<p>So this is the first year that daughter got a 1099 from the orchestra in which she plays.
From what I understand, she will need to file taxes mainly to pay for the social security tax.</p>
<p>I have done freelance work in the past and I remember filling out a profit/loss form, pretty much, as if I had my own business, and that I could deduct a number of things and that reduced my net income and my taxes.</p>
<p>In her case, I am wondering what deductions she can take, other than mileage?</p>
<p>I am sure many others here have had to file taxes and I would like to hear what deductions they have been able to claim and any overall advice they might have.</p>
<p>thanks in advance for your answers. i love this forum.</p>
<p>Any expenses related to the job are probably deductible. That can include, to a point, 100% of purchases like a new flute, a violin bow, etc. It certainly includes thing like strings, bow rehairing, reeds, etc.</p>
<p>Is she a regular member of the orchestra? Most unionized orchestras actually pay permanent members on a W-2. 1099 should be for pickup groups, informal or occasional work, etc. It’s tough bringing this up with management, but should be a bone of contention if they’re running a whole season’s worth of concerts and paying everyone on a 1099.</p>
<p>There are special rules for performing artists and I think the link to the IRS publication number is in the linked thread.</p>
<p>It would depend on how much your d made, (assuming she’s still a dependent for tax purposes), whether she has enough income to need to file, or is getting money back. There’s also a minimum income amount for Schedule C income, below which she need not file that schedule. It’s fairly low, $400, maybe $600 but check.</p>
<p>I’ve done son’s taxes both before and after graduation. The mileage is tricky. Son has a regional chair, but gets a W-2, not a 1099 and as an employee he can’t take mileage for that as it’s considered commuting, plus he gets a travel reimbursement. He also teaches, privately and as an employee, (not a contractor) so he does not take the mileage for that. He does take the mileage for private lessons he gives in student’s homes, his travel to and from a summer faculty position and for any other travel where he would anticipate a 1099, or even the one time gig below the 1099 generation threshold. </p>
<p>As always, check yourself or consult a tax pro. As she starts to make income from gigs, she will need to save receipts, keep mileage logs, meals while traveling/working, instrument expenses, etc.</p>
<p>This was a subject for lots of dinner table conversation over winter break.We were wondering about additional private coachings (outside of her grad school). If she pays for a coaching can she only use it as an expense when she is using that session to work on a specific role (that she is being paid for)? All of her current income either comes from teaching voice or performance.</p>
<p>Again, this is where it gets tricky. According to the links Linde posted, some of grad school expenses themselves could be taken as legitimate expenses as training for professional development. I imagine some coachings can also be considered as allowable expenses and deducted within the guidelines. </p>
<p>Another thing to think about might be the way IRS views self employment losses, and a legitimate self employment enterprise versus a money making hobby. Too many years of losses might raise flags, as might not maintaining proper records, actively seeking performance jobs, marketing your talents.</p>
<p>These are points son has mulled over as well, and I think that some of the best sources of info come from within your network of actively performing peers/associates who have been doing this for a while, have their experiences and hopefully can share the name of a good tax advisor/accountant experienced in the nuances of performing arts tax prep.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody for the links and the information.</p>
<p>N8Ma, she is a regular member, yes, but I believe that everybody in this Orchestra is on a 1099 basis…</p>
<p>She is still a dependant, she is a sophomore in college. </p>
<p>Violadad, thanks for the information. She did make over the limit so she needs to file although she will probably not have to pay federal taxes, only social security. Thanks for all of the information. I think that artist information can be quiet clear BUT the line gets pretty blurry when the musician is still a dependant… (filling this out a bit… for instance, can you claim car and gas expenses when it’s your parents, who are supporting you, who actually pay for these expenses?) I think that she should obvioulsy be able to discount private lessons (specially those outside of school - she has full scholarship anyway) because they are important for her to do her ‘job’. And to be able to FIND other jobs… at least <em>she</em> has paid for those lessons with her own money… I can always ask the IRS, I suppose… sigh.</p>
<p>As far as the losses, yes, I know that they don’t look good and they can put a question on whether your self-employment is legitimate but in this case I don’t really think she will have losses, she will just try to reduce her income as much as possible. None of it is huge, the income or the expenses, but it does make a difference when you suddenly have to give a 15% cut of your money!</p>
<p>I think… I will just do my best with this one. I have decided to start thinking about it again in a couple months, before April 15, lol… </p>
<p>I suppose the best option is to have her ask some of her peers how they go about this and/or which tax preparer they use. I will try to get her to do that…</p>
<p>The first year my son got a 1099, he was still able to Free File using one of the vendors on the IRS website (left column under "freefile). </p>
<p>He keeps receipts for EVERYTHING…just in case it ends up being a business expense. In his situation, even his clothes (because he must have certain clothes for his ensemble) are deductible business expenses…his shoes, instruments and accessories, music, some travel (he has some travel associated with his work that is required but not covered by the group), etc. </p>
<p>Re: not making a profit…you don’t want to look self employed for too long without turning a profit…as this makes it look like a “hobby” to the IRS…or so our accountant says.</p>
<p>Also, if your kiddo had a “day job” where taxes were deducted (as DS did for several years)…you may find that you don’t owe any self employment taxes…or very little.</p>