AUDIO TRANSCRIPT-Central New Yorkers rush to file taxes before April 15 deadline
Schneider Joachim:I need to get those taxes started.
Idrissa Ballo: Is what first time filer and business owner Schneider Joachim says as the tax deadline approaches. Joa-chim says keeping track of things is integral for filing on time and correctly.
Joachim: Just making sure we have all of the right documents in place ..I cant stress this enough that you really need to track every receipt every penny, every single thing you buy…
Ballo : Sharron Thompson, who manages the Free Tax Preparation program at PEACE.Inc, suggests separating funds and keeping files is key for late filers.
Sharon Thompson: We always tell people open a separate checking account just for your business… create a couple folders and break them down, here’s your food receipts get a folder with food, get a folder for equipment…
Ballo: Thompson also stated that when taxes are filed correctly, the economy in Central New York benefits from the extra income.
Ballo: Idrissa Ballo, NCC News
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — With the April 15 tax deadline days away, Central New Yorkers scrambled to get their finances in order, including first-time business filers navigating the process for the first time.
Schneider Joachim, a first-time business owner, said the urgency hit as the deadline approached.
“I need to get those taxes started,” Joachim said.
Joachim said staying organized is key to filing on time and correctly.
“Just making sure we have all of the right documents in place,” he said. “I can’t stress this enough — you really need to track every receipt, every penny, every single thing you buy.”
Sharron Thompson, who manages the Free Tax Preparation program at PEACE Inc., said separating funds and keeping organized files is critical for late filers.
“We always tell people to open a separate checking account just for your business,” Thompson said. “Create a couple of folders and break them down — here are your food receipts, here is a folder for food, a folder for equipment.”
Thompson added that when taxes are filed correctly, the broader Central New York economy benefits from additional income circulating through the community.
PEACE Inc. is a community action agency that offers free tax preparation services to eligible Central New York residents, helping low income individuals and small business owners file accurately and avoid costly mistakes.