Klarinet Archive - Posting 000488.txt from 1998/02

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: It's tax time
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:05:52 -0500

On Tue, 10 Feb 1998, Daniel A. Paprocki wrote:

> I'm an professional musician and would like to know what other people do as
> far as deductions. I have receipts of almost all of my expenses from last
> year i.e. reeds, music, clarinet work, housing while on the road, audition
> expenses etc. My question is is there any AFM pamphlet or web site that
> has helpful information on how to claim these work related expenses?
> Exactly what can you claim? What do other professionals do? If you start
> adding up my work costs it comes out to a couple of thousand per year for
> me to work.
>
> Dan
>
>
> *********************************************************************
> Daniel A. Paprocki
>
> Instructor of Clarinet & Music, Malone College
> Adjunct Professor of Clarinet, Kent State University - Stark Campus
>
> dap@-----.net
> **********************************************************************
>
>
>
>
Good question, Dan, and one that I am trying to answer myself this year
for the first time!

First of all, you need a regular form 1040A so that you can file
itemized deductions. It is my understanding that you cannot take both an
itemized and a standard deduction. I plan to figure it out both ways and
see which one saves me money! (The 1040EZ I've used lo these many years
is no good in this situation.)

Then you need the Schedule A (for ordinary deductions), Schedule C (for
non-employee income) (dammit, I just realized I need to order one of these
'cause the University sent me a 1099 for gigs -- anyway...to continue),
and a Form 9126 (forgive me if I got the number wrong, I'm working from
memory), which is described in the 1040 instructions as being specifically
for performing artists who are employed by some entity. There are two
versions of this form; I got the long form just in case.

I haven't actually looked at any of this in any great detail, but I
glanced at the instructions and to me, they look pretty self-explanatory.
If you've already got your receipts together, you're in better shape than
I am! (I have to figure things like unreimbursed mileage and per diem).

Hey, if you find out anything helpful, drop me an e-mail. Someone already
mentioned insurance on instruments as deductible; I hadn't thought of
that! I'll keep an eye out for the Union paper and see if there's
anything useful there.

Good luck in your quest to save as much money for yourself as possible!

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu