Can musicians not set up as a business write off gas, mileage, registration & insurance? Can they write off food & other expenses (instruments, reeds, strings) as well?

[jcbrown04]

I'm not a business but was given a 1099 as a musician. When navigating through the questions, it asked me did I use my vehicle to complete these jobs. Yes I did...some take great lengths to get to. Plus the food each day. Wear and tear on my vehicle. But TurboTax started talking to me like I was a business but I am not. Asked me how much I paid for my car etc...all off a sudden it says I lost money this year because of how much I paid for my car. I'm certain there's a mixup...I just don't know what. It's my personal car as well. 

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

Yes, since you are not an employee with a W-2, you are considered to be an Independent Contractor, which means, for all intents and purposes that you have your own business.

The rule for writing off mileage from your home to your job location requires that you have a home office. Otherwise, it considered commuting. (See the attached screenshot below. Click to enlarge.)

You can write off items you need for business. Business meals are deductible but only at 50% of the actual cost. Meal expenses are deductible if your business trip is overnight or long enough that you need to stop for substantial sleep or rest to properly perform your duties. Meal expenses are also deductible if the meal is business-related entertainment, regardless of where the meal takes place.