Just Say No
Wait a minute, you say. These sound like reasonable expenses. Why aren't they valid? Simple. All the above expenses aren't deductible because everyone has them. More »

Don't Cheat Yourself or the IRS
Every year, we are confronted by actors who either didn't know about or simply disregarded the advice to keep their receipts and records. More »

Cities Can Give You the Business
A number of cities across the country have instituted a business tax that applies to individuals who receive cash income. More »

If the IRS Calls
There are numerous reasons why the Internal Revenue Service may contact you throughout the year, so if you receive an IRS missive in the mail, don't panic. More »

What Is a Qualified Performing Artist?
In the rules of the Internal Revenue Service, there is a special category called the "qualified performing artist," which used to be of significant value to actors. More »

Claiming Exempt
No one likes to look at his or her paycheck and see the amount of money withheld from it in taxes by the government. However, the sad truth is that tax withholding is a good thing. More »

New Year, New Start
If you're taking the time to read this column this early in the year, then congratulations on your wisdom in wanting to be prepared. More »

December Decisions
While you are planning your New Year's resolutions, focus on getting yourself financially healthy for the new year as well. More »

Gettin' Ready Rag
You only have a couple of weeks to get things done that could have a significant impact on your taxes for the past year. More »

Radical Solutions
The acting world is not a kind one. Variations in income are a regular fact of life. But what if your steady but variable income takes a big hit? Like in half. How do you address that? More »

10 Ways to Keep More Money In Your Pocket
You could spend money creating a website of your own, but really, why? If you want to promote a play you're in or show off your headshots and reel, social networking sites like Facebook accomplish it beautifully. More »

Saving for a Rainy Day
You have to pay your agent 10 percent and your manager 10 percent; why not 10 percent for yourself as well? Take that money right off the top and put it away for a rainy day. More »

New Way to Deal with Credit Card Debt
As the recession continues and companies cut costs, the consequences for actors are acutely felt: fewer productions, fewer auditions, and fewer bucks coming in. More »

Travel for Business
On occasion, you may get the opportunity to tour with a show or to shoot on a location that's well beyond your normal travel circles. The IRS calls it "traveling away from home" when your job requires you to be away from home substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, necessitating that you sleep or rest on location. More »

Ordinary and Necessary Expenses
When deducting career-related expenses on your tax return, remember that you must have paid or incurred them during the tax year for which you're filing, and they must be "ordinary" and "necessary" in your line of work. More »

Preparing Your Own Return
Every year, I caution people to be careful about preparing their own tax returns. Coming from a tax preparer, this advice may appear self-serving, but it isn't. Just the other day, something happened that called into question the idea, so heavily promoted in TV ads, that doing your own return is a breeze. More »