We prepare a complete year-end financial package so your tax professional can file quickly and accurately. Here’s exactly what’s included.
One of the most common sources of stress in the founder-CPA relationship is the year-end handoff. Your CPA needs specific documents to prepare your tax return — and if those documents are incomplete, disorganized, or late, it delays your filing, increases your accounting fees, and creates unnecessary back-and-forth.
At Startup Books, delivering a clean, complete year-end package to your CPA is one of our core deliverables. Here is exactly what we prepare — and what your CPA will receive.
The Complete Year-End Financial Package
1. Annual Profit & Loss Statement
A full-year P&L covering January 1 through December 31. This shows your total revenue, all expense categories, and net income for the year. It is the primary document your CPA uses to prepare your business tax return. Ours is formatted clearly with all categories labeled in IRS-standard terminology.
2. Balance Sheet as of December 31
A complete Balance Sheet showing all assets, liabilities, and equity as of the last day of the year. Your CPA uses this to verify the accuracy of the P&L and to identify any adjusting entries needed before the tax return is filed.
3. General Ledger
The General Ledger is a complete record of every transaction recorded during the year, organized by account. Your CPA may request this to verify specific line items or investigate anything that looks unusual on the P&L or Balance Sheet.
4. Bank Reconciliation Reports
We provide reconciliation reports for every bank account and credit card, confirming that your internal records match your actual bank statements as of December 31. This is essential for audit protection.
5. Accounts Receivable Aging Report
A report showing all outstanding customer invoices as of year-end, organized by how long they have been outstanding. This helps your CPA determine how to treat unpaid invoices for tax purposes.
6. Accounts Payable Aging Report
A report showing all outstanding bills you owe as of year-end. Similar to AR aging, this helps determine the tax treatment of unpaid expenses.
7. Fixed Asset Schedule
A list of all significant assets your business purchased during the year (equipment, computers, furniture) along with their purchase dates and costs. Your CPA uses this to calculate depreciation and determine if any assets qualify for immediate expensing under Section 179.
8. 1099 Tracking Summary
A complete record of all payments made to US-based contractors and service providers during the year, organized by vendor. This ensures your 1099-NEC filings are accurate and complete by the January 31 deadline.
9. Loan Schedule
If your business has any loans, we provide a schedule showing the beginning balance, principal payments made, interest paid, and ending balance for each loan. Interest paid on business loans is generally deductible.
10. Notes and Explanations
We include a notes section that explains any unusual items, one-time transactions, or adjustments made during the year. This saves your CPA time and reduces back-and-forth questions.
When Do You Receive Your Year-End Package?
Startup Books delivers your complete year-end financial package no later than January 31st of the following year — well ahead of most tax deadlines. For clients with March 15th or April 15th filing deadlines, this gives your CPA ample time to prepare your return without rushing.
What Your CPA Still Handles
Startup Books prepares your books and financial statements, but we do not file tax returns. Here is how the responsibilities typically divide:
| Startup Books Handles | Your CPA Handles |
| Monthly bookkeeping and categorization | Business and personal tax return preparation |
| Bank reconciliations | Tax strategy and planning |
| Monthly financial reports | Filing with the IRS and state |
| 1099 tracking and preparation | Audit representation |
| Year-end financial package | Estimated tax calculations |
| Clean records formatted for your CPA | Entity structure advice |
Need help preparing these records all year long?
What Your CPA Will Say
CPAs who work with Startup Books clients consistently tell us the same thing: our clients arrive with the cleanest, most organized books they receive all year. That means faster preparation, lower fees, and fewer questions — which is exactly what every founder wants from their tax season experience.
| Work With Startup Books
Get your books professionally maintained all year so your CPA can hit the ground running in spring. Start at startupbooksusa.com/contact-us |