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Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs

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Interviews and personal stories Hannah Cole Interviews and personal stories Hannah Cole

Nicole Espaillat: A money story of debt, yoga, and buying a house.

Nicole Espaillat has an art history degree, 10 years of experience working in the art world, and is now a full time yoga instructor who is going back to school for accounting. She is learning to do taxes at Sunlight Tax. Nicole generously agreed to share her personal money story: She went from $100,000 in debt and living on food stamps to owning her own home and getting her money under control. Now she is learning accounting, so that she can teach money skills to people like her.

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Why the PPP Loan is Good for Artists

This Q & A between Paddy Johnson of VVrkshop and tax expert Hannah Cole on the Payroll Protection Program loan (PPP loan) explains how it can help artists. You don’t have to run an incorporated business to qualify. This money is a stimulus for you. ⁠⁠

Paddy and Hannah talk about loan terms, and our take home message: this is a forgivable loan that could help you. For many people, that could mean more time in the studio, a new body of work, or simply some extra peace of mind. Read the Q & A. Look into the loan if you haven't already. It's an easier application than almost any grant you'll apply for and might be more money too. ⁠⁠

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Money Management for Creative Professionals

Nerissa Street of Ten Thousand Women Ten Thousand Stages Podcast interviews art-centric tax expert Hannah Cole about her influences as an artist and as a tax expert for creative freelancers. This interview is available as both a podcast and a video, so you can choose the medium that you prefer.

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Startist Interview: Profit Motive, Marketing, and Tax Tips for Artists

Hannah talks with Laura Griffin and Nikki May of Startist Society about her roots as an artist and about establishing a profit motive for your art business. She chats about empowerment for artists and how she got started in accounting after some bad experiences she had as an artist.

What should you use to track expenses? How and what expenses are deductible? Can donated artwork be deducted? Do I need to collect sales tax?

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What’s in the $1.9 Trillion stimulus plan?

The American Rescue Plan, Biden’s $1.9 Stimulus Bill, will be an enormous boost to the US economy. Here’s a brief rundown of the items most likely to affect freelancers.

Stimulus payments:

New $1400 stimulus payments will go out per person on the return. This means that children and other dependents will get the full $1400 each, in addition to the taxpayers. Households with income under $150,000 (married filing jointly) and individuals with income under $75,000 will receive the full benefit. Households with income between

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