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Withholding may be required, even if an artist will end up owing no U.S. tax. Conversely, an artist may be exempt from withholding, but could still owe tax on the income earned.<\/p>\n[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”img_padding”]As a general rule, anyone performing services in the U.S. \u2013 including most (if not all) performing artists \u2013 must pay U.S. taxes on his or her U.S. income. It is important to note the distinction between\u00a0withholding<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0taxation<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Generally,withholding<\/i>\u00a0is required of anyone making a payment to a foreign artist for services performed in the U.S. \u00a0Withholding is the mechanism by which the IRS ensures that it collects taxes owed by foreign artists.\u00a0Taxation<\/i>\u00a0refers to the actual tax owed by an artist.<\/p>\n
Withholding may be required, even if an artist will end up owing no U.S. tax. Conversely, an artist may be exempt from withholding, but could still owe tax on the income earned.<\/p>\n
Generally, anyone making a payment to a foreign artist for services performed in the U.S. is required to\u00a0withhold<\/i>\u00a030% of the artist\u2019s gross income toward the artist\u2019s U.S. tax liability. However, artists performing services in the U.S. aretaxed<\/i>\u00a0at the same graduated rates that apply to U.S. citizens. Accordingly, the amount of the 30% withholding is almost always going to be more than the artist\u2019s actual tax liability. The artist may recover the difference by filing a U.S. tax return.<\/p>\n
In addition, foreign artists may also be subject to state and local income taxes for income earned within a particular state. State income tax liability may exist even if there is no federal income tax liability; and, in the case of some states (e.g., California), even if the income is exempt from tax as a result of an income tax treaty.<\/p>\n
A foreign artist should refer to specific state tax laws or contact us to determine the applicable state tax requirements, including the necessity to file a state income tax return.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n
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