Case File 021: The Case of the Year‑End Checklist — When the Books Aren’t CPA‑Ready
Filed under: CPA Prep & Holiday Deadlines
The client swore their books were “ready for taxes.” Detective Debit raised an eyebrow. Figgy leapt onto the desk, pawing at a stack of unreconciled statements. The closer we looked, the more the cracks appeared.
“Ready” meant bank accounts hadn’t been reconciled since July. Payroll liabilities were hanging like tinsel with no
payments attached. And the Chart of Accounts? A holiday mess of duplicates and uncategorized transactions.
The Clues
Bank and credit card accounts unreconciled for months
Payroll liabilities showing balances but no payments
Chart of Accounts cluttered with duplicates and vague categories
Receipts scattered in folders, not matched to expenses
CPA asking, “Where’s the clean Trial Balance?”
The Twist Year‑end isn’t just another month—it’s the foundation for tax season. If you wait until January, you’re racing against deadlines with a CPA who’s already buried in other clients’ chaos.
Detective Debit’s fix: reconcile every account, clear liabilities, standardize the Chart of Accounts, and box up receipts neatly before December closes.
And remember—Figgy’s watching the trail of clues too, making sure no detail slips past the holiday rush.
The Takeaway
A clean set of books is the best holiday gift you can give your CPA— and yourself.
Need Backup?
Declutter Your Books LLC can help you tie up loose ends so your CPA gets a bow‑wrapped set of reports instead of a lump of coal.
Case File 022 — The Case of Holiday Cheer.
Detective Debit investigates which festive expenses are deductible and which are just holiday fluff.
