Why Documentation Is Your Real Best Friend 

Receipts: tiny pieces of paper that hold the power to save you thousands or ruin your tax season. Lose them, and you lose your deduction. Keep them, and you gain peace of mind (and maybe some extra money back).

Why receipts matter:

• The IRS doesn’t believe in “honor system bookkeeping”

• Proof is required for deductions over $75 (and often below that)

• In an audit, no receipt = no deduction

Smart ways to save them:

• Use apps like Expensify or Dext to scan and store

• Email receipts to your accounting software

• Organize by category or vendor (not just “2024 pile”)

Pro tip: Write on receipts! Jot “client lunch” or “photo shoot props” so you don’t blank out in March when trying to remember why you spent $98 at “The Waffle Cathedral.”

Don’t do this:

• Throw them in your car’s glove box

• Wait until April to organize them

• Assume your credit card statement is enough (spoiler: it isn’t)

✅ Funny Tip: Treat receipts like gym selfies—if you don’t have proof, did it really happen?