/) Hopkinton MA, CPA [Contact](https://www.ironscpa.com/contact-us) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Ann+M.+Irons,+CPA,+17+Main+St+Suite+1,+Hopkinton,+MA+01748/@42.2283595,-71.5220826,17.25z/data=!3m1!5s0x89e470559903948b:0xba338aa31b2a0f29!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e46e7ca0d1d73b:0x531938b62807ebe1!2m2!1d-71.5200665!2d42.2284497!3e0?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDExNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [![facebook](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/file-811720473-png/images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/AnnIronsCPA?ref=br_tf)[![LinkdIn](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-817405565.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ann-m-irons-cpa-llc)[![twitter](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-817410620.png)](https://twitter.com/AnnMIronsCPALLC) # The Bean Counter with Ann M Irons, CPA --- [![Tax Year 2024 Business/Individual Tax Returns](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/332864/aef2b35b-07b9-4f4e-be11-0410ebf842de.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/332864/aef2b35b-07b9-4f4e-be11-0410ebf842de) --- ## ["I Love Tax Preparation” Said No Boston Business Owner Ever ](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/bellingham-boston-tax-preparation-services) Posted by [Ann Irons, CPA](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/author/ann-irons-cpa) Feb 12, 2014 12:14:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Bellingham,_MA_CPA](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-517591313.jpg?width=267&name=file-517591313.jpg)Even though tax time is just weeks away, many local small business owners have yet to seek the help of a **Boston, MA tax professional**. Ann Irons, CPA, cautions that waiting too long to begin preparing your business taxes can have serious consequences for your company. Once panic sets in, you are more likely to make mistakes, cut corners, or leave out critical information. The result? Audits, late fees, and nasty penalties. ## “I’ll just save my receipts instead of using a tax organizer.” We hear this one often, and it’s painful each time. *Can* you cram all of your receipts into an expanding file? Yes. *Should *you? Absolutely not, says Ann. A receipt alone doesn’t provide much information about an expense, making it difficult to determine whether it can be safely deducted. Note where you were on what day, what you purchased, and why you purchased it. When you file your taxes, the Internal Revenue Service scrutinizes some expenses, such as entertainment and travel, more closely than others. A single receipt may not provide sufficient information. If you don’t think you have time to maintain this level of detail, you might be right—yet another excellent reason to use an **accounting professional in Boston, MA.** ## “I’m the owner of the business, and I’ll pay myself as much as I want.” Small business owners are a hard-working bunch. If you’re incorporated, however, the IRS has strict requirements for substantial pay increases. For example, suppose you’ve paid yourself $75,000 yearly for the previous five years. This year, you decide, you’ll pay yourself $180,000. Unless you can provide clear justification for such a dramatic increase, the IRS may deem it unreasonable compensation. If this happens, the money will be taxed at the corporate level, then distributed as dividends.  Those dividends? You’ll pay taxes on those, too. ## “There’s no way this expense is deductible.” Small business owners express shock and disbelief when they discover which items they can and cannot rightfully deduct. The key here is to document each expense in your tax organizer, taking care to include the receipt and important details. For example, you may be able to deduct dry cleaning expenses for suits worn at overnight business conferences, or business dinners with prospective customers. When you work with Ann, you can take advantage of those sneaky deductions earned during the course of business. To learn more about our **small business tax and financial services**, contact Ann at 508-966-0700 for a consultation. Follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AnnIronsCPA) for the latest tips on taxes, small business management, and finance. ## About **Ann M. Irons, CPA LLC** ![Ann](https://www.ironscpa.com/hubfs/images/Ann.jpg)Ann has spent over 25 years in the financial service industry, gaining knowledge and experience that allows her to provide an array of tax, and accounting and advisory services for her clients. Relying on a stringent code of ethics and a dedication to maintaining the highest industry standards, Ann works hard to ensure her clients receive the quality service they’ve come to expect. A member of AICPA and MSCPA, Ann has also had an article featured in the renowned publication, Banker and Tradesman.  ### Subscribe to Email Updates Search by Topic Search ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Small Business Accounting (24)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/small-business-accounting) - [Individual Income Taxes (18)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/individual-income-taxes) - [International Tax (17)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/international-tax) - [Accounting for Lawyers (11)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/accounting-for-lawyers) - [Escrow Accounting (10)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/escrow-accounting) - [Foreign Investment Tax (8)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/foreign-investment-tax) - [Family Business (6)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/family-business) - [Bookkeeping (5)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/bookkeeping) - [Personal Finance (4)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/personal-finance) - [Client Stories (3)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/client-stories) - [Payroll Processing (3)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/payroll-processing) - [Small Business Tax (3)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/small-business-tax) - [Starting Your Own Law Firm (1)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/starting-your-own-law-firm) - [Words of Wisdom (1)](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/topic/words-of-wisdom) [see all](https://www.ironscpa.com/blog/bellingham-boston-tax-preparation-services#) ## Inviting You to Visit Our Office! Please call us at your earliest convenience to set up a consultation. We look forward to meeting you, and determining how we can best serve you. ![Map Irons CPA Hopkinton](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Map%20Irons%20CPA%20Hopkinton.png?width=305&height=167&name=Map%20Irons%20CPA%20Hopkinton.png)   ### OUR LOCATION: 17 Main Street, Suite 1 Hopkinton, MA 01748 Phone: 508-533-5700 Fax: 888-922-2242 ## About Ann M. Irons, CPA LLC Ann Irons’ personal philosophy focuses on strong experience, integrity, and commitment to service above all else.  [Learn More](https://www.ironscpa.com/meet-ann-irons) ## Navigation ## Recent Blog Posts ## [![facebook](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/file-811720473-png/images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/AnnIronsCPA?ref=br_tf)[![G+](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-815314232.png)](https://plus.google.com/b/100124969766767305083/100124969766767305083/about)[![LinkdIn](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-817405565.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ann-m-irons-cpa-llc)[![twitter](https://www.ironscpa.com/hs-fs/hub/332864/file-817410620.png)](https://twitter.com/AnnMIronsCPALLC) ## Ann M. Irons, CPA LLC © 2025. All rights reserved.   ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/951439776/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0)