Harrington Group Blog

For many people and businesses filing your taxes is a lot like going to the DMV - a totally necessary and horribly daunting task. Even when you have a professional firm doing it for you, the prep alone can feel so overwhelming that it’s tempting to put it off for as long as possible.

We’re here to try to convince you to saddle up and get it done! Here’s why:

- It will be SO MUCH less stressful if you start now and give yourself plenty of time to prepare. The less grief you can cause yourself the better.

- You want to have plenty of time to address anything that might require a little extra prep or help or communication, rather than scrambling at the last minute.

- If you are getting a refund then you will get it sooner!

- If you will be owing money then you can prepare for that bill with more time to spare.

- Without the last minute rush you are far less inclined to make mistakes or forget something!

- Simply put: starting early means you will not be late! However, if you need, don’t forget that you can file for a tax extension.

The holidays mean many different things to many different people, but here at Harrington Group they are a time of togetherness and gratitude. We work with such a talented, kind, and diligent and team of individuals, and while we are thankful for them every day we get to showcase that gratitude at this jolly time of year.

Our northern and southern California offices come together for a company party of good eats, drinks, and fun…plus a game in which everyone wins a little extra spending money for the season. Is there a better kind?!

This year’s party was held in Pasadena and was as fun and festive as ever. We are so deeply proud and thankful for this Harrington Group family, and send season’s greetings to all.

Fall is officially here and there’s no better time than the turn of a season to do some evaluating and make positive changes. The fall sweep is particularly poignant because these small-but-mighty alterations will carry you through the holidays and into the New Year (hello Tax Season, back so soon?), making the transition as smooth as possible.

Here are a few suggestions on how to set your office and yourself up for success this Fall:

- Review your client roster. Take a moment to look over everyone on your roster and have a little reflection about what the two of you are doing for each other. It’s almost the new year and just after tax season is a great time to make any changes that might need implementing, so start thinking about them now.

- De-Clutter your space. This is a great time to survey your office, desk, and files with the intention of eliminating anything that is no longer serving you (and therefore just taking up space). Get rid of it and be ruthless.

- Reorganize. Now that your space is cleared put some real thought into your everyday systems and how they might be altered to be more efficient.

Job Quesada joined Harrington Group in 1994 and has been a strong backbone to the firm ever since. Well versed in nonprofit accounting and auditing, Job has a plethora of knowledge that he brings to the business and shares liberally in his frequent travels, which often takes him as far off as Afghanistan.

Almost as regularly, Job makes the trek from the Oakland to Pasadena office and back again, making him a true California aficionado, as well as a uniquely open-minded baseball fan, cheering on the Dodgers, Angels, and Giants.


A family man through and through, when anyone is asked about Job they’re bound to mention his joyful devotion to his large, close-knit family. It’s a point of pride and deep love for Job, and an aspect of his jovial personality that his colleagues adore and respect.

Well, we’ve made it halfway through the year! Somehow summer is upon us, which only means that these next six months will fly by just as quickly as the last, if not more so. Before we know it tax season will be upon us yet again!

We at Harrington Group thought it might be helpful to give a little rundown of how you can stay (or start, no judgement) organized so that things are less stressful, dare we say frantic, once January rolls around.


1. Use a software to track expenses. Programs like Quickbooks are fantastic for helping to digitize all your expenses and receipts, keeping it in one easy-to-access place. These programs also help you break down and maintain order in the little nuances that will make a difference come tax time. You can even check the app store, there are so many helpful devices for us to access now, and they truly make life so much easier!

2. Have a filing system at home. It’s always a good idea to keep hard copies of bigger receipts, invoices, pay stubs, and deductions. Some people even keep hard copies of smaller receipts and expenses, just to have them when the season rolls around! Having a clear, concise, albeit simple system for keeping these things separated and accessible will save your tax season sanity.
We recommend folders similar to those mentioned above:
- income
- expenses,
- business/tax documents (receipts from charitable donations, business trips and deductions, etc.)

3. Lastly, have a folder ready for W-2s and 1099s and other documents when they start rolling in so everything of that nature is in one place. It’s also convenient to keep a folder for all your past tax documents, as well as one for all your past returns.

Summer is officially here and we're embracing it! Here are a few of our tips to make it your best one yet.

- Find new ways to stay hydrated. Try coconut water, watermelon water, or infusing your own with cucumber and different fruits.

- Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen! At the risk of sounding like your mother, it has never been more important to slather on the SPF and protect your skin. You’ll thank us later!

- Get outside. Even if you’re just heading from one air conditioner to the next, find ways to enjoy the outdoors and get yourself out of the house. Bikes are available for rent in most cities, but we’re partial to a good old fashioned walk (headphones and summer anthems optional).

- Travel. It doesn’t have to be anywhere fancy, but you’d be amazed at how many amazing places lie just outside of your city! We’re betting a quick Google search would yield a plethora of mini-road-trip options within 2 hours of your home.

- Book ahead. Spontaneity is admirable, but if you’re planning a bigger get away start booking NOW. Summer is the biggest travel season and prices will only rise from here on out (you didn’t think we wouldn’t include ONE money-savvy tip, did you? #accountants)

It’s difficult to find someone who works harder than Tonetta Conner. As a partner at Harrington Group her list of responsibilities is endless, and yet she is always finding time to take on projects, participate in functions, and oversee even the most minute details involving the company.

Having had a knack for accounting since high school Tonetta worked hard through her years at UC Berkeley to create opportunities that would combine her skill set with her passion: helping people. Finding a home at Harrington Group was a natural fit.

Tonetta is known to be tenacious, kind, thorough, and adventurous. She is as comfortable speaking in front of a large group of people as she is in the middle of nowhere (a place her extensive travels have taken her more than once). Truly a woman of the world, we are extremely fortunate to have Tonetta on our team!

It’s here. That time of year that makes everyone’s head spin, no matter how prepared you (or your clients) are. For those of you getting ready to file and feeling like you’re swimming in documents we are here to offer some simple words of encouragement that might just ease the pain.

1. Put on some good music. Never underestimate the mood lift that some excellent tunes can provide! Motivation, energy, and genuine happiness, all of which will come in very handy while tax prepping.
2. Get Organized. Make piles for all your paper documents, separating them by category. Keep them separated by dividers and clearly labeled. For your digital documents make individual folders on your desktop, clearly labeled, and then add all folders into one for easy access and an uncluttered screen.
3. Go digital. If it’s at all possible, have all your necessary documents digitalized and in one folder on your desktop. So much easier for everyone involved, and far less of a chance that something will go missing.
4. Keep all your files in the same system. It will be so much less stressful and time consuming in years to come if you stick to one simple, effective means of organization. Have everything labeled clearly and concisely, and all as close to in one place as possible.
5. Reward yourself. When the prep is done give yourself a little treat, and plan that treat ahead of time to add a little punch to your motivation!

Now, get prepping and get your filing on!

'Tis the season to celebrate the people who work hard in your life!



At Harrington Group our company holiday party is looked forward to all year, we love giving thanks to our incredible team and getting the opportunity to be all together in a purely celebratory capacity. There are always games with prizes and a few shenanigans that we'll all be talking about through the new year (there was a pretty epic musical chairs battle for the prize of one extra personal day last year) and lots of laughter!

Today we raise our glasses to our amazing HG family, both in Northern and Southern California, to all the partners, and, of course, to Joe Harrington. Take a look at HG through the years in this sweet slideshow, and remember to thank the people in your life who work hard every day! Cheers.

It’s easy to get swept up in the flurry of Thanksgiving into Black Friday all the way through Cyber Monday…the weekend has become one of the most highly anticipated shopping and spending dates of the year. We focus on getting the best deals possible, scouting sales and clipping coupons, setting alarms to make sure you’re one of the first to snag whatever is on your wish list. It’s nice then, after the mad rush for bargains and stockpile of boxes and bags your living room has just accumulated, to have a reason to take a breath and focus your attention on something just a little more seasonally appropriate: enter Giving Tuesday.

As a non-profit accounting firm we like to think of Giving Tuesday as a solid jumping off point – the shot that starts the race but then you keep running with all the good things you can be doing to help the organizations around you give back to those in need. We’re sharing some inspiration here so you can see just how easy it is to make a difference in someone’s holiday this year.

1. Donate your things to shelters. Rather than taking items straight to Goodwill or Salvation Army give your local shelters a call and find out what they’re in need of. Bonus points if you also ask about volunteer opportunities coming up in the near future, we guarantee there are plenty and it will only take up a fraction of your time to lend a hand!

2. If you’re feeling like going a little farther than dropping off things you no longer need you can do some googling to find out what you can purchase and send off to organizations helping families who lost their homes in the California Wildfires – relief efforts are still going strong and there are so many people and animals who could use our help. Bonus points if you also peek at how you can give back to the first responders who helped save so many lives and are still working hard!

3. Speaking of animals, humane societies and rescue organizations can always use some extra hands or funding to help keep pets healthy and find their forever homes – this is especially important this year because so many have been displaced from the fires.

4. Schools and hospitals in your area need your help. There are a number of national organizations running campaigns that you can give to (and it’s truly AMAZING if you do!) but a quick google search of your neighborhood will tell you which local schools and facilities are in need of a little assistance. No donation is too small!

Now, just to make this even easier (and provide a little more inspiration) we’re linking the Giving Tuesday website for you to see which national, global, and local organizations are looking for YOUR help! Click here to check it out.

And remember, today is just the jumping off point. Nonprofits need our help year round – but a little extra during the holidays.

Happy giving, everyone!