Build a year-by-year record of suspected omissions or inconsistent reporting. Separate dining, delivery and catering revenue and explain how the owner divides time between operations and management.
Preparation resource. Record completion does not determine eligibility, deductions or tax savings. Ask your qualified tax professional to resolve the facts and applicable rules.
What this file should establish
Keep the filed return, original workpapers and new evidence together. Identify the exact issue without assuming an amendment is the correct procedure. Ask the preparer to review deadlines and related entity or state effects.
Separate dining, delivery and catering revenue and explain how the owner divides time between operations and management.
A situation to work through
A restaurant has a busy dining room but its bank balance also includes deposits for events not yet held.
For this situation, start with point-of-sale exports. Identify the period and legal owner before combining it with the other records. Keep the original source and explain any adjustments in a separate reconciliation.
Review point
Reconcile sales-system totals to the books before using the current profit forecast.
A missing workpaper is treated as proof that nothing was reported.
Question for the reviewer
What was reported, what evidence changes it and what correction procedure should be reviewed?
Expected handoff
A dated issue file with source evidence.
Separate facts supported by documents from estimates and unresolved assumptions. Assign each missing item to a responsible person and a date. Send the reconciliation alongside the source references so the reviewer can trace each conclusion.
Your preparation worksheet
Enter a reference to the document, the person who can supply it and the unresolved question. Use file names or locations rather than account numbers or other sensitive information. Entries stay in this page until you close or refresh it. They are not sent to us or saved automatically. Export before leaving.
Record or decision
Source reference
Status
Responsible person
Open question
point-of-sale exports
tipped-payroll registers
food inventory
equipment leases
catering deposits
tax year
return source
suspected issue
new evidence
deadline question
Mark not applicable only after noting why. A collected record can still require correction. Review the exported file before sharing it with your adviser.
Use the following primary guidance to frame the questions. The worksheet organizes facts; it does not replace analysis of the relevant year, ownership, elections or state treatment. Record the applicable period, confirm the source version and retain the preparer's written conclusions with the supporting documents.