Minding Her Own Business

This easy-to-read and understand book is invaluable for women (and men) who are already in business or just starting to be self-employed, and who are trying to learn exactly what tax responsibilities they have.

Not just a tax-season book, but a year round guide, Minding Her Own Business provides complete tax and recordkeeping information for self-employed people and independent contractors. Readers will learn about the different business entities (sole-proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership), what the tax differences are between being an employee and a self-employed person, which business expenses are deductible and what proof the IRS expects to see, how to reduce your chances of being audited, whether you need to make quarterly estimated tax payments (and how to calculate the amount to send), how to deduct a home office (or should you?), whether you can deduct your business vehicle (and what records you need), how to choose a tax preparer or a bookkeeper, what taxes self-employed people pay, which tax forms are filed by sole proprietors, whether it’s a good idea to prepare your own return using a tax preparation program, how to set up a simple record keeping system, and much much more.

This recently published 4th edition of Minding Her Own Business contains the general information you'll need to prepare your own 2004 tax return (or to get ready your materials for your preparer) and also for doing your 2005 tax planning.

Unlike some tax books, Minding Her Own Business is not an academic book. It is not written in legal language. It was written by a tax preparer (enrolled agent) who has been preparing tax returns for self employed people for more than 25 years. She has prepared over 8,000 tax returns and currently has 400 tax clients with whom she uses this information every day! The author has also been teaching small business tax seminars throughout the country for more than 20 years so she has a very good idea of what questions self-employed people have about taxes. You’ll find those questions (and the answers) inside Minding Her Own Business.

Terry Savage in the Chicago Sun-Times wrote about Minding Her Own Business, 'If you have your own business or are thinking about starting one, you need this book.'

Paul Tulenko in The Atlanta Business Chronicle wrote: 'Clearly written and superbly easy to use. One of the best I've seen on the essentials of keeping books and paying taxes.'

Anna Marks, publisher of Bay Area BusinessWoman wrote "Women business owners should not be without this book. It's like having a tax professional by your side at all times."

Small business columnist Jane Applegate wrote, "Minding Her Own Business is a great addition to anyone’s business library. Zobel has the ability to explain financial issues in a clear and understandable manner."