Is Concert Clothing Tax Deductible?

Question:
Posted February 22, 2010 at 1:39 PM by Brittney Stanton

Mr. Hunt,
I’m a young musician filing taxes as an independent for the first time and could use your help. Can I deduct any of the concert attire or music that I purchase?

Brittney,
There are two parts to your question: for the answer to the first question
about deducting concert attire, please refer to my article here on
polyphonic.org titled “Is Concert Clothing Tax Deductible?”.  If you have
other questions about this, feel free to ask!
The second question about deducting music is fairly straight forward.  If
you are engaged in the music business, either as an employee or
self-employed as a teacher or free lance musician, the music you purchase is
generally tax deductible, assuming it has some connection to the work you do
to earn money.  For example, if you play piano in a jazz combo as a hobby
and do not earn any income from this, piano music purchased for the combo
would not be tax deductible; but if your employment is as a classical
flutist, then flute music purchased would be deductible whether for your job
or to enhance your skills on the job.
I hope that clarifies for you,
Bill Hunt