As 2023 comes to a close and another tax season approaches, many IATSE members are cruelly reminded of the added financial strain caused by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). TCJA eliminated our ability to deduct common work-related expenses from our taxes, drastically increasing tax bills for many entertainment workers who must now shoulder the cost of the equipment, tools, and travel necessary to do our jobs.

However, we’re here to remind you that there is something you can do about it – if you haven’t already, write a letter to your member of Congress urging them to cosponsor the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA)! Here’s IATSE Stagecraft Department Assistant Director Stasia Savage with more:

As the video explains, PATPA updates an existing provision of the tax code from the 1980s called the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction, which would allow middle-class arts and entertainment workers to once again deduct their business expenses. Our current goal is to build additional support and momentum in the U.S. House of Representatives – and we’re making progress, with 80 Representatives cosponsoring PATPA to date!