What Can Actors Write Off for Taxes?

Acting is an unpredictable career with fluctuating income and significant expenses. Fortunately, tax deductions can help offset costs, reducing taxable income for actors who track their business-related expenses. Knowing what qualifies as a deduction is essential to avoid IRS issues.

Travel for Auditions and Gigs

Actors frequently travel for auditions, rehearsals, and performances, and these costs can be deducted if directly work-related. The IRS allows deductions for airfare, train tickets, rental cars, and mileage for personal vehicles. For 2024, the standard mileage rate is 67 cents per mile, or actors can deduct actual expenses like gas and maintenance. Keeping a log of dates, locations, and trip purposes is essential.

Lodging and meals may also be deductible if an actor must stay overnight for work. Hotel stays and Airbnb rentals qualify, while meals are 50% deductible. The IRS requires receipts for expenses over $75, but keeping records for all costs is advisable. Instead of tracking meal expenses, actors can use per diem rates, which vary by location.

Public transportation, rideshares, and taxis to auditions or gigs are deductible. If an actor buys a monthly subway or bus pass primarily for work, a portion of the cost may be written off. Travel between home and a regular workplace is not deductible, but trips to temporary work locations, such as a casting call in another city, qualify.

Wardrobe and Costume Expenses

Actors often need specific clothing for roles, auditions, and performances, but not all purchases qualify. The IRS only allows deductions for clothing unsuitable for everyday wear. A tailored suit for a red carpet event is not deductible, but a period costume, branded uniform, or character-specific outfit used exclusively for performances or auditions can be written off.

Receipts should be kept for all purchases, and actors should document the purpose of each item. If a costume requires alterations, tailoring costs can also be deducted. Cleaning and maintaining performance-specific outfits—such as dry cleaning fees for a stage costume—qualify as business expenses.

Makeup and hairstyling products may be deductible in certain cases. Specialized makeup for a role, such as stage or prosthetic makeup, qualifies, but everyday grooming items like foundation or haircuts do not.

Professional Classes and Workshops

Ongoing training is a necessary investment for actors. The IRS allows deductions for acting classes, workshops, and coaching sessions if they maintain or improve professional skills. This includes scene study, voice training, movement classes, and dialect coaching, provided they are not for a new profession.

Tuition fees for acting schools, private coaching, and specialized workshops qualify as business expenses. If a class requires additional materials, such as scripts, workbooks, or self-taping software, these costs can also be deducted. Online courses and subscription-based learning platforms focused on acting instruction are valid deductions.

Agency or Representation Costs

Agents and managers help actors secure auditions and negotiate contracts, and their fees are deductible. The IRS allows deductions for commissions paid to agents, managers, and publicists, as these expenses are necessary for the profession. Since these fees typically range from 10% to 20% of an actor’s earnings, proper documentation is important.

Legal fees related to contract negotiations or disputes with production companies may also be deductible. If an attorney reviews a film or television contract, the associated costs can be written off. Similarly, accountants or financial advisors specializing in entertainment industry finances can be included in deductions if their services directly manage acting income.

Marketing Materials and Promotions

Actors must market themselves to secure roles, and self-promotion expenses can be deducted. Headshots, demo reels, and website hosting fees qualify, as they are tied to obtaining work. Professional photography sessions for headshots, along with printing and distribution costs, can be written off.

Social media advertising and casting platform subscriptions are increasingly important for visibility. Paid promotions on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, as well as premium memberships on casting websites such as Backstage or Actors Access, can be deducted. If an actor hires a publicist or social media manager, these costs also qualify. Keeping records of promotional spending ensures compliance with IRS guidelines.

Home Office Setup

Many actors work from home for self-taping auditions, networking, or managing their careers. If a portion of a residence is used exclusively for business, it may qualify for a home office deduction. The IRS offers two methods: the simplified option, which deducts $5 per square foot up to 300 square feet, and the regular method, which considers actual expenses like rent, utilities, and depreciation based on the percentage of the home used for work.

Furniture and office supplies necessary for maintaining a professional workspace can also be deducted. A desk, chair, lighting equipment, and soundproofing materials for recording auditions may qualify. Internet and phone expenses are partially deductible if they are used for business, though only the work-related portion can be written off. Detailed records should be maintained to substantiate these deductions.

Equipment and Maintenance

Actors often require specialized equipment to produce high-quality audition tapes and promotional materials. Cameras, tripods, ring lights, and microphones used exclusively for professional purposes are deductible. If an actor purchases a new computer or editing software for self-tape submissions, these costs can also be written off. The IRS allows depreciation deductions for more expensive equipment, spreading the cost over several years.

Regular maintenance and repairs for professional equipment are also deductible. If a camera needs servicing or a microphone requires replacement parts, these costs qualify. Subscriptions to editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, used to enhance audition tapes, can also be included. Keeping receipts and tracking usage ensures compliance with tax regulations.

Union and Guild Dues

Many actors are members of professional organizations such as SAG-AFTRA or Actors’ Equity Association. Membership dues paid to these unions are fully deductible, as they are required for many industry jobs. Initiation fees also qualify.

Workshops, networking events, and industry conferences sponsored by unions may be deductible if they contribute to career advancement. If an actor attends a union-sponsored seminar on contract negotiations or industry trends, registration fees and associated travel costs can be written off. Keeping documentation of payments and event participation ensures these deductions are properly recorded.