Taxes for artists
The Late Bird (image: carolita johnson)
This picture is the summary of my life right now. I became incorporated last year because self-employment taxes were killing me. What I didn’t know—till last night at 4am—is that corporation tax time is March 15th, not April 15th.
Frantic, gathering receipts, trembling fingers dropping them, anxious eyes unable to find the dates on them… that’s me. My accountant, who tells me I can’t afford his rates for this nonsense, has assigned me an assistant. Tomorrow I lock myself in a room with Sherry, who I will pay to sit with me and get me through the expense organization process and then Keith the CPA will prepare my tax return and negociate with the IRS on my behalf.
I can’t even add with a calculator without making mistakes, much less prepare a tax return or speak rationally (and without tears of vague remorse and existential despair) to the feds. Dyslexia, attention span problems, emotional issues tied to money—all these artist-related quirks become exponentially magnified under pressure. My advice to freelance artist-types like me? Get professional help!
March 29th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Take it easy, girl. I don’t think feds are as bad as they sound. I’ve paid taxes in Dec for couple of years and no one seem to even notice it. I hear they are concerned about folks who make millions and not the poor artists like us. Unless you’re making millions from cartoons. By the way, if you ever come across an IRS agent, don’t let them know where I’m hiding.