March 6th

There are 300 days until the end of the year. The month of March also means it is tax season and we all dread this...unless you are going to get a fat check in the mail. But most of us dread the amount of time it takes. Luckily huge improvements in technology have allowed us to use our computers to do our taxes on. I still remember the days of doing them all by hand. I would be sitting there for days writing in numbers and adding them all up. All you needed back then was a pencil and calculator. So we know that many of our readers are musicians, so here are a few tips...taxes for musicians. These are practical and you may want to write this down.

* Make sure you are operating like a business.
* Keep good books and accurate records.
* Advertise.
* Get business cards.
* Get a business license or separate taxpayer ID number (TIN).
* Incorporate your band. Open a P.O. Box.
* Join Musicians' organizations and/or unions.
* Copyright your work. Register your songs with a performing rights organization (such as ASCAP, BMI or SECAC).

Here is a list of stuff you can deduct:

* Instruments
* Equipment/gear & accessories (amps, pedals, effects, straps, carrying cases)
* Consumable supplies (such as drum skins & sticks, guitar strings & picks)
* Music business books, record company directories, venue directories
* Subscriptions to trade magazines (such as Billboard and CMJ))
* Sheet music and "How-To" books and manuals
* Promotional: CD/tape duplication (for demos), photos, bios
* Office supplies: paper, envelopes, photocopies, stamps
* Fees for website and e-mail access for your music-related activities
* Rent for storing your gear and for your practice space
* Membership in professional organizations, associations & unions
* Professional fees (attorney, manager, agent, accountant)
* Copyright and registration fees
* Lessons & instruction
* Travel expenses

We hope this helps and remember, that MONOcase you bought is also deductible.