1bassoon Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Help Hive!So, I run a few small businesses, but my main one has about a gazillion receipts for supplies. (I run summer camps) I feel like every tax season I'm swimming in receipts! I'm really decent at "organizing" them, but it's so 1990s. I take the paper receipt, enter it into my spreadsheet, and put a check mark if it's entered. Then I stuff all the receipts in a folder. It's just such a MESS to keep them all! Anyone got a good, painless, FREE way to manage these receipts for 2016? Or do I just keep on partying like it's 1999. . . . . . HELP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 How about one of those nails in a board? Stick the receipt on the nail after it is entered -- and they stay in the order they were entered too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Digitize them with a scanner or even an app on your phone. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 Digitize them with a scanner or even an app on your phone. OK, that's what I'm going for: Anyone got recommendations? How safe/secure is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 (edited) Designate a credit card for paying expenses for just the business and then use the online record of your purchases provided by the credit card company. Edited February 15, 2016 by regentrude 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 OK, that's what I'm going for: Anyone got recommendations? How safe/secure is it? We don't have many receipts, but have used JotNotPro for years. There may be something new and exciting out now. It's as safe and secure as anything else on your phone. You'll want to back it up somewhere. Cloud storage or wherever. JotNot works on your phone and requires no data or wifi. It changes a photo to a PDF. The document doesn't go anywhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Check out the Office Lens app (free) for your smart phone. INCREDIBLE. Tag the receipt with date, project/business, and send it to an appropriate file. Then you can throw away the receipt! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Evernote. Take a picture, put it in a file. Tag it. It's brilliant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Does the IRS accepts scanned recipes as proof if you're audited? Confirming this has been one of the things keeping me from getting a scanner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Does the IRS accepts scanned recipes as proof if you're audited? Confirming this has been one of the things keeping me from getting a scanner. Yes, and this article makes a good point. The newer receipts especially seem prone to fading. I have some in my purse that are less than a year old and totally illegible. https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/Keeping-Good-Tax-Records/INF17884.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Yes, and this article makes a good point. The newer receipts especially seem prone to fading. I have some in my purse that are less than a year old and totally illegible. https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/Keeping-Good-Tax-Records/INF17884.html I just realized I asked about scanned recipes instead of scanned receipts! Thanks for the answer. I agree these heat-printed recipes fade rather quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 (edited) We use an expanding file like this: http://www.amazon.com/Globe-Weis-Expanding-Monthly-Pockets-R117MLHD/dp/B003HKN2LO I put each month's receipts, utility and other bills (that are write offs), and bank statement in the correct folder. At the end of the year, we pack it in the attic for the necessary 7 years. :) ETA: Our receipt amounts and Quick Books category (handwritten on statement, but also in QB) are also on the bank statement, so I'm not too worried about fading. Edited February 15, 2016 by ifIonlyhadabrain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 this is the main reason we buy absolutely as much as we can for the business online, preferably with paypal, and from the same source every time if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Designate a credit card for paying expenses for just the business and then use the online record of your purchases provided by the credit card company. But the credit card statement doesn't really detail what was purchased. How does that work then? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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