Free tool
Are my books ready for taxes?
Ten yes or no questions about the problems that most often make books unusable. See what is ready, what to fix first, and why each one matters.
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How it works
How it works
Each question covers a common problem, such as accounts that should be empty, payments recorded in the wrong place, or balances that do not match your reports. Answer what you know and mark the rest "Not sure." You get a result and a short fix for each "No."
It is a quick self-check of the usual problems, not a review of your books. Nothing you answer is sent or saved.
FAQ
About this quiz
What does this quiz check?
Ten things that most often make books unusable for a tax preparer or a lender: parking accounts that are not empty, an opening balance that was never assigned, accounts that are not reconciled, credit card and loan payments recorded as expenses, owner draws booked as expenses, payroll and sales tax balances that do not match, negative assets and missing W-9s.
Does a good score mean my books are right?
No. It is a quick self-check of the usual problems. It cannot see your transactions, so have a qualified professional review your books before you rely on them.
Does it only work for QuickBooks?
No. The questions apply to any bookkeeping software. QuickBooks is in the title because that is what most small businesses use.
Is anything saved?
No. Your answers stay in your browser.
Behind on your books? Read how to catch up on behind books or how to clean up a messy QuickBooks file, or use the QuickBooks Cleanup Kit. More free tools: 1099-NEC & 1099-MISC Preparer, Economic order quantity (EOQ) calculator, Rental yield and gross rent multiplier calculator, or see all free tools.
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General information, not tax or legal advice. How we write and check our tools.
Reviewed by a person
Books Health Review
Send us one period of reports from QuickBooks, Xero or Excel. A person reads them and emails a written list of what to fix, in order.
Tallyfinch
Books you keep on your own computer
Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries.
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