Writers Can Get Away With Apparently Absurd Tax Deductions That Ordinary People Can't [Kindle]

Michael N. Marcus​

 

(from the publisher) This book will be useful for all writers, including freelancers who sell an occasional article, authors who are published by traditional publishers or self-publishing companies, and folks who establish their own publishing company.

     Writers and other members of the media can often get away with business tax deductions that ordinary people can’t get away with. The author has been making his living as part of the media since 1969. His income tax returns have never been audited and his deductions have never been denied. He is not worried if this book attracts the attention of the Feds.

​     In order to maximize the money you keep, obviously you must maximize the money you make. You must also maximize the income tax deductions you take -- but don’t be greedy or stupid about it.

​     Every piece of media you consume -- and the equipment and services that go with the media -- should be deducted in the range of 25% to 100%. Deduct movies, CDs, music downloads, games, concerts, artwork, vacations, pay-per-views, MP3 players, big TVs, little TVs, iPad, smart phone, books, magazines, newspapers, cameras, subscriptions to Spotify, TiVo and Sirius/XM, museum visits. . .  all the stuff that helps you stay aware of news and culture.

​     Write about stuff you like, whether it’s wine, sports cars, clothes, travel, cameras, horse racing or sex. Then you can deduct everything you spend on fun—if you classify it as “research.”

​     If you are an author or a journalist, the key to creative tax avoidance is to write about things you like.

•          If you like to travel, write about travel, and then deduct the cost of traveling. 
•          If you like cars, rent some really cool cars, and write about them. 
•          If you like to eat—and who doesn’t? -- go to lots of restaurants, attend cooking schools, stock your pantry, and write about food. 
•          If you smoke, write about pipes, cigars, tobacco, hashish or marijuana—and deduct the cost of your research. A trip to a cigar factory, a bong or nickel bag can be as important to your writing career as Microsoft Word.
•          If you like sex, deduct the cost of sex toys, enhancement drugs, porn, trips to Bangkok or Nevada, hookers or gigolos—and write about them. 
•          If you like building things, buy lumber, hardware, tools and paint, write about building, and deduct the cost of your research materials.
•          If you like to sew or knit, write about craft and deduct the cost of your fabric, patterns thread, yarn, trim, buttons and zippers. 
•          If you like to take pictures or paint pictures, write about art and deduct the cost of your equipment and supplies—even software.

         Be sensible. If your writing specialty is the Peloponnesian War or pizza, the IRS probably will look askance at a deduction for learning how to ride a horse. If you want to deduct the cost of those lessons, write about horses.

​     ​No matter what you write about, deduct the cost of your computer, fax, Internet access, e-readers, books, magazines and newspapers.
     There are lots of books about taxation, financial planning and running a business. Most of them are much more expensive than this $2.99 book, and few are aimed at the same audience.

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(from Michael) Since I wrote this book, I should like it -- and I do.

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$2.99, order from Amazon.com​

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