Tom Reichner wrote in post #18996261
.My photography income has fallen somewhere between $5,000 and $12,000 each year, for the past 10 years.
I can easily come up with more allowable expenses than I have in income, each year.
. Finding enough allowable expenses is never any problem at all.
. In fact, I usually leave a lot of legitimate expenses unclaimed, because I want to show a small profit each year, to keep the IRS from auditing me or questioning me.
I cannot imagine that you would have trouble coming up with enough expenses to cover the income from a few weddings.
Mileage alone should provide you with plenty enough.
. Every time you drive anywhere for anything photography-related, you can deduct the insanely high amount of 57.5 cents per mile.
. Perhaps you drive to Mitchell or Pierre to "meet with someone about being a 2nd shooter for future events" ...... deduct a gazillion dollars!
. Perhaps you "need to" drive to Gilette to pick up a camera or lens accessory that "wasn't in stock at the place in Rapid City"
(wink wink) ...... deduct another gazillion dollars!
. LOL
Or maybe you find a model you'd like to shoot in Sioux Falls, and you drive there to shoot her one weekend.
. Deduct the mileage, the motel, the meals at restaurants, etc.
. Just make sure to get her to sign a release (you would anyway, of course), and then contact a few publishers or ad agencies about licensing the images to them, or submit the images to a stock agency.
. Whatever you need to do to make it a "business effort" instead of a hobby.
. As long as you have detailed records that make it look legit, you can claim all related expenses without any fear of getting in tax trouble.
My accountant actually burst out in laughter when I showed up with over $21,000 in allowable photography expenses for 2017, when I only earned $8,000 from photography.
. He and his wife are used to my methods, and always look forward to what my claims are going to be each year.
They're great folks, and I'm glad to have them.
. I do all the work documenting the expenses, but they know how to fill the forms out just right and how to dot all the "i"s and cross all the "t"s.
. Having them prepare and file my returns is well worth the $200 that they charge.
. Plus, if I have any questions about taxes or expenses, I can just call or email them at any time, and get a professional answer ..... which sure beats seeking the internet and forums for advice
There's another tax accountant in my community that only charges $75 for each year's return.
. I use her when the other couple is booked solid, or when I don't feel like spending $200.
. She's really cool, too.
. I have no doubt that in a big city like Rapid City, you'll be able to find a professional to do your taxes for you, for a very modest fee.
. I can't imagine trying to figure out the Tax Code myself when full time professionals will do it for me for so cheap.
Just have fun with it!
. Don't take it so seriously.
. A lot of creative thinking and detailed documentation will cover you all the way to the bank.
. 
