Does anyone have a good "chart of accounts" they are using to tract Cat adjuster expenses?  If so could you or would you please save a blank copy and email it to me.  It would really help me set up and track my expenses. 

Thank you,

Youradjuster

 

I tried using quickbooks and got a migraine everytime the screen opened.  I am looking to keep all my records in excel.  Problem is, I do not know "everything" that might be deductable that I need to track.  I would like to find an adjuster that is using excel and get a blank copy of his/her chart of accounts.  I know the basic stuff that is deductable but I know there is a lot out there that I do not know is deductable.

You hit it right I am seeking a template for tracking overall expenses in Excel that someone is already using? I do have a CPA and she wants/prefers an excel work sheet with all deductions on them. She will then markoff all thoses we can not use. The template someone has already designed would by far be better laid out then the one I have been working up.

What I have come up with so far has everything listed alphbetically in column A. I know someone out there has designed one into catagories with sub catagories under them that is easy to read and input data along with multiple worksheets.

I can get around Excel somewhat but am not very good at starting from scratch in design and layout of such. It would be great to find a good template to work with. If there are some fields I do not need all I would have to do is leave them empty.

Do you have a good template?

Greg

>>Do you have a good template?<<

I doubt mine will be helpful, since they are numerous and rather specialized. To remove all my entries and the corresponding underlying formatting would be quite a chore. But a good start for you would be to label the cells across the top of an Excel spreadsheet thusly:

Date     Auto (specify gas and maintenance separately)      Meals       Equipment and Supplies (ladders, printer paper and cartridges, books, etc.)        Lodging       Internet and Phone Service(s)      Insurances      Training, Licensing, and CE fees      Other (tolls and uniforms, for instance)

You can set up your spreadsheet without formatting the cells to do math if you wish not to monkey around with such, although at some point your columns will have to be reconciled in some manner. This is not necessarily an impediment, unless you foresee many  hundreds of entries; even then, however, it's a simple task for someone else to add the math to your spreadsheet. Your primary function will be to provide the raw data in an organized manner.

 I keep a separate file folder with me for each month's receipts. Also, I would suggest keeping a vehicle log that approximates your mileage with associated business activities (to credibly separate personal from business use). Write the odometer reading on each gas receipt.  

PS-  I've been audited by the IRS twice since 1980, so I'm not just blowing smoke!                

There are some good templates for Excel out there, below is a link to one that may help;

http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/details.aspx?view=info&itemid=10653

It's not a chart of accounts, but it might be a start.

It is desinged to be printed, and filled in by hand, attaching receipts to each week.

I could easily alter it to be entered on the computer where it would add up the rows and columns for you.

Be sure to review the tab named "Sample".

If it looks useful, let me know, and I can alter it (since I'm dying of boredom anyway!) to add automatically.

 

Ok, forgot to add the file!

Greg,

I don't have a blank to send you but it looks like you may  have received one by now.  I have used Quicken and Peachtree in the past for my businesses and personal expenses, but went back to spreadsheets.  I make a simple checkbook ledger format:

catagory, payee, date paid, deposit amt., check amount, balance, check number, comments.

I use the standard expense catagories that are used on the tax return in Turbo Tax and enter every expense into the spread sheet.  The balance column calculates the checkbook balance from the previous line.  If I enter a cash or creditcard charge, I clear the balance field so that it does not affect my check book balance. 

In Works or Excel, I sort on check number and date  to balance my check book, and at year end, I sort the entire file on Catagory, Payee, then date .  I imagine that if you know how, you could set up macros to sum the totals for the catagories, but I do it manually by inserting a row a putting a sum statement in. 

I do the taxes myself for my corporation and investments so I follow the same pattern each year.  With the file sorted you could take it to your CPA and have the tax return done in no time.  Being able to sort or have macros to keep a total of the catagories is the key to accuracy and time saving.  As stated  in this thread, put all payments you make whether business related or not then sort out what is needed for the tax return.  You can use the search function if you need to find a payment you think you made for whatever purpose.

I have two spreadsheets (Excel) that I use. One for the income to keep track of the claims that I have worked, closed and paid. The second that keeps track of the expences. I have a column for the account (which credit card, which Bank account or cash) and a column for the type of expense (fuel, vehicle maintence, etc.) Both are changeable with a little knowledge of Excel.

If anyone is interested, let me know (wally@inspectra.net) and I will send them to you.

Wally

Hey, I have a question and it goes like this. How are you guys going about collecting deliquent invoices for Hurricane Katrina. I am still owed quite a bit and after paying 5k for acountants I finally received 11k of the 38k or so, still out standing. I have heard every excuss in the book. The book keeper for this company told my book keeper they didn't owe me anything and then coughed up 11k. I am at my wits end and I am trying to decide on the next course of action. I worked my butt off, did my job, and now I'm being stiffed. What are your ideas and I promise you will be hearing more from this. Do I sue, Do I call the states attorney, Do I file liens on the properties I did the claims on, there are a lot of avenues I could take. I am looking for the most effective way.