Case File 015: Ask the Accountant — The Catch-All That Caught Too Much

Filed under: Vague Accounts & Deferred Decisions

The books looked clean —- until Detective Debit spotted it. A single line item: “Ask My Accountant.” And then another. And another. By the time she finished scrolling, it was clear: this wasn’t a question. It was a dumping ground.

Detective Debit investigates bookkeeping mysteries and uncovers hidden financial clues. She solves cases involving vague accounts, misclassified expenses, and audit risks.
A yellow notepad pinned to a wall with a red pushpin. The notepad contains a list of clues related to accounting issues, including asking an accountant about overload, mystery year-end expenses, client confusion, and tax preparer sighs.

The Clues

  • Dozens of transactions categorized as “Ask My Accountant” with no follow-up

  • Year-end reports full of mystery expenses

  • Clients unsure what the charges were for —- or why they were there

  • Tax preparers sighing audibly during review season

The Twist

“Ask My Accountant” is meant to be a temporary holding place —- a digital sticky note for things that need clarification. But when it becomes a permanent home for transactions, it hides real data and creates confusion. Detective Debit’s seen entire categories of spending vanish into this black hole, never to be reviewed again.

Her verdict? If you’re not asking your accountant… you’re just ignoring the question.

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The Takeaway

Use “Ask My Accountant” sparingly —- and with intention. Set a

monthly reminder to review and reclassify anything sitting there. If you’re unsure, jot a note in the memo field or attach a receipt. And if you’re the accountant? Make it a habit to sweep this account clean before closing the books.

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Need Backup? If your “Ask My Accountant” account looks more like a junk drawer than a to-do list, I can help you sort it out. We’ll turn question marks into clarity —- and make sure your books don’t leave your tax pro guessing.

Headshot of Detective Debit, the fictional forensic bookkeeper who investigates financial mysteries and uncovers misclassified expenses with clarity and grit.
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Case File 016 — Owner’s Draw

The client swears it’s all business… but the books say otherwise. Detective Debit uncovers a trail of personal spending disguised as deductions—- and sets the record straight on what belongs in the business, and what doesn’t.