Not sure if the tax guy is messing with me or being truthful help anyone???

avatar for poledancer83
poledancer83
Narnia
I went through the typical BS with filing taxes but had to go to a new place since I moved a while back. I have never attempted to claim business expenses but I kept record of everything this year. I wanted to claim make up, waxes, tanning, hair and nails and 2 rounds of botox injections. The guy was an ass anyway. First thing he asked was what is your business so I replied I am a stripper. From that point foreward he started treating me like an ass. But anyways are those things deductible? Maybe ill get lucky and find a numbers person here that knows. I mean if a writer can claim a pen and paper then why cant I claim something that makes me be able to be more profitable at my job.

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avatar for Dominic77
Dominic77
9 years ago
Yes. Not only can you buy things like thongs and deduct them, you can sell them used to regulars for a 3X markup ($profit!) and still keep the deduction.

That accountant sounds like as douche.
avatar for mikeya02
mikeya02
9 years ago
Yes, shoes and clothes also. Find the right tax guy.
avatar for JohnSmith69
JohnSmith69
9 years ago
They are deductible if you are an independent contractor, and the expenses are reasonably necessary to do your job, and you wouldn't have incurred them but for your job.

Nevertheless the IRS is very strict about these kind of deductions because of the potential for abuse. When I help strippers do their taxes, I usually advise them to be aggressive on the income side and don't report much of their income, but to be very conservative on the expense side and not try to deduct ordinary beauty expenses.
avatar for poledancer83
poledancer83
9 years ago
Didn't think about shoes too that's a good one also.
avatar for poledancer83
poledancer83
9 years ago
so id have to spend over 6300?
avatar for poledancer83
poledancer83
9 years ago
single and I rent no dependents
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
Yeah, the standard deduction is there, and so most people don't use the itemized schedule, schedule A.

I think the way around this is to set yourself up as a licensed contractor or as a corporation, and then all your expenses come straight off the top, instead of needing to go on schedule A.

There are people who will know how to do this.

The ideal of course is you don't own anything or get paid much of anything. It all goes to your corporation.

You also need to watch out for schedule SE. Again, your own corporation is the most complete way, as the money never was yours in the first place.

Running your own corporation is better than being a licensed contractor.

But like most people, this goes way beyond my own level of knowledge.

SJG
avatar for poledancer83
poledancer83
9 years ago
ha ha lol but yeah my place it is. lol
avatar for poledancer83
poledancer83
9 years ago
omg that's too funny I could see that one now
avatar for vincemichaels
vincemichaels
9 years ago
I can see it now, poledancer83, all the members at full attention listening to you preach :)
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
As I know, most strippers keep their money off the books anyway.

So the only risk is if the authorities find it:

1. Payments for cars, securities, or a house ( some have gotten in huge trouble this way )
2. Rent payments
3. Bank deposits and checks

But if one is going to be on the books, then they have to be a corporation. I mean basically, what does one do with money? They spend it.

So you want the corporation to spend it, for you, instead of ever having it become your money. This way it does not get taxed.

Now of course there are limits to this. And so the details of how to set this up are complex.

You only need to receive a salary or wages when you are remote from the entity paying them. So say I worked for General Motors. I could not expect them to run my life or I run their company. So the solution is a salary. But as such, that starts off my tax return and it is hard to deduct much

So the better way is that all income goes to my own corporation, which then pays all sorts of expenses.

I get little or nothing myself. :)

SJG

Manly Palmer Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2fwpw_6…
avatar for Aaron_hip
Aaron_hip
9 years ago
Wrong advice!
Schedule A is for itemized deduction instead of standard deduction. If you have income tax, mortgage interest, real estate tax, charity contribution, and a really high medical expense, then you are better off doing itemized deduction instead of standard.

But for the profit and expense for your stripper job, you are using using Schedule C [Profit or Loss From Business. (Sole Proprietorship)] no matter what.

Source: I'm a certified tax preparer.
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
Non profits and churches are more difficult to set up. A non-profit has to have a governing board, as it does not have share holders.

The advantage of a church is no real property tax. And if you are renting real property, the land lord can take that property tax deduction and you can negotiate that into your rent.

But a salary paid by a church is taxable. Best if you don't every get paid much of a salary, less than the minimum for actually paying any tax. And then from this you pay your housing costs.

Like you can rent a room from someone. But in fact that person is a business associate and this is their salary. Where you actually live is elsewhere and paid for by your corporation.

But if you can make it work out right, a church is the very very best set up. It is just more complex.

Really you need a church and a consulting services corporation, plus also keeping as much money under the table as possible. All three methods.

It is just that this is all very complex, lots of rules, lots of limits, and also some collateral costs. But it can be done.

Better if some of it is a broader organization of people.


SJG
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
See, like you could set it up so your corporation pays you like say $300 per month. So you should not have to pay any tax. You want to get away from payrole and Social security taxes and schedule SE too.

So with your $300 per month you rent a room from someone and claim this as your residence. But actually that person is your employee to help you with important stuff. So they get say $250 per month. But as it is a rent sublet for them, they don't have to pay tax on this either and they don't need a business license or anything.


So then where you really live is paid with under the table money and in cash, and always demand a receipt.

Or your corporation rents hotel rooms for you, something like that.

If you want to buy a property, you don't buy it. Your corporation buys it.

Again, complex and you need to know what you are doing.

But the basic idea is, you spend money and that had to have been income and so it is taxable.

But if your corporation spends money it is the cost of being in business. Of course your corporation turns very little profit. It is always getting spent and plowed back into other stuff.

People who are starting with the money in cash have a huge advantage in this realm, like retail and vice.

SJG
avatar for jackslash
jackslash
9 years ago
Aaron_hip is right. You are an independent contractor and you are running your own business. You report your income and expenses on Schedule C, and you only pay tax on your profit. This is a great advantage to you, since you can deduct all legitimate business expenses.
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
^^^^^^^^^ Correct, this way it does not nullify your "standard deduction".

But just watch out for schedule SE. And some places want you to have a contractor's license.

I know, this is all a big mess!


SJG
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
"Not sure if the tax guy is messing with me or being truthful help anyone???"

Different types of tax guys for different situations and needs.

SJG
avatar for Mate27
Mate27
9 years ago
Shut up! Listen to Aaron Hip. Good lord....
avatar for NinaBambina
NinaBambina
9 years ago
If the tax preparer was rude to you, I would advise getting a different one.

Things that are tax deductible would primarily have to be items that are exclusive to stripping and not "ordinary" expenses (ie, makeup or tanning probably wouldn't make the cut. Your dance outfits and shoes probably would). You can try the botox expense. Also, if you ever travel to dance, save those receipts because they can also be used. Bear in mind that you will need several thousand dollars of expenses, as already noted.
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
Again, though not simple to set up, this is why a corporation is the ideal. Then there is the presumption of separateness from your ordinary life.

SJG
avatar for lousygolferdude
lousygolferdude
9 years ago
My dear, find another cpa. They are a dime a dozen You do not need to work with a dick who can't help you.
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
I think also, doing the kind of work you do puts you beyond the pale to start out.

Most tax people work with those who are strictly legit. You need one who can help you maintain a beyond the pale status without getting into trouble.

Very different from what most would want.

SJG

Manly P. Hall - The Spinal Column & Kundalini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5HhMuU9…
avatar for Clubber
Clubber
9 years ago
pole,

Is this tax guy a problem? That can be handled, you know!
avatar for flagooner
flagooner
9 years ago
Concerning the income... If you get audited due to expenses not being reasonable based your reported income, I would imagine it would be easy to claim that you receive gifts.
avatar for Bigtallbonerboy
Bigtallbonerboy
9 years ago
You guys are fucking idiots. They are not deductible unless it's specific to the business and not used outside the business for example my $5,000 silk suit I use can only be used for business and must have an attachment to the business. I'll dumb it down a polo worn at Pizza Hut is a write off for Pizza Hut only if the company logo is visible. Fuck all of you.
avatar for Mate27
Mate27
9 years ago
^^^^ LMFAO!!! Strippers are always looking for an angle, and stupid pathetic dudes are always willing to assist and pander to their means of cutting corners. Which is why they became strippers in the first place. Will the stupid fucks even realize how stupid they are?
avatar for motorhead
motorhead
9 years ago
Find another tax guy. Ask some of the veteran dancers at your club. Usually they know a guy that has experience with dancers.
avatar for motorhead
motorhead
9 years ago
I used to take by ATF shopping for shoes and outfits. I paid but we always asked for a duplicate receipt for her taxes.
avatar for 4got2wipe
4got2wipe
9 years ago
"Better yet SJG, why not have Poley set herself up as 501c(3)? She's gotta be a church because I worship at her alter"

Brilliant idea!
avatar for rockstar666
rockstar666
9 years ago
Since most dancers are only dancing to "put themselves through school" why not find an ex-dancer CPA for some firsthand advice?
avatar for san_jose_guy
san_jose_guy
9 years ago
A church is the best. If these mega churches don't pay property taxes, why should anyone else.

But their are legal limits on this, and it gets complex.

SJG
avatar for twentyfive
twentyfive
9 years ago
Just get an accountant preferably one who is a CPA and an Enrolled Agent.
But if you are going for a church I like
The Church of the Holey Poley
avatar for Clubber
Clubber
9 years ago
25,

I prefer the Church of Frisbee. When you die, your soul is stuck on the roof.
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