Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

  1. #1
    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,776
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    Hi--
    I will be filing as an independent this year for the first time.
    I had a few questions:

    1.) Who counts as an entertainer? Is it mostly dancers? I want to be able to claim certain deductions but I don't want to be pegged as a dancer in case I want to join the military in a couple years.

    2.) if I do mark myself as an entertainer, does cosmetic surgery along the line of laser hair and scar removal pass the "housewife" test? We HAVE to shave for work-- I'm assuming our razors and what not are tax deductible, right? Also-- what if I don't have an earnings beforehand to show that my earnings improved AFTER the cosmetic surgery.
    2b.) If that stuff is deductible, then is travelling to the place where I want to get it done (overseas) tax deductible as well?
    2c.) What other jobs besides dancer can claim cosmetic items as deductibles?

    3.) Is tuition tax deductible?
    3a.) Are the fees associated with applying to schools tax deductible?
    3c.) If I fly out of state several times a semester in order to go to school (crazy, but temporary) are the flights tax deductible? Is my housing over there deductible? My car rental?
    3d.) I also work over there. But I also work over here. If I go the entertainer route, would my housing/car rental/plane fare be covered under this if it's not covered under school-related travel?

  2. #2
    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,776
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    P.S. I do some modeling, so does that go under the heading of entertainer? I'm assuming cosmetic surgery would be deductible in that case?

  3. #3
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    #1 - The IRS job code for 'entertainers' is fairly broad, and does not single out exotic dancers. It also doesn't automatically imply any connection to the adult entertainment industry

    #2 - in the 90's the US congress specifically ruled that cosmetic surgery was not tax deductible as a medical expense. There is one 'IRS letter ruling' which set a precedent that breast implants larger than 1000cc (each) do qualify as a business investment thus related costs are deductible as business expenses. Other than that, attempting to claim business expense tax deductions for smaller breast implants and/or other types of cosmetic surgery falls into a gray area which can be allowed or disallowed depending on the mood of the individual auditor. By the letter of the IRS code, cosmetic surgery is actually subject to conflicting rules ... one of which says that expenses which are 'ordinary and necessary' are legitimate business expenses, which conflicts with another 'housewife test' rule that disqualifies expenses that result in personal benefit from being considered legitimate business expense tax deductions.

    #3- subject to income and other limitations explained at you can claim up to $4000 per year worth of college tuition and fees as a tax deduction. Other costs such as housing, travel etc. are not considered to be tuition or fees thus don't qualify for the deduction

    #3d - if your legal residence is 'over here', and you work 'over there', travel and accomodation expenses necessary to travel from 'here to there' and to stay 'there' during the days that you actually work 'over there' are legitimate business expense tax deductions.

  4. #4
    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,776
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    issue with 3d: I read on a different thread that I would have to work at a lot of different clubs in order to take advantage of travel accomodations being tax deductible.
    I'd rather have it deductible under an education heading but am considering having it under a work heading. However, I worked at one club (once) and the rest of the time I've worked at one club. Is it still tax deductible if that's my main source of income and yet I still work where I live as well sometimes?

  5. #5
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    ^^^ I believe the answer boils down to where you are actually 'residing'. In other words, if you 'reside' near your college for weeks at a time, it is highly probable that the IRS will disallow business expenses for travel and accomodation which allow you to work in a club near your college during that same time period.

    As my accountant has explained it, the business travel and accomodation deduction is contingent on the travel being directly related to income producing business pursuits, plus the travel being of a sufficient distance that it would not be feasible to return 'home' immediately after work in the second location (i.e. travel time is in excess of 2.5 hours or so). While it is theoretically possible for an incorporated dancer to have her corporation pick up expenses related to travel and accomodation (i.e. the corporation leases a house in the distant city), sole proprietor dancers will definitely be scrutinized in regard to large travel and accomodation expenses - and particularly large travel and accomodation expenses which are not 100% recouped by corresponding regular earnings in the distant location. My accountant cautions against pressing this deduction because a. if you dance at the distant location part time your accomodation expenses for days that you don't work can be questioned, and b. if you do dance full time at the same distant location on a regular basis your 'residency' can be questioned.

    Travel and accomodation expenses are clearly not deductible under an education heading, because the law says tuition and fees (only).

  6. #6
    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,776
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    Here's one more question:

    As an independent contracter, I'm required to pay my taxes four times a year. As a model, can I get away with doing the tax once a year? I just don't want to have to do this crap four times a year, plus I remember reading that you estimate your earnings, so sometimes you're paying taxes on money that you didn't even make.

  7. #7
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: I've done a search, but had specific questions about my situation

    nope, sorry, the only people who 'get away with' only worrying about filing taxes on an annual basis are 'employees' who are receiving regular paychecks ... from which their employer withholds 'estimated tax' money and pays estimated tax payments to the IRS on a monthly basis on the employee's behalf so the 'employees' don't have to do this themselves.

    plus I remember reading that you estimate your earnings, so sometimes you're paying taxes on money that you didn't even make.
    the same situation can exist for 'employees' too ... in both cases it's possible that too much estimated tax money will have been withheld / sent to the IRS throughout the year, eventually resulting in a refund of the surplus when the actual tax return is filed the following April.

Similar Threads

  1. Few specific questions.
    By BuffyFlame in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 04-22-2011, 05:24 PM
  2. few specific questions. nervous but READY. ;]
    By goldi in forum Newbie Board
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 10-19-2009, 06:12 AM
  3. Random, specific questions
    By kokoro in forum Newbie Board
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 04-21-2009, 06:17 AM
  4. If you have porn agent specific questions.....
    By gingerlee in forum Other Work
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-04-2007, 09:17 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •