question

When calculating employment income how should the figures that have to be deducted should be shown. Should they be shown in brackets or with a minus sign or for example, if it is employee contribution to pension scheme then it should be shown as Less employee contribution to pension scheme with the figure being shown as positive and the word less accounting for the minus sign or brackets. The problem with brackets is that the bracketed figures can not be added or subtracted. So which way should I use
Also if there is a property income loss then should it be shown as a negative or bracketed figure or as a positive figure with the word loss accounting for the negative figure or brackets..
Should I put the add or less signs for figures that have to be added or deducted.