If my wife's and my combined AGI is over $16,000, I cannot claim any qualified performing artist expenses for the show I did out of town, or job search expenses, correct?

[paultavi]

I am a performing artist who made less than $16,000 as an actor in 2018.  My wife is a university professor.  Together our AGI exceeds what the limit is for a Qualified Performing Artist ($16,000).  It's my understanding, then, that I cannot claim any expenses for a job I did out-of-town for 5 weeks, nor can I claim any expenses for all the traveling I did to look for acting work (auditions) for other theatre companies (ie. job search expenses in the same profession).  Am I correct?

[Cindy0H · Accepted solution]

Yes, unfortunately, you are correct. Your state might have different standards. Some states still allow the unreimbursed employee deduction. If you enter it in the Federal info, it will flow to your state.

Here is what the IRS says:

 You are a qualified performing artist if you: 

1. Performed services in the performing arts as an employee for at least two employers during the tax year, 

2. Received from at least two of the employers wages of $200 or more per employer, 

3. Had allowable business expenses attributable to the performing arts of more than 10% of gross income from the performing arts, and 

4. Had adjusted gross income of $16,000 or less before deducting expenses as a performing artist.

[dlu_2018]

Then why did turbotax let let me deduct the expenses even though it knows our AGI is over $16K.  This is a bug.