Truckers review ATBS accounting tax services

We dont have any state taxes but we do havevto file a tax return though

 

Because ATBS runs thier calcs off the settlements. The settlements have your trips and where you were. Easy peasy to calculate the days out for per deim ... but alas, ATBS is lazy. Just take 25% of the net and call it a day.

 

Only federal not state. We do not report ANY income to the state.

 

I think I'm not paying enough estimated taxs but my rep tells me that he shoots for break even and to expect to pay nothing at the end of the year or get a real small refund, which is fine by me I don't like leting uncle sam borrow my money intrest free any ways

 

If ur using atbs thats cool but for them to say i owe 1400 for 3rd quarter and them not figureing perdiem dont think so so i told them to f off ill go back to my personal cpa

 

I've put receipts in a box before. That used to be okay, but times change I want to be able to view P&L and also see where I can cut back on expenses. I drive all day long I don't have time to estimate it all the time. I like looking at a spreadsheet it's easier than a crumpled up receipt.

 

Try the Smart Receipts app. Works great. Little purple square icon with a lightbulb.

 

Interview the accountant as if they are your employee. If the accountant is not willing to push any legal envelope then they are not worth the time because they will not be willing to read the tax law and interrupt the law in how it will benefit you. Taxes are law just like the other laws of our land and if the accountant can interrupt a law to mean one thing and the IRS wants to inquire more then they will ask and all that is needed is a clearly defined explanations with evidence to prove as such. For instance, we moved our family from St Louis, MO to Des Moines IA because our yard is here and we wanted to be closer to yard so Joe can come home every weekend (yes that is right EVERY weekend instead of 72 hours a month). I took the location deduction because we moved closer to the job. ATBS wanted to push back on me stating that is not what the law is implying to. Well in the end I won and took the deduction. Another year we had to wait over a month because a Manager at ATBS did not believe an item listed on our settlement from Jacobson was a maintenance deduction and not a cash advance. I had to go through the hoops to get a copy of the maintenance invoice to provide the proof, which is not easy since Jacobson doesn't keep those documents for too long because they really are not their expense for their tax purposes. We have had to pay taxes every year and I had to go back through all the taxes to make sure everything was calculated correctly. I have always had a rep that was nice probably because I am an Accountant myself and know how to talk to them but it can get heated in convo but we are talking taxes and that is a tough subject to speak of especially how our country is using the money these days.
Remember, the IRS has scaled down on the auditors they have on staff and the politicians are literally wanting to remove the department all together so if you feel that you can justify a tax law in order to take a deduction then by all means take the deduction and just keep all the evidence to back it up should you happen to get audited, which now a days is slim to none.

 

I know this thread is old but I thought I would include my thoughts. ATBS worthless. I first had their services when I did a lease purchase through Swift... which of course was a HUGE mistake lol. I didn't realize how much of a con this company was until I recently signed back up for their service. They do not chase all deductions, if you are 1 day late (seriously, 1 day) submitting your receipts for the month, they will process them on the forthcoming month. Asking them to email instead of calling seems like it completely puts them out... I am busy during the day dealing with brokers and customers, I prefer emails regarding business matters like this. They may seem reasonably priced but after shopping around they are extremely over priced.
Stay clear of this coming and go somewhere else!