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The Tax Man for Canadians, Part Two

Business Mary Pletsch Taxes No Comments

 

When you’re doing your taxes, you’ll need receipts for your expenses  for the previous calendar year (for example, in April 2014, I’ll be claiming expenses I incurred between January 2013 and December 2013).  The receipt for the computer I bought five years ago isn’t claimable, even though I used it this year to write stories.  I also can’t claim gifts, like my desk chair.

 

Saving your receipts is critical.  Without receipts, you have no proof of the expenditures you made.  Always assume you’re going to get audited; receipts are required to show that your claims are legitimate!  Here are some examples of expenses which you can claim on your taxes.  Some of them may surprise you…

 

–          If you write at home, you can claim a portion of your living space as a workspace.  Travelling through the house on your laptop doesn’t count!  This would be the portion of your living area where you have your desk and do most of your administration and writing.

 

–          You may be able to claim certain portions of bills for communication tools.  In my case, I use the Internet to submit stories, learn about calls for submissions, publicize my writing, and research for stories.  I’m not going to be able to claim a portion of my telephone expenses, because I do all my writing business via the internet.  If that changes in the future – if I have an editor or agent who regularly contacts me by telephone – then I may start claiming phone expenses as well.  This claim is based on a percentage – how much of the total use is used for business purposes – and an accountant can help you figure out this calculation.

 

–          Tools and equipment for writing, which may include a lap top or desktop computer, word processing software, desk, chair, and data backup.

 

–          When you buy a book, save the receipt – it counts as “research material,” since by reading, you’re learning the techniques of effective storytelling and staying current on what’s being published in your field.  But be judicious.  If you’re selling your work as a short story writer or novelist, you’ll have trouble justifying  the purchase of screenplays or graphic novels as “research materials”.

 

–          Courses, seminars and conventions to improve your craft and/or network with others in the writing field.  Marie advises she can claim travel to two conventions a year, and receives credit for approximately 50% of her expenditures.  This includes registration, travel costs, and hotel fees if applicable.  Note that these cons are for business purposes.  I’ll be claiming Ad Astra, where I met with an editor, and Can-Con, where I presented panels to promote my writing.  I won’t be claiming TFCon, which I attended for pleasure, not writing-related business.

 

–          And while you’re travelling, save your receipts from meals.  You will need to write on the receipt itself how the meal related to your business, ie, breakfast at a convention, lunch with an editor.  Don’t claim alcohol.  Incidentals, such as coffee or tea,  are questionable.  Also, keep in mind that if you’re part of a writer’s group that likes to get together over dinner to edit each other’s work, that will likely not count as a professional expense.  It’s the difference between a bunch of co-workers getting together, and a working lunch with a potential client.

 

Marie Bilodeau, who’s been claiming her writing income for the past five years, strongly recommends the services of an accountant, preferably an accountant who will represent you if you are audited.  This service is a bit more expensive but will be worth the peace of mind knowing that if your taxes must be justified, the person who did them will be responsible for performing the justification.  The figures to claim the correct percentages for small business income can be quite complex for someone unfamiliar with tax preparation.  If you’d like to save money, Marie recommends creating an Excel spreadsheet tracking your revenue (income) and expenses, with the receipts to justify your entries.  Having this information organized (rather than making the accountant do it) may entitle you to a discount.  Always speak to your accountant to clarify the fees and the services you will receive for that money.

 



 


Here are some more links that may be of help:


Mystery Writers Ink’s Tax Tips for (Canadian) Writers:  http://mysterywritersink.blogspot.ca/2011/01/tax-tips-for-writers.html?m=1


Canada Revenue Agency:  Visual Artists and Writers:  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it504r2-consolid/it504r2-consolid-e.html

							
 
		
		

											
 
	
 
											
	

				

							

					The Tax Man for Canadians, Part One
				

						
  
Business Mary Pletsch Taxes The Writing Life No Comments
					
 

					

				
Today and tomorrow’s posts are in recognition that not all of the Fictorians are American, and neither are all of our readers.  These blog posts, written in conjunction with Marie Bilodeau, are from the point of view of two Canadians.  Marie’s been claiming her writing income on her taxes for 5 years, and I’ll be doing the same this year, for the first time.   If you’re not Canadian or American, we strongly recommend you look into tax laws in your country to determine whether it is worthwhile for you to claim your writing as a small business, how to go about doing so, what types of expenditures qualify as “business expenses”, and how to claim income from your writing career.


If you’re a writer selling your fiction, then congratulations – you’re a small business.  Operating as a small business entitles you to certain exemptions at tax time that might help you to save money.   However, the law also requires you to pay taxes on your income – something which may not be deducted automatically, particularly not if your publisher is in a different country than you.


If you’ve not yet made your first sale, or if your first sale is small, it’s too early to claim writing expenses on your tax forms.  You may view your writing as a business—in fact, it’s wise if you think about yourself that way and conduct yourself professionally—but until you begin making money, the government will class your writing as a “hobby” and you will not be considered eligible for tax credits.  However, you may still be able to claim certain writing or business related courses as adult learning, or skills upgrading, depending on a variety of living factors.  An accountant will be able to advise you whether your courses are claimable.


Saving money on taxes by claiming writing expenses is great!  Where’s the downside?  The downside is that you must report all the income you earn from writing and, if necessary, pay taxes on that income.  If you receive a paper cheque, save the income slip that comes with it.  If you’re paid via paypal, print out the email that indicates you’ve received a payment.  Make certain to report ALL the money you’ve made from selling your writing to publishers.  It’s better to report too much, than not enough.  Unlike with most jobs, where tax money is taken off before you ever receive your pay cheque, in these cases, you will receive the bulk amount and be expected to save enough of it to pay for the taxes come tax time.  Keep savings in reserve for April, and then, if your tax bill comes to less than you expected, you can spend or save the remainder.


As a rough guideline, don’t expect your savings to exceed your earnings.  That means, if you make $600 of writing income in a calendar year, but your receipts entitle you to $900, you’ll only qualify for $600.  It may still be worth claiming all the receipts, though, as you’ll be able to carry your losses forward.


However, if your business loses money (you spend more than you make) continually, red flags may be raised.  Businesses are expected, eventually, to make profit; an activity that always takes money might be better classified as a hobby.  If you don’t get a big contract right away, and are spending a few years selling a short story here and a novella there, Marie and a fellow writer recommend that every 3-5 years you consider reporting a profit to prove you are a viable business—if you’re a voracious book-buyer like me, that may simply mean not claiming the vast quantities of books you buy that year as “research materials.”


Come back tomorrow for Part 2:  Receipts , Working With an Accountant and Useful Links.