Cash payments to temp contractor for an event

AN_598342 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:46:07 GMT

I made several payments of less than $600 each to several contractors for 2 events in NYC: catering and cleaning, photography, music performance, installation/deinstallation, and transportation.

Some payments were made by Zelle, and the rest were paid in cash. 2 of the contractors were in NYC during the events but reside overseas. Would it be a problem to report it as a business expense totaling around $3,200?

I also paid one of the contractors for artwork, valued at $2,160, as requested, rather than monetary compensation.

Re: Cash payments to temp contractor for an event

Bsch4477 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:34:01 GMT

You can deduct the expenses paid that are usual and customary for your business. If you have no documentation like a receipt those expenses might be disallowed if audited. If you paid with your own art work you can only claim the cost of your supplies and not your labor. If a valued art work by someone else you would have to have it appraised to establish its value. In addition you are bartering which has its own tax implications.

topic Cash payments to temp contractor for an event in State tax filing

Cash payments to temp contractor for an event

Re: Cash payments to temp contractor for an event