Performing Artist Tax Parity Act would provide much needed relief

The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act which would offer tax relief to musicians and other performing artists during these tough times has been introduced with rare bipartisan support in both the US House and Senate.

The bill is also endorsed by many top music trade groups including the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), AFL-CIO, AFM. SAG-AFTRA, RIAA, The Recording Academy, and the Nashville Songwriters Association.

If passed, it would change the Qualified Performing Artist tax deduction, which has not been updated since its inception in 1986, and is currently only available to those making less than $16,000 a year. The new Performing Artist Tax Parity Act would increase the income ceiling to $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for married joint filers, allowing many more lower- and middle-income artists to receive tax relief for work-related expenses including manager and agent commissions.

If you would like to support the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act you can contact your US Representative and both US Senators here.

Here are links to the House and Senate bills.

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.