What You’ll Learn in This Post

• Why CPA-ready books save Tacoma business owners both time and money.
• How reconciling accounts, payroll, and quarterly reports reduces errors and stress.
• The importance of organizing receipts and flagging outstanding invoices 
• Steps you can take now to streamline your CPA’s work, saving billable hours.
• How J. Ott Business Solutions supports South Sound businesses in preparing for tax season.

Year-End CPA Prep:
What Tacoma Business Owners Can Do Now to Save Time (and Money) 

As Tacoma business owners wrap up summer and turn their focus to Q4 goals, the paperwork piles up. Between final projects and year-end planning, the last thing Tacoma business owners need is a stressful scramble with their CPA. 

But here’s the reality: if your books aren’t in good order, your CPA will spend more billable hours fixing them—and that can add up fast.

Why This Matters for Tacoma Businesses

Working with a CPA is essential for filing accurate tax returns and staying compliant with state and federal requirements. But CPAs don’t want to dig through messy ledgers, mismatched receipts, or missing payroll data. If your books are organized and up to date, your CPA can focus on what they do best: tax strategy, compliance, and protecting your business from costly errors. On the other hand, if things are disorganized, you’re likely paying extra for hours spent on clean-up rather than on high-value advisory work.

5 Ways to Get CPA-Ready Before Year-End

Reconcile Every Account

Don’t wait until January to match your bank and credit card statements. Monthly reconciliations ensure your balances are accurate and prevent surprises. A little consistency now saves hours later.

Review Payroll & Quarterly Reports 

Make sure payroll records line up with Washington’s quarterly reports. The Employment Security Department requires accuracy on both hours and wages reported (see details here). Catching errors now avoids messy amendments later.

Organize Receipts & Expenses

Digital or paper, your expense records should be complete and categorized. Don’t leave your CPA guessing at what counts as deductible—it slows everything down.

Check for Outstanding Invoices & Bills

Resolve unpaid invoices and overdue bills before year-end. Cleaning up accounts receivable and payable makes your financial position clearer and your CPA’s job smoother.

Schedule a Pre-Year-End Review

A brief meeting with your bookkeeper or accounting advisor can help identify gaps, missing documents, or tax-saving opportunities. 

Bottom line: You don’t have to wait until tax season to spot problems.

The Hidden Payoff of CPA-Ready Books

Getting organized before year-end isn’t only about reducing CPA hours. Clean, accurate books give Tacoma business owners a clear picture of how the business is performing. With reconciled accounts and up-to-date records, you can see true profitability, understand cash flow trends, and make smarter decisions about hiring, equipment purchases, or setting aside reserves. Year-end becomes less about scrambling for tax compliance and more about using reliable numbers to plan for growth.

Closing Thoughts

When your books are CPA-ready, the process becomes faster and less stressful. By taking care of record organization now, you’ll save time, reduce billable CPA hours, and walk into tax season with confidence. 

At J. Ott Business Solutions, we help Tacoma and Pierce County business owners implement these systems, so year-end isn’t stressful—it’s strategic. If you want peace of mind and a successful tax season, reach out today. With Josh’s support, Tacoma and Pierce County businesses enter tax season fully prepared and CPA-ready.