If you’ve been on the actor’s grind for a while, you’ve noticed that the profession can get a little expensive. Driving to auditions, parking, train tickets, headshots, grooming, buying scripts and so on can run you more than the rent if you do it enough. Well actors, there is good news yet! All of these rituals of career prep can be written off on your taxes!!!!!
As an actor, union or non-union, you are an independent contractor. Every job you book, paid or unpaid, you have to pay taxes for because it is a source of income. Well, just like with any other job, whatever money you spent to obtain the job or maintain the job, you can write it off as a tax deduction. This includes tolls, gas, mileage, train tickets, the cost of headshots, buying scripts, and anything else from Sam French. As an actor, even a trip to the movies is considered research. If you audition out of town, the hotel stay and the money you spend on meals (per diem) is a write off too!
More than an art, acting is a business. Show Business. That means you need to keep all of your receipts and documents and claim your money back at the beginning of the year. When you reach the magic age of 24, even your acting classes/tuition can be written off. And if you don’t have any children as dependents, every little bit helps. So next time you GoogleMaps your audition, save the printout and times the mileage by 2 and put it in a drawer for next January. By the time you reach your big role that makes you millions, you will have saved thousands!! Love Tiffany!
