In a professional way, of course. (Just like I admire and respect librarians!)  

This year I am so lucky as to have been introduced to an accountant who not only understands what kind of expenses/interactions/etc. that a writer is likely to financially experience, but, is also a writer himself! An accountant poet!!! This means that he actually knows how to deal with my receipts, in the best possible ways. He understands the workings of travel, research, business meetings, social expenses, etc. because he has experienced them also.

I mean after all these years I don’t know what to do with all of my receipts! My previous accountants, who were solid people, didn’t really understand the ins and outs of writerly business. My current accountant, to whom I was directed to by a writer friend,  can advise me on how to configure my work trips in a more business-minded way. Practical advice that is greatly appreciated.

It’s a blessed relief to feel like one’s business side of writing is in good hands. I don’t like to think of my writing practice as “a business”, but I’m required to file my income taxes and I want to feel confident that I’m getting the best return that I can. And, there is also a big part of this writing profession that is also about business. For me to pretend it isn’t does me no good whatsoever. Surely it’s important to maintain professionalism not only around ideas of craft and style, but also the business side of the equation. I hadn’t realized my own insecurities around the accounting side of the business until I experienced such relief in having been accounted for by an accountant who really knew what kind of work I did.

Some of my friends file their own income tax; they are so talented! They say that this way they know exactly what is being filed, and they can be sure that everything is handled right– we can’t necessarily know that the accountant has done this as you would have liked/preferred/wanted. This is true. My friend says that there is software that guides you through the entire process and it’s not  difficult. 

I hate working with numbers so much (aside from pondering pi and wondering why multiplying the 9 times table you end up with two-digit numbers, if added together, turn up being 9… i.e. 18, 27, 36, 45, etc.) that I would far prefer paying someone to do it for me.

I’m gleefully considering a MacBook! Or an ice cream maker (I’ve always wanted an ice cream maker so that I can make my own matcha ice cream….). Maybe I can get BOTH!!! Hahahahahaaa!

A MacBook can definitely be filed as a Capital Purchase. Accounting word of the day (wroooaaaaar clap clap clap!)! What about an ice cream maker? 

My accountant would know!