stuck getting my start up money back for myself

[petrina]

I am seeking help and advice about my accounts which i have been fine with until i realised that my business owes me about £1000. I have been inbusiess since june 08 and am still in the red by £304. i have already put the items in the out book , so how do i take money out for me when it is already in the out book. I have already paid tax on this money before i out it into the business and don't want to pay tax on it again as they may think i have taken the money as wages, which by the way i have not paid myself anything yet.
if i put it in the out book as an expense it would be in there twice.
i seem to be lost. i have got cash sitting there, but not sure where it should go and under what title.
can anyone help me. i do simple paperwork acounting which is a in , out and a petty cash book.
i also will need someone to do my tax return at some point so i want to get it right so that it does not cost me more to fix the mistakes. does anyone know if sole trader tax returns are a fixed price ?

[accountantpete]

Petrina - the following may help.

1) you are self-employed so are not taxed on the money taken out of the business unlike if you were a Director of a Limited Company.So you can take out as much as the bank will allow!

2) The catch is that you cannot claim your "wages" as an expense when it comes to putting in your accounts.

3) Re your records - all you need is a list of invoices issued in the year cross referenced to when the money was actually paid in.

4) Ditto expenses - or alternatively just pop the receipts for each expense in an envelope and let the accountant sort them out.

5)make sure you keep all bank statements.