Some important questions about this bussiness

I am getting everyday more involved in photopraphy since I started and showed my pics to some one ....I have started a web site, from time to time some new work is done( this is not my main income source) BUT
1) do I need an insurance to do this (mandatory)(I live in S Florida), I know an insurance covers my back in many ways but for photography is it mandatory?
2) The money I make with this should be declared separated from my personal tax ( I only declare my income, including this source in one form 1040) but I dont have any corporation or similar.
3)Do I need any special permit or license to make AND sell pictures( not talking about, a permit to shoot in some location or a release of a person) just to sell a pic of a flower or my car etc.

1) No, it's not mandatory
2) Not sure I saw the question
3) That's quite dependent on where you are. In my city I need a business license. In my state I need a reseller's permit, and a use tax license.

Dave

You only need to file taxes if you make more than $400/year. If you don't make that much you don't need to include it in your taxes and you really shouldn't need insurance if that's all your selling.

Not sure about the license and all that. It depends on your area. I know I don't need a business license for my city because I live and primarily work outside of the city limits (by one whole block... wooot!) but I need a state tax license for selling prints.

http://www.irs.gov …icle/0,,id=1759​63,00.html

No, it's not mandatory as stated to have insurance - but depending what you're shooting you'd be insane not to have it. If you're working with people, using a lot of gear, etc. It's cheap when it's a hobby/side.

There's places on your tax form for side income that is not part of your regular job.

S. Florida - I was just talking to a photographer from the Tampa area who said all sales of a product (like prints) has to collect sales tax in FL - he said it doesn't matter if it's in state or out, which I'm not too sure about but a quick look at the states site it seems he is right. In NY you only collect it if it's in state - so if a guy in FL buys from me I don't need to collect since it's coming from NY. They however are supposed to report it and pay the use tax in FL. From a quick check it seems no matter what, unless you're on the short list of exempt places, you must collect sales tax.

HOWEVER, if you're doing it through a third party like SmugMug or Exposure Manger then THEY handle that - not you. Also you need to get certified by the state with a sales tax ID to be able to collect. Most however, when dealing with small amounts of money, do not do that.