The 'Starving Artist' Deduction
Performing artists get a deduction for expenses they incur while employed under certain circumstances, which seem almost ridiculous in their specificity: They have to have at least two employers and receive at least $200 in income from each; job-related expenses are more than 10 percent of income from performing artist jobs; and their adjusted gross income cannot exceed $16,000. If they meet those requirements, they can deduct art-related expenses. Pointe shoes, guitar picks, and paint cans really add up.
