What's that smell outside? The season of taxes of course!

I'm obviously not a selling writer, but I was curious to know if there are any writers out there who might share a story or some info on being taxed on their published/produced work?  The more I thought about the concept, there seems to be so many factors that could come in to play here.

I pay my taxes with the rest of the world and don't think much of it, but the idea of me paying taxes on something that I created seems to have me out of body at the moment.  In the end, it's a business that makes money and you can't escape it.

Don, I think this thread belongs under horror!

What sucks, John, is that even if you worked on screenwriting for 15 years, and then finally sold one for good money, you'd be taxed at the high bracket in order to pay for "stimulus" projects(donor kickbacks) and manipulated pensions(more donor kickbacks). I hope you don't live in California where you will be chastised for your success by rabble rousing politicians who will confiscate the fruits of your creative labor.

Being young and naive, I still have no idea how this tax thing works (in NZ, it's called rates). Seems a little stupid to pay tax on something that YOU wrote. WTF??

Look at the positive side:  you get to write things off!  Office supplies, books, travel expenses for research purposes, etc.


Phil

I do live in CA Kevin, but my tax residence is Wisconsin.  I'm sure if I ever sold a script for $500K, I would have every monetary faction assualt my wallet for their cut.  You got to pay if you wanna play, right?  I guess I'm pondering the whole process of how you're taxed.  Is the amount you've sold your script for included in your yearly earnings?  What if it's not a feature, but a short?  Television?  It leaves me with the impression there are multiple caveats to the process.

Quoted from dogglebe Look at the positive side:  you get to write things off!  Office supplies, books, travel expenses for research purposes, etc.

Hey Phil, also overseas trips !!! If you live outside of the US and do business with the US.

I know in Australia, there's a rule if you're taxed on income earned overseas, then you're not taxed in Australia for that income. That way we can pick the country with the lowest tax rate and pay our taxes there. Hee Hee.

I still think the tax rates in the US are lower than in Australia.

Also out of curiousity are there any writers outside the US on SS, that earn an income from the US and if so, how and where are your taxed paid???

Regards Alex