Performing Artist Tax Parity Act: Fighting to Retrieve Your Unreimbursed Tax Deductions

November 1, 2022

Alfonso Pollard  -  

HR 4750, also known as the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act and sometimes referred to as QPA, was introduced in the 117th Congress of the United States by Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA) and Vern Buchannan (R-FL). This bill would restore above the line tax deductions lost in the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Tax Parity Act currently resides in the House Ways and Means Committee, while companion bill S 2872 resides in the Senate Finance Committee with 15 cosponsors.

The deductions that would be restored by the bill were originally signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. From 1947 to 1952, as an actor, Reagan was the president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). (Now SAG-AFTRA due to its merger with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on March 30, 2012.)

Representative Chu, a longtime supporter of AFM musicians and other artists, represents a large segment of the film industry in her congressional district. Following many years of service, Chu currently serves as co-chair of the House Creative Rights Caucus, along with Republican co-chair Representative Drew Ferguson (R-GA).

In developing the Tax Parity Act, which currently has 86 House cosponsors, Chu and her staff, with help from AFM constituents, totally revamped the tax thresholds making it easier for more musicians to take advantage of these deductions. The House official summary of the legislation states, “This bill modifies the tax deduction for the expenses of performing artists (including commissions paid to managers or agents) to provide for a phaseout of such deduction for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 ($200,000 for joint return filers). The $100,000 phaseout threshold is adjusted for inflation annually for taxable years beginning after 2021.”

Representative Chu, working with and on behalf of all our AFM brothers and sisters, recognizes the importance of helping to make artists “whole” again, especially in view of the massive devastation suffered by our industry during the COVID pandemic. AFM President Ray Hair and our members in Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), who are Chu’s constituents, continue to work with my office to help keep her in congress. Her phenomenal work is greatly appreciated. Your TEMPO donations help make this happen. Thank you for your membership.

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