What can I write off on my taxes?

Question

Hey everyone!

I am currently employed as a professional model and per my contract, I am required to keep my body in shape and maintain my appearance as I was hired. They do not take taxes out and I wanted to know if I could write off things such as my gym membership, make up, and hair expenses?

Thanks in advance and all information and advice is appreciated :)

Answer 1

First off I am not a tax attorney so my advice is from just spending 20+ yrs as being self-employed. You are a self-employed contractor. Anything purchased to perform you job is a tax write off. It is not different that if you where a carpenter and he had to buy a new saw to work, you in turn have to purchase items to perform your job. You will need to seek the advice of a professional tax preparer to get the full benefit of the tax write offs. There are ways to structure some items that will benefit you more that structuring them another way. Good Luck 2 U

Answer 2

Health club and gym memberships are specifically excluded by the IRS as deductible. That's cut and dried, no way!

Makeup and hair expenses to the extent that they are necessary for your profession are legitimate. Clothing is not deductible if it can be worn outside of the workplace even if you personally would not do so.

Answer 3

You might be able to - at least the makeup and the hair expenses. The gym membership, probably not. It might be worth your while to talk to a CPA for ideas on what you can deduct.

Answer 4

Your mileage, postage, costs of resume production, toll calls, lodging and travel for an out of town interview, are all deductible on Schedule A Miscellaneous Deductions, to the extent those deductions exceed 2% of your income. Interview outfit is not deductible.

Answer 5

My daughter is to a model. You can write off several things, first and foremost you need to keep a scheduler and write down all of your appointments, then log your miles IF it pertainign to work, and your hair, gym, etc that is only for the stars...consult a CPA. What area are you in?

Answer 6

MY WIFE WORKED AS SELF EMPLOYED AND THATS WHAT YOUR GOING TO FILE ALSO, WE WENT TO H&R BLOCK AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW SPECIFIC THINGS SHE HAD TO USE FOR HER BUSINESS. IT IS PRETTY EASY TO WRITE THINGS OFF ACTUALLY, A GOOD TAX PLACE WILL LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TOO WRITE OFF, TRY TO KEEP RECIEPTS FOR THINGS LIKE MAKE-UP, PICTURES YOU HAD TO PAY FOR (PORTFOLIO), MAYBE YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST CALL A H&R BLOCK AND ASK THAT QUESTION IM SURE THEY WOULD GIVE YOU GREAT IDEAS