Last updated: September 29, 2026
In short: Hillside Accounting Services keeps the books for small businesses from 167-13 Hillside Ave, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432. We record your sales and expenses, match them to your bank and credit card statements, and catch up businesses that have fallen behind (called write-up), so your sales tax returns, payroll and year-end tax return rest on accurate numbers. You can work with us in English or Bengali (Bangla).
What Bookkeeping Covers
- Recording income and expenses from your sales records, invoices, receipts and bills, sorted into the categories your tax return uses
- Reconciling your bank and credit card accounts each month, so every deposit and payment is accounted for
- Sales tax records that match what you report on your New York sales tax returns
- Payroll records that match your W-2s and payroll tax filings
- A summary of income and expenses each month or quarter, so you can see how the business is doing before the year ends
Catch-Up Bookkeeping (Write-Up)
Many small businesses fall months behind, and it usually shows up when a tax return, a sales tax filing or a loan application needs the numbers. Write-up is bookkeeping done from the records you already have: we work through your bank and credit card statements, sales reports and receipts month by month until the books are current, then keep them current if you'd like.
How Long to Keep Business Records
The IRS says to keep records for three years in most cases, six years if you left out income worth more than 25% of the gross income on your return, and seven years if you claim a loss from worthless securities or a bad debt. Keep employment tax records for at least four years after the tax is due or paid, whichever is later (IRS: how long should I keep records?).
New York has its own rule for sales tax. Vendors keep a record of every sale, including receipts, invoices and cash register tapes, for at least three years from the due date of the return those sales belong to, or the date it was filed if later (New York Tax Department: recordkeeping for sales tax vendors).
What to Bring
- Bank and credit card statements for every business account
- Sales records: point-of-sale reports, invoices and a record of cash sales
- Receipts and bills for business expenses
- Payroll reports, if you have employees
- The sales tax returns you have filed
- Loan and lease statements
- Last year's business tax return
Getting ready for year-end? See the small business tax prep checklist.
Common Questions
What is write-up in bookkeeping?
Write-up is bookkeeping done after the fact from your own records: bank and credit card statements, sales reports and receipts. It's how a business that has fallen behind gets its books current.
How often should a small business update its books?
At least as often as you file sales tax or payroll returns, and many small businesses do it monthly. Monthly books make each sales tax return and the year-end tax return quicker and more accurate.
How long should I keep business records?
For federal taxes, the IRS says three years in most cases and at least four years for employment tax records, with longer periods in some situations. New York sales tax records are kept at least three years from the return's due date or the date it was filed, whichever is later.
Can I work with you in Bangla?
Yes. You can go through your books and tax questions in Bengali (Bangla) or English.
Do you also handle payroll and sales tax?
Yes. We run payroll, prepare W-2s and 1099s, and register businesses for and file New York sales tax. See small business accounting.