Tax Tips for Writers, by Jess Lourey

I am not an accountant, and I'm just barely a writer, but I’ve attended informative presentations on this topic, I just met with my accountant, and I'm plagiarizing freely from the very good article called Writers and Taxes from the most recent A View from the Loft. Take my suggestions as just that.

Pre-published Writers

The best tax advice I ever got was to keep track of every penny I spent establishing my writing career, from paper I printed rough drafts on to postage on query letters to receipts for the Nut Goodies I sent with them. Because of my detailed record-keeping, I was able to write all this off at the end of the year, which I did for the three years it took me to get published. I encourage you to make a "receipts and notes" folder in a drawer or filing cabinet, or stuff them in a dedicated manila envelope that you will not lose.

I also devoted a portion of my house (a whole room, actually) to writing. In this room is my computer, a bazillion ripped pieces of paper with story ideas scribbled on them (Sandra Cisneros calls these "buttons," and you sew a story around them), pens, darts to chew on (I'm orally fixated and quit smoking a decade ago), and books I use for research. Because this is a space devoted to my business of writing, I get to write off a portion of all my utilities. Other points a writer (prepublished or published) should consider:

• Your writing must be a business (you intend to make money off of it) and not a hobby (you do it for personal fulfillment and make occasional money off of it) for losses to be deductible. If your writing is a business, keep detailed records and have a clear and honest plan for turning a profit.
• Mileage. The standard mileage rate for 2009 is 55 cents per mile. Keep track of all the miles you travel to signings, conferences, and anywhere else related to the business of your writing.
• IRA. For 2009, you could contribute up to $5000 to an IRA if you’re under the age of 50, $6000 if you’re over the age of 50. If you’re exactly 50, you can spank a cat and call it a day.
• Withholding. If it looks like you're going to have to pay big for 2010, now is the time to increase your withholding.
  

Published Writers

Once you have a published book, you’ll have a lot (okay, maybe not a lot) more money going in and out and so set aside a three-ring binder to record your expenses (review copies sent out, the postage paid to send them, promotional materials you bought, etc.) and income (royalties, books sold by you at signings and other events if you go that route, speaker’s fees). You also need to collect sales tax when you sell books yourself, so keep track of that and file a sales tax form for your state at the end of the year.

My accountant also recommended I look into filing to become an LLC, which stands for Limited Liability Company. Basically, I'd be a company of one, but having LLC status would protect me legally from debtors or people who would want to sue me on behalf of my writing. Sounds kind of paranoid--I write fictional mysteries, what's to sue about?--but it also sounds smart. The only cost is the filing fee in your state, and you do your taxes basically the same way, writing off expenses with a schedule C. If you have more questions about tax filing for writers, I encourage you to look for a CPA/attorney in your area who specializes in entertainment. Best of luck.