Tax law is important to artists when art is sold or bartered, when they pay income and/or property taxes, and when the organizations with which they are involved must pay taxes. The way in which charitable gifts are treated under tax law also affects working conditions for artists because this area of the law can either encourage or discourage donations to non-profit arts organizations and entities that provide grants for artists as well as gifts of artworks themselves to museums. The Art Newspaper has published a guide to tax laws that affect the arts in 20 countries popular with artists around the world.
Income Tax for Artists
How you deal with income taxes will vary not only by income bracket, but depending on whether you are a U.S. citizen or not, and whether you have sold or bartered your work.
Basics of what you can deduct.
Art Calendar [ArtUW.com]
Jason Peter Riley/Taxation & Tax Deductions for the Self-Employed Visual Artist
essay:
checklist:
Tax law for foreign artists who work in the U.S.
Artists from Abroad [www.artistsfromabroad.org]
Artists from Abroad/Foreign Artist Taxation
Tax implications of bartering your artwork instead of selling it.
ArtBusiness.com [ArtBusiness.com]
Alan Bamberger/Bartering Art? Don’t Forget the Tax Man
Non-profits and Taxable Enterprises
Non-profit organizations sometimes turn to for-profit activities in order to garner sufficient economic support. Doing so of course has tax implications. This policy brief looks at the circumstances under which such choices may make sense, and examines the tax consequences of such decisions.
Urban Institute [www.urban.org]
executive summary:
full brief:
Other Taxes
Depending on state laws and municipal ordinances, other types of taxes may apply to the sale of art and other arts activities as well.
A collection of admission tax policies in place at the municipal level.
Americans for the Arts [www.artsusa.org]
Brad Carlin (Ed.)/Admission Taxes for the Arts
Sales taxes are established at the state level. Here is a collection of regulations regarding sales taxes for art from around the country.
Americans for the Arts [www.americansforthearts]
Americans for the Arts/Sales Tax Policies
A discussion of the sales tax in the State of New York as it applies to artists.
New York Foundation for the Arts [www.nyfa.org]
Matthew Deleget/Dr. Art on Sales Tax Issues in New York State
Property Taxes to Support the Arts
In some states and/or municipalities, property taxes provide support for the arts. This is a collection of property tax policies from around the country.
Americans for the Arts [www.americansforthearts.org]
Americans for the Arts/Property Tax Examples
Details of the law in three states in which property taxes are used to support the arts.
Americans for the Arts [www.americansforthearts.org]
Amanda Rafool & Scott Mackey/Property Tax: Funding for the arts
Tax Treatment of Charitable Donations
This brief explains how charitable tax credits work and the legal issues involved.
Urban Institute [www.urban.org]
Carol J. DeVita & Eric C. Twombly/Charitable Tax Credits
full brief:
executive summary:
An analysis of current tax law applying to charitable gifts of artworks.
American Arts Alliance [www.americanartsalliance.org]
American Arts Alliance/Encouraging Charitable Gifts to Art and Culture