M.A.K.S. is a SAAS (software as a service) platform designed by a professional accountant to provide organized & compliant tax reporting of income, expenses, home office deductions and more.

• As a business owner, taxes can feel like a moving target — complicated rules, endless receipts, and the constant worry you might be paying more than you should.
• The truth is, lowering your taxes isn’t about loopholes — it’s about organization. With the right systems in place, you can keep more of what you earn, stress less during tax season, and make confident financial decisions year-round.

Think of record-keeping as your tax savings foundation. Every deduction you claim must be backed up by proof — receipts, invoices, bank statements, mileage logs, and more.
If your records are incomplete or scattered, you risk losing deductions you’re entitled to.

How to do it right:

• Use a cloud-based account-keeping system (like MAKS) to track income and expenses in real time.
   
• Store digital copies of receipts instead of relying on a shoebox.
   
• Reconcile your bank statements monthly to avoid year-end surprises.
   

Benefit: The more accurate your records, the more deductions you can confidently claim.

It might sound counterintuitive, but properly reporting all your income can help you avoid costly penalties, audits, and interest from the IRS. Whether it’s from clients, product sales, grants, or other sources — it all counts.

Tips for compliance:

• Match reported income to 1099-NECs, 1099-Ks, or other tax forms.
   
• Keep records for cash transactions, not just bank deposits.
   
• Track grant funds separately (more on this in tip #5).
   

Benefit: Clean, accurate reporting builds credibility with the IRS and reduces audit risk.

Every legitimate business expense you forget to report is money left on the table. Office supplies, software subscriptions, marketing costs, and even your professional fees can often be deducted.

Best practices:

• Categorize expenses as soon as they occur, not months later.
   
• Keep supporting documents (receipts, invoices, contracts).
   
• Use your accounting system to generate expense reports by category.
   

Benefit: Proper expense tracking maximizes deductions and lowers your taxable income.

If you run your business from home, you may qualify for the home office deduction — one of the most underused tax benefits for small businesses.

Eligibility basics:

• The space must be used regularly and exclusively for business.
   
• You can deduct a portion of rent or mortgage interest, utilities, and maintenance costs.
   

Pro tip: The IRS offers a simplified method for this deduction, or you can calculate the actual percentage of your home used for business.

Benefit: This deduction directly reduces taxable income, often saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

Grants can be a great way to grow your business, but they often come with tax reporting requirements.
Many business owners mistakenly treat grant funds as “free money” without tracking how they’re spent — a mistake that can cause headaches later.

Best practices:

• Track grant funds in a separate account or category in your bookkeeping system.
   
• Keep detailed records of all spending tied to the grant.
   
• Consult a tax professional on how to report them correctly.
   

Benefit: Staying compliant avoids repayment requests and ensures future grant eligibility.

If you drive for business — meeting clients, running errands, delivering products — those miles may be deductible.

How to track it:

• Use a mileage tracking app or logbook.
   
• Note the date, purpose, and miles for each trip.
   
• Keep records of fuel, maintenance, and insurance if you’re deducting actual expenses.
   

Benefit: Mileage deductions can add up quickly, especially for service-based businesses.

Help new users set up and feel comfortable.
Articles:

• Welcome to M.A.K.S. — What You Can Do
   
• How to Create Your Account
   
• Setting Up Your Business Profile
   
• Navigating Your Dashboard
   
• Connecting Bank Accounts (if applicable)
   
• Understanding Your Subscription Tier
   
• How to Start Your 14-Day Free Trial