A useful bookkeeping handoff makes the period, file version and unanswered questions easy to see. It does not require you to send every export your software can produce.
Agree on period and format
Ask the team which period and file format fit the engagement. Label the package with the business name, reporting period and export date. Tell the team if the reports are preliminary or a later version replaces them. Never send banking or software passwords with the files.
Include supporting records
Use the checklist to gather the bank and credit-card statements, profit and loss statement, balance sheet and transaction detail requested for the period. Include reconciliation information if available, or say which periods remain unreconciled. Add requested loan records and a separate list of asset purchases, sales or disposals.
Keep a short questions list
Explain unusual transfers, owner transactions, known corrections and missing records. A clear description is more useful than an unexplained total. Upload the package through Canopy and ask the team to confirm any remaining gaps.
For background, read why clean books help at tax time. For annual business-expense totals, use the existing Schedule C worksheet on Forms rather than recreating those categories in the handoff sheet. The team decides which records fit your business and engagement.
Download the companion checklist
Download: Bookkeeping file-handoff checklist (PDF). Fill it in digitally or print it, then upload any completed sheet and records through Canopy. The download supplements, rather than replaces, the current organizer or preparer request.
Frequently asked questions
Which bookkeeping files should I send?
Confirm the reporting period and format with the team. Use the handoff checklist for requested statements, reports, transaction detail, reconciliation information and open questions.
Should I send my banking or software password with the files?
No. Do not send passwords or codes. Ask the team to confirm an approved way to share the requested records.
Questions about your next step?
Kalish & Associates, P.A. is a Maryland family CPA firm serving clients nationwide. Call (410) 654-5770, use the Canopy Client Portal for private documents, or contact the team to book a time with our team. Do not put tax documents, Social Security numbers or account numbers in the contact form or email.
General information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Contact the team about your own situation.
Related resources: Client forms and checklists · More help · Client Portal.
Bookkeeping file-handoff checklist