Wag records are more than tax files. Pet-care work can involve keys, home access, pet instructions, photos, incident notes, mileage tracking, supplies, tips, deposits, and support communication. If those records are scattered, small problems get harder to resolve later.
The point of this guide is to keep the article narrow: pet-care supplies, service records, safety notes, mileage, payouts, and claim-related documentation. It is not a second tax guide. It is the operating file behind the work.
If you want the trip side of those records to stay current, MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking helps save pet-care driving automatically, and the official Wag home access policy plus Community Guidelines are the main references behind access, safety, and service-note records.
Core service records
For every completed service, keep enough detail to understand what happened months later:
- service date and type
- the pet or private identifier
- arrival and completion notes
- messages that changed the service
- tips, adjustments, or unusual charges
- any follow-up you needed to do afterward
This record is useful for disputes, claims, repeat-client review, and tax filing.
Weekly Wag checklist
At least once a week, review:
- completed services
- service times and notes
- tips
- Stripe payout records
- mileage by service
- parking and tolls
- supply receipts
- home access issues
- support messages
- safety, incident, or claims records
Weekly review is where you catch gaps before they become missing records.
It is also the easiest time to label what each receipt or message means. Waiting a month can turn a clear service note into a guess, which weakens both claims support and tax records.
Common supply categories
Save receipts for supplies that are genuinely tied to the work. Common examples can include:
- waste bags
- cleaning wipes
- towels
- backup leashes or collars used for services
- pet-safe water containers
- first-aid or safety supplies
- weather gear used for services
- phone accessories you use during work
If you want the deduction side broken out further, use Wag Tax Deductions.
Home access and safety records
The Wag home access policy says caregivers should not enter lockbox or access codes in the Walker Notes feature. The Community Guidelines also emphasize safety, home and personal security, respect, and reliability.
That makes home-access records a serious part of the file. Keep notes about:
- access problems
- lockbox issues
- key-return issues
- instructions that changed mid-service
- support messages around the home entry process
Mileage tracking records
Mileage tracking belongs in this article because pet-care work often creates small, easy-to-forget trips. Keep:
- a mileage log by platform
- parking and toll receipts
- supply-run notes
- follow-up-trip notes
Use Wag Mileage Guide if you want the deduction rules and trip classification details.
Payout and tax records
Your records should also include:
- booking summaries
- weekly payouts
- bank deposits
- year-end forms if issued
- notes about missing or corrected payments
That is what keeps the operating file tied to the tax file instead of splitting them into separate stories.
Claims and deactivation records
The Wag Claims Policy says claims are reviewed case by case and asks for documentation such as receipts, screenshots, messages, videos, or other supporting material. The same page also says pet-parent claims should be submitted within seven days of the incident.
The Deactivation Policy says caregivers with a star rating below 4.75 are subject to deactivation and that some violations can also trigger loss of platform access. That means records are not only about taxes. They are also about protecting your account when something goes wrong.
How long to keep Wag records
Keep the operational file longer than you think you need it. At minimum, hold onto payout records, mileage logs, receipts, claim screenshots, and support threads through the full filing cycle for the year, then keep them as long as your tax and dispute risk reasonably lasts in your market. If a claim, adjustment, or account issue is still open, keep the full record set until it is resolved.
Common recordkeeping mistakes
The most common problems are:
- keeping payout records without service notes
- keeping receipts without business-purpose notes
- mixing Wag trips with personal driving
- failing to save access or support messages
- losing track of which supply purchase was for which kind of service
US-first market note
This recordkeeping workflow is built around the US Wag platform and its safety policies. For Canada and Europe, keep the same documentation discipline but apply it to the local marketplace and local tax rules instead.
MyCarTracks workflow
Create a Wag tag in MyCarTracks so mileage reports can sit next to your service notes, tips, claims records, and receipts. If you want the direct setup page, use automatic mileage tracking.
What to read next
- Wag Mileage Guide
- Wag Tax Deductions
- Wag Pay Guide
- Wag Tax Forms
- Mileage Logbook Template and Examples