**Tax Year 2018 or Earlier**Self-employed musician reporting expenses on Schedule C and income through symphony's W-2. Schedule C is a loss because income is not reported there. Reporting correctly?

[Fern · Accepted solution]

If you are getting a W-2, you are not considered self employed for tax purposes. You will need to take your expenses as part of itemized deductions.

Your deductions are considered employee business deductions.  Employee business deductions are part of the Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions category.  This category must exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income before they can be included in your itemized deductions.  Turbo Tax will do the 2% calculation for you.  This means if your adjusted gross income is $30,000, and your Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions are $750, $150 will be included in your itemized deductions.

To enter this information in Turbo Tax, you will select Start or Continue next to Job-Related Expenses located in the Deductions and Credits section.

For more information see https://www.irs.gov/uac/employee-business-expenses-1 .

[sus1]

OK I get that W-2 means employee (even though very part-time). However, I play for other groups as well, and if they pay, that income is not via a W-2.