How do you track business expenses?

[Irving]

I'm looking at changing jobs and will be required to basically be a contracted employee. I'll need to track all of my business expenses and mileage. Right now I've got an extremely basic spread sheet in Excel. I'm sure the most common recommendation will be Quicken Quickbooks. What do you guys use to track business expenses?

[Circuits]

Save all receipts, report all expenses as expenses.

Too hard?

[ray1970]

You could get some crayons and just write everything down on a sheet of paper.

[TheGrey]

I save all receipts, and also scan them into a digital file. I print it out onto copypaper and write down everything about the expense. Receipts tend to fade within a year; I don't know why they use such cheap ink.

I use an Excel spreadsheet, but I also just bring all receipts to my accountant along with the spreadsheet, in case there are questions.

Don't forget to keep a separate sheet for donations. A dollar here, a dollar there...it all adds up.

[Seamonkey]

Excel spreadsheet and scan receipts or print to pdf.
When using my own car small notebook for milage.
Probably do that with a smartphone app or notepad these days.

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[Ah Pook]

Leave the house and return. All receipts in between are business expenses. More detail?

[Grant H.]

I use CamScanner (Android App). I still try and keep track of the receipts, but I suck at paper.

Previously I used a 6x9 manilla envelope for each month. At the end of the month, the envelope in my laptop bag was replaced by another and the month of receipts was filed for tax season.

CamScanner is way better. PDF of all receipts with just a picture.

[Grant H.]

For mileage, I use a calendar. My church always hands out nice-ish leather calendars for the year. Start and end mileage for the work day, start and stop time, and a brief note about the work completed.

Trust me when I say that justification of anything you write off can be crucially important.

[Irving]

Have can scanner and have mileage notebook. Think I'll switch to monthly tabs on excel and monthly folders with receipt scans. Great info guys and gals. Keep it coming. I'm going to ask my accountant for more ideas tomorrow.

[Great-Kazoo]

Leave the house and return. All receipts in between are business expenses. More detail?

Have can scanner and have mileage notebook. Think I'll switch to monthly tabs on excel and monthly folders with receipt scans. Great info guys and gals. Keep it coming. I'm going to ask my accountant for more ideas tomorrow.

See the above post. EVERY CALL you make IS business related, so the cell ph is now a business expense. Can you get the billing changed over to the business name? Same for the computer / home internet service. Figure a percentage of shoes & clothing are now "Work Uniforms"

It's been years since i had a business that warranted itemization. Can one still deduct meals? If so figure X amount of dining out are business related. Same for wear and tear, maintenance on vehicle. You have a room dedicated to act as your office?
Again it's been years so i'm not sure what 1 can deduct.