YouTubers/TikTokers/streamers deduct home studio, equipment, subscriptions, travel, and half of new gear via §179.
Serious content creators run a Schedule C or S-corp: deduct (1) home-office studio (dedicated space × direct + allocated indirect costs), (2) camera/lighting/audio §179 or 60% bonus 2024 (40% 2025), (3) subscriptions (Adobe, capcut, storage, VPN), (4) travel to shoot locations, (5) meals with collaborators (50% or 100% during shoots per §274), (6) 'costume' wardrobe only if not suitable for street wear, (7) research materials. Combine with Augusta Rule for board meetings and family payroll for kids appearing in content.
Click Generate advisory deep dive for mechanics, IRC citations, a step-by-step execution plan, a worked numeric example on your profile, costs, risks, and this-week actions.
Talent forms an S-corp or C-corp that 'loans out' services — routes income through corp for retirement + benefit optimization.
Athletes/entertainers taxed by each state they perform in — establish no-tax domicile + optimize duty-day allocation.
College athletes form LLCs for NIL income, deduct training/travel/agent, fund Roth IRA on earned income.
Talent licenses name/image/likeness to a separate IP holding company that receives royalties, isolates from liability.
Actors/musicians earning under $16K from performing get above-line deduction for job expenses (bypasses TCJA suspension).
On-tour entertainers use IRS high-low per diem (~$309/day) for meals/lodging without receipts — full deduction.
Structure signing bonus as compensation for SIGNING (not future services) to allocate to home-state domicile, not team state.
Structure endorsement deals as receipt of depreciable equipment/vehicles rather than cash — different tax profile.