Being a music maker, indie or signed, comes with tons of expenses. Tax write-offs as a musician are one of the lesser-understood factors of this annual practice, which we’re hoping to destigmatize.

Write-offs, quarterly payments, and deductions are all things you SHOULD understand as a full or part-time creator.

Since you’re likely doing this yourself, instruments, travel, sound equipment, studio time, and promotional efforts are all things YOU pay for.

However, can you write off any of these things on your taxes?

How hard is it to file a musician’s taxes, and are there ways to maximize deductions and write-offs?

As music makers who pay taxes and have write-offs, we’re here to discuss this further and help you out!

*We are not tax experts, nor do we claim to be. This article contains personal experience with taxes and write-offs, which may differ per person. Always consult a professional before making a tax-related decision.*

What Can Musicians Write Off On Their Taxes?

When it comes to doing your taxes as an artist, this can be confusing.

First, write-offs and standard deductibles are terms you will see when filing, leading to the question of whether YOU have these.

Musicians can usually write off equipment, instruments, work-related meals, transportation, accommodations, and advertising expenses.

According to Intuit by Turbo Tax, music makers can save money on annual taxes, including standard deductibles and write-offs for work-related spending.

Specifically, they cover how you can write off things for these major categories:

• Your studio and workspace
• Instruments and performances
• Musical events and seminars
• Advertising and promotion

Let’s break this down into parts so your head doesn’t start spinning.

Related: Do Musicians Make Most Of Their Money From Touring?

Tax Write-Offs For Your Studio & Workspace

One of the first things you can and should write off when paying taxes is any expense related to your studio or workspace. Generally, this includes:

• Booking fees for recording studios
• Rent for classroom or teaching space
• Utility costs for your workspace

On top of that, you can write off fees associated with starting your music career, including website costs, registering for a business license, membership fees (like the American Federation of Musicians), and even the costs of hiring a tax expert to do all this for you.

These are all things you can legally write off from your taxes, provided they fit the guidelines provided.

You also want only to write things off once: if you have a new laptop for editing songs, that can be written off the year it is purchased.

For instance, if you use LANDR for mastering your songs, that yearly subscription fee is eligible for a tax write-off. You gotta spend money to make money, baby!

Do not write off the same expense for physical items like equipment or instruments for more than one tax year.

Bonus: if you need to rent a space for a photo shoot or video shoot (let’s say via Peerspace), you can also write this off.

You’re spending money for your brand. Therefore, it’s a business expense.

We have a gift of $50 off bookings made through Peerspace to share with our readers 😉

Related: Is Peerspace Worth It? [Should Musicians Use It?]

Tax Write-Offs For Your Instruments & Performances

Instruments and performances are the next set of write-offs for your musician taxes. This is a big one, often taking up a large chunk of an artist’s write-offs: so pay close attention.

Circling back to the experts at TurboTax, you can write off things, including your instruments, cases, bows, music stands, and even your music library.

These are likely considered “capital expenses,” meaning you will use them for many years to come for your everyday work.

It’s also worth noting that artists make a lot of their income touring, so keep tabs while on the road.

Another fun fact is that as your equipment/instruments depreciate, there is an option to write off the loss of value via a process called depreciation.

You can file a form claiming what items lost significant value, using that as an expense for your business.

Also, keep receipts for these everyday musical expenses:

1. Travel to lessons
2. Recording sessions
3. Performances
4. Instrument upkeep
5. Equipment/instrument repair

Don’t spend money and also have to pay additional taxes on it if you don’t 100% have to. There are endless write-offs for music makers: you have to find them.

Related: How Much Does It Cost To Book A Recording Studio?

Tax Write-Offs For Musical Events & Seminars

The next set of tax write-offs for musicians falls into the events and seminar category.

For example, things like tickets, transportation, and parking, incurred when you attend other musicians’ performances or your own can be written off your taxes.

Think of this like when you go to a concert or seminar, you’ll also learn more about YOUR business and industry. That is eligible for a write-off.

Of course, we aren’t saying you should blow thousands to see Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour or Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and write it all off: but if a tax expert says you can: go for it.

As long as there is some educational value in the event, you can likely use it for a write-off on your taxes.

Tax Write-Offs For Advertisements & Promotions

Another thing to remember when doing taxes as a musical artist is that the money you spend on ads for your music is likely eligible as a write-off.

For example, if you spend $5,000-$10,000 a year running Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or whatever other promo you do: write it off!

According to Keeper Tax, artists can write off their advertising expenses as long as they directly affect the music or business they have.

Here’s what the tax service has to say about this:

Write it off using: Schedule C, Box 8

“Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.”

That goes for audio engineers advertising their services, producers promoting their beats, singers promoting a new single, etc.

Remember that whenever you receive a bill for these advertisements, keep them. All virtual or physical receipts should be available on the social media platform or your credit card/payment method.

It might be worth it to open a credit card specifically for business, as this can help keep things organized.

If the IRS wants to double-check what you’re saying, you need evidence backing up these written-off expenses.

Bad example, but The Situation from MTV’s Jersey Shore failed to do this or report income from his promotional efforts, leading to his subsequent arrest and jail time. Don’t be that guy (or gal).

Related: Can You Advertise Music On TikTok? [Is It Worth It?]

Are Musicians Independent Contractors?

Musicians are considered contracted workers or independent contractors in most situations. You’re an independent contractor if you work for yourself, mainly doing freelance or “gig” work.

Moreover, musicians who have management but do not have a boss fall under the independent contractor title.

Finding your write-offs as a musician starts with what type of taxpayer and employee you are.

W2 employees report to a job, in-office or virtually, clocking in and out and having taxes taken from their paycheck.

In contrast, an independent contractor is responsible for setting aside their taxes for each quarter or annually every time they make money.

Save 10-15% of your earnings as an independent contractor.

Independent contractors can be any artist who sells their work, travels on tour, sells merchandise online/in person, or releases music and relies on that income.

You can also refer to your tax status as a 1099 rather than a W2 because you receive those forms yearly.

For example, we get a 1099 MISC form from DistroKid each year around tax season, which we use to estimate money owed to Uncle Sam.

Taxes suck, we know, but the more you ‘get’ them, the easier this process becomes each April. We’re already panic-sweating thinking about it…

Related: Do Audio Engineers Get Royalties? [& How To Become One]

Tips For Success When Filing Your Taxes As A Musician

When filing your taxes, there are things to keep in mind. First, every tax company you’ll use will recommend keeping receipts.

The government doesn’t magically trust you when you write something off on your taxes.

You must provide sufficient evidence of these expenses, especially if you claim thousands of dollars spent. Keep your receipts in folders or a binder to make this easier.

Here are some examples of receipts you should hold onto:

• Put home/studio utility bills in one place so you’ll be ready to calculate your home office deductions at tax time.
• You may also receive a series of 1099 forms from your clients before tax time. Keep these and all other income records in one folder to calculate your total income easily.

You might also prefer to pay quarterly taxes to keep everything in check, which can lessen the total you pay at the end of the year.

These are only sometimes required but can benefit those who make most, if not all, of their income via self-employment or contracted/freelance work.

The IRS considers musicians independent contractors, meaning you don’t have a traditional 9-5 “W2” position.

That’s not bad, but you will likely pay a federal income tax closer to 12 or 15%. It sucks: we know. Please still pay your taxes, though, because you can’t read our blog posts in prison 🙁

Always double-check these write-offs with a certified tax expert, and good luck filing. You got this!

We also have these posts you may want to read:

Can Artists Sell Their Beats Online? [How Much Money Can You Make?]

How Much Money Do Independent Musicians Make? [And How To Get Rich]

Can Music Artists Make Money Selling Merchandise? [Inc. Companies You Should Use]