Accountants For Truckers?

I have not yet required the need for an accountant or the like in my adult life, but, now I may need to check into this stuff. I have done some research and still really do not understand what it is they really do. As many others here probably know, being a single trucker has it`s difficulties when trying to take care of things at home...ish.

I guess what I need to know is:

Do you have someone handling the money? Paying the bills? You know, holding the fort down so you can focus on the other many tasks required of our chosen source of income? I am finding it difficult to juggle it all and really do not have anyone that I can (will) trust.

Any help would be appreciated.

Although not driving I used to work over the road for months at a time. I made an extra account that a portion of my pay check went into so by the time bills came there was enough money in that one account to take a bill out electronicly or I could send an electronic check through the bank. the reason I made a separate account was so if anyone had tried to take more than what was for them i would be notified..it cut back on remembering bills and such just my 2cents

Most banks have an auto pay now. They will pay your bills for you out of your account. At least US Bank does.

I had all of my bills on auto-pay so I didn't have to worry about em. Besides, I lived in the truck most of my career so I didn't have many bills in the first place....no car, no apartment, no utilities, etc....

I never used an accountant for my taxes, I just used Turbo Tax. As a company driver there isn't much to it. You take the standard deduction for meals that the Government allows you for living on the road and write off anything you had to buy specifically for doing your job like tools for the truck, work clothes, your road atlas, your CB radio, and things of that nature. It takes like 20 minutes to do them yourself.

If you're not comfortable doing your own taxes you should definitely get an accountant. They don't cost very much at all for this kinda thing - maybe $100 or something. It isn't much.

I have done some research and still really do not understand what it is they really do

An accountant knows the tax code better than the rest of us so they act as an advisor to help make sure you're handling your taxes properly. You'll give them the W2 form that your company will send you at the end of January which lists all of the information about your pay. You'll give them any pertinent information about your life - vehicles you own or lease, whether or not you own or rent a place to live, whether or not you have any children - all of that stuff. They'll look at your income, assess your situation, and file your taxes properly for you.

With my business I found that a good financial software program like QuickBooks was more efficient and less expensive than an accountant. I had an accountant on retainer because I had employees and I needed someone to figure out payroll and end of the year taxes. It is a lot less money to hire someone at tax time than it is too have an CPA on retainer, however a CPA will cover your butt when the IRS decides to audit you.

Thanks Matt, Guy, Brett and Colleen.

I have two accounts, one sitting dormant, so I believe I will use it for bills only. I will also check into some software for accounting purposes as well.

Thank you all