Financial Advice

Those Devilish Deduction Details

You should always consider itemizing your tax deductions, because most actors spend considerable sums on their careers in the course of a year.

Don't Be Late

Although we do everything we can to encourage our clients to file their tax returns as early as possible, more than half our business comes in during these last few weeks of tax season.

Watch Your Withholding

Like most actors, I didn't like seeing so much of my income taken out of my paychecks for taxes. But you can't very well let the government keep as little as possible and then expect a big refund.

Bargains in New York

Even when the economy is good, actors can use bargains. Here are some favorites of the Back Stage staff.

If You Hear From the IRS

Everybody dreads getting mail from the Internal Revenue Service. If you do, never hesitate to open it. You would be surprised how many taxpayers put the envelope aside out of fear.

The IRS on the Prowl

Last month the IRS announced that the number of audited returns had increased by 11 percent over the previous year. But you usually can't get into trouble if you tell the truth and file your returns on time.

Finding a Good Preparer

I lost money because my preparer didn't know how to make the best use of deductions on my tax return. The returns weren't wrong; they just weren't as right as they could have been.

December Decisions

While you are planning your New Year's resolutions, focus on getting yourself financially healthy for the new year as well.

Preparing Your Own Return

Every year, I caution people to be careful about preparing their own tax returns. Coming from a tax preparer, this advice may appear self-serving, but it isn't. Just the other day, something happened that called into question the idea, so heavily promoted in TV ads, that doing your own ...