A year-end handoff checklist for your bookkeeper and preparer

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Business returns

By Accounting Services · Published September 30, 2026

When bookkeeping and tax preparation are handled by different people, the handoff needs a clear finish line. Agree on which reports are ready for use and which questions still need attention. A file named final is not enough by itself.

Name the reporting period and version

Label reports with the business, dates and export date. If an updated report replaces an earlier version, tell everyone using it. Keep a short note explaining the change so the preparer does not work from an outdated set of figures.

Send an open-item list

Identify unresolved balances, incomplete reconciliations or documents still expected. Assign a contact for each question. A concise list gives the preparer a way to distinguish confirmed information from work that remains with the bookkeeper or owner.

Agree on how questions travel

Decide who collects requests from the preparer and who approves changes to the books. Avoid having several people independently update the same records without telling one another. Keep explanations alongside revisions so the next export is understandable.

Finish the handoff by confirming what was received and what remains outstanding. This is a coordination step, not a conclusion about the tax treatment of an account. If you need both accounting support and preparation, ask ASI to define how those responsibilities fit together.

Source and further reading

IRS: Recordkeeping. General preparation information; your engagement and filing requirements depend on your circumstances.

What happens next

Tell ASI what you need help with. Start with your contact information and add optional context.