Tax Question: Can I Write Off a Trip to Shoot with Jason Cole?

Sounds like he's decent then, maybe you just need to check if he does only charge for full hours.

Australia has a national health system for citizens and residents, like New Zealand, and will treat anyone that's injured. If you're not a citizen and there's no reciprocal health agreement in place (which I doubt anyone does with the US) then you'll get a bill. Sure it'll be less than in the US by a fair margin, but still could be significant. So yeah, health insurance is necessary any time you travel, and will cover things like evac back to the US, etc.

Just FYI my private health insurance costs me about US$45/month and covers everything other than GP visits and prescriptions. They don't cost much anyway, they're subsidised by the national health system.

Heck I didn't try to cheat I just interpited in my favor

Good thought. Also find out how much you need to do each day to be able to write the whole trip off.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #11302752
Many of you here know Jason Cole (Cole Studios in Wollongong, Australia) who is an award winning wedding and glamor photographer ... and POTN member. He has invited me to visit and work with him (uncompensated) on a Zoo Swimwear Calendar shoot next year. My business can afford to send me if I can write the trip off on my taxes. It would be for professional development ... just me, no family, etc., and just for the learning experience since I shoot glamor and promotional models. My wife has said I can go (just in case you wondered!) So, the question is, can I write it off?

short answer: yes, but be prepared to document everything!
There are some limits on tax deductions for meals, lodging and other misc. expenses for an out-of-town trip but most of your educational trip can be a "write off".

DwightMcCann wrote in post #11302844
I do have a CPA but he's $275/hour or part thereof so I try to flesh things out before I contact him. I am currently undergoing an IRS audit or I would probably just have put it down as an expense and moved on ... now I'm more timid. Oh, on the audit, I have submitted all my documentation and am now in the waiting phase!

Sounds to me like you need a new accountant. Mine always tells me to call him with any questions throughout the year. He is happy to answer a simple question without having to charge me. I'm sure this would fall in the "simple question" category for him.

You know, I now wish I had never mentioned my CPA as it is really not helpful to know how great everyone else's accountant is compared with mine, especially by those who haven't a clue about the question asked. I'm sure you all read the part about the approximately $30K that he recovered more than my previous tax preparer did.

I'd consider that priceless...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #11308061
I'd consider that priceless...

Yeah, Jay, I sometimes wonder about some of the guys who like to read their own contributions to threads so much it doesn't matter if they have anything to say. It reminds me of the RAW zealots who berate the jpeg shooters but when I say I made my first $100,000 in photography shooting jpegs and ask how much they have made shooting RAW I never hear another word! [And just so we don't start on it, I now always shoot RAW.] But that's the price of open forums.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #11308087
Yeah, Jay, I sometimes wonder about some of the guys who like to read their own contributions to threads so much it doesn't matter if they have anything to say. It reminds me of the RAW zealots who berate the jpeg shooters but when I say I made my first $100,000 in photography shooting jpegs and ask how much they have made shooting RAW I never hear another word! [And just so we don't start on it, I now always shoot RAW.] But that's the price of open forums.

Sad but True...

So, tell us how you came to be spending some time with our friend Mr. Cole?

Sounds like a great trip for you!

I met Jason on POTN about five years ago. I love his stuff and he apparently likes mine as well as my "style" enough that I was one of his ten beta testers for his first DVD. We keep in touch here and on Facebook. I had planned to make an Australian trip two years ago before the Great Depression II but things got a bit rocky so I never made it ... there are several Aussie guys I met on POTN that I want to meet in person. As to this trip to visit Jason, I gave him some feedback on his Zoo Swimsuit Calendar shoot this summer and jokingly said something about coming down. He said, "Absolutely" and has kept me in the loop ever since. I guess it helps that we never discuss politics, accountants or RAW vs Jpeg! LOL. Anyway, with all the delays in Canon coming out with new bodies and lenses, my budget opened up enough that I think I'll go. Hell, my wife says, "Be sure to fly business class!" so that's a pretty good sign ... probably cost me $6K to fly and I'll allocate another $5K for sustenance. I expect I'll start a Members Activities thread a couple of months before I go since I'm really not much of a traveler and can use all the help and suggestions I can get.

You guys are gonna have a blast...!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #11308212
You guys are gonna have a blast...!

Yup ... I don't have any idea on the dates yet. The only catch was whether he got the job again next year so when that came through we were on. I expect it'll be three days for that shoot and then whatever else he has up his sleeve. I want see how he works at the beach (I am only 20 miles from wonderful beaches on the central California coast) and review his post processing. It was one of his tutorials using Viveza that made me buy the NIK suite.

There's no doubt he can rock the ambient balance!

Dwight that is terrific..
I don't have a complete answer to your tax question, and my accountant ain't that great, but I do know a little about going to the land of Oz and NZ.. You will have a fantastic time! What a great opportunity to work with Jason Cole, his work is top notch!

Look forward to seeing your thread about your travels there Good Luck and have a Blast!

... oh, I think the sun comes from a different direction down under