Tax Tips for Writers

Tax Tips for Writers

By Brad R. Cook from a Workshops for Writers presentation by Faye Adams

Taxes… no anything but taxes…

Too many receipts, ever changing rules, and complex math… *rips out hair*

But… with just a few simple steps I can save money and so can you… YEAH!

This weekend St. Louis Writers Guild held its February Workshop for Writers: Money Saving Tax Tips for Writers presented by Faye Adams.

Faye gave a wonderful workshop to a packed-room, and has given these tax workshops for writers for several years. I wanted to share some of her words of wisdom, because they are so valuable for any writer.

I assembled some of the tweets from the workshop. If you want to read all the tweets from the workshop check out the hash tag #slwg or check out @stlwritersguild on Twitter.

Going back to school or making repairs to your house. Get credit on your taxes - but the energy credit is only $500 - school is better #slwg

— Brad R. Cook (@bradrcook) February 2, 2013

Track mileage from home to work, to writer group events, your critique group, your booksignings, going to buy books include that too #slwg

— Brad R. Cook (@bradrcook) February 2, 2013

Going on vacation? Write an article or go do some research and then its deductible. #slwg #writers

— Brad R. Cook (@bradrcook) February 2, 2013

#slwg check your receipt files quarterly. Separate and total them then you wont be so overwhelmed come tax time.

— Jamie K. (@Rockets2Writing) February 2, 2013

#slwg how to save tax dollars... Number one rule, ask for a reciept and develop a filing system.

— Jamie K. (@Rockets2Writing) February 2, 2013

Most expenses we incur as writers are deductible but you need a receipt. Conferences, contest fees, slwg membership fees and more. #slwg

— Brad R. Cook (@bradrcook) February 2, 2013

Tax return code for writers is 711510 - now you don't have to look it up or send off to the irs. #slwg

— Brad R. Cook (@bradrcook) February 2, 2013

#slwg learn to do your own taxes, trust your instincts, the tax payer wins 90% of cases taken to court!

— Jamie K. (@Rockets2Writing) February 2, 2013

Faye Adams is the two-time Missouri Senior Poet Laureate, and a wonderful children’s author. She was a tax professional for a number of years. For more about Faye Adams please visit www.fayeadams.com

I would also recommend attending the “Artist as Bookkeeper” workshop hosted by the Volunteer Lawyer and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) on Monday, February 11, 2013. For more information about the workshop visit www.vlaa.org 

Many thanks to Faye Adams for such an informative workshop, and to St. Louis Writers Guild’s Workshops for Writers for providing excellent programming. Also a thank you to @Rockets2Writing for the tweets.

Brad R. Cook is a historical fantasy author and President of St. Louis Writers Guild. Please visit www.bradrcook.com or follow me on Twitter @bradrcook https://twitter.com/bradrcook

To learn more about St. Louis Writers Guild, visit www.stlwritersguild.net Saint Louis Writers Guild on Facebook or on Twitter @stlwritersguild

St. Louis Reflections http://www.stlbooks.com/B009271-1211-51/Review.aspx