Occasionally my job is just to remind you of things you may have heard before, things that that the IRS wants to make sure you remember. A lot of these things are usually dictated by the calendar.

So to start, estimated tax payments can be due for many on Monday, September 17. This is something that may need to be spoken about more as an increasing number of people earn their living in non-traditional ways. You see, taxes are supposed to be paid as you earn money. This isn’t a big deal if you have a W2 job, for that money is being taken out of your paycheck each time you are paid.

If you do not earn a large portion of your money in such a way, though, and expect to owe taxes at the end of the year, the IRS really wants you checking in with it four times a years and making estimated payments toward that tax bill. If you do not do that, you could face penalties when you next file your tax return.

If this is something you want to check in on and see if you should be making such payments, don’t hesitate to contact us.

The calendar is also telling us that it is hurricane season again, and as images from the news remind of the potential disaster of these events, it is also worth a reminder that you want to take some actions to protect your finances from acts of nature.

So first, think about where your key documents are kept. If you have something that would be difficult to replace if lost, it should be protected. A safe that can guard against most disasters may be more affordable than you think, and what it pays back in peace of mind could even more valuable. And this should not only be physical documents, think about where the digital information is kept, and ensure that it is not in only one location.

Second, documenting the valuables in your home could help you recoup their value if you ever have an insurance claim. This is even easier than getting a safe now that almost everyone carries a phone with a camera in their pocket all the time. A series of photos of your valuables can help support any claims you have to make.

Lastly, when large disasters do strike, there is often some deadline leniency given by the IRS when it comes to making payments or filing forms. This is only small solace, but it is something to remember and be thankful for when you are dealing with larger, more pressing life issues.

Overall, all of these little bits come down to being proactive and not procrastinating. Those are lessons that are always worth remembering no matter the subject or date. So as always, if there is anything that you have been wanting to do with your finances, be it personal or business, let us know. We would love to help, and if we cannot, we can at least point you in the right direction.