L.A. Tax Relief for Creative Artists

LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL APPROVES TAX RELIEF FOR CREATIVE ARTISTS

Los Angeles (November 18, 2004) --- The Los Angeles City Council made history Wednesday. The Council's unanimous vote in favor of reforming the Business Tax Ordinance will provide meaningful tax relief and equity for thousands of men and women working in the entertainment industry as well as for businesses throughout the city. The reform includes a provision exempting creative artists (actors, directors, writers, craftspeople, etc.) who earn less than $300,000 a year from city business taxes. Hundreds of SAG members will benefit from this vital exemption.

Effective January 1, 2005, actors who received 1099 income, or who were paid as a loanout company, will no longer automatically be billed for taxes by the city of Los Angeles as a business. Only those with income exceeding $300,000 per year will be subject to business tax.

Screen Actors Guild President Melissa Gilbert said, “This is great news for the creative community in Los Angeles, and for hundreds of actors. SAG worked hard to see this tax reform become a reality, and we applaud council members Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti for fighting not only for the entertainment industry, but for the economic future of Los Angeles.”

Additionally, other changes in the proposal will attract business to Los Angeles, securing the economic vitality of our community, making L.A. even more film friendly.

The Guild applauds council members Wendy Greuel, Tony Cardenas, Eric Garcetti, and Tom LaBonge for their leadership, and Mayor James Hahn and the entire city council for their commitment to the people of Los Angeles. We also commend the Business Tax Advisory Committee and Citizens for Business Tax Reform Now, which both worked to make this reform a reality.

Screen Actors Guild worked as part of a coalition including the Directors Guild of America; Writers Guild of America, west; American Federation of Television and Radio Artists; Professional Musicians, Local 47, AFM; Art Directors Guild, IATSE, Local 800; Association of Independent Commercial Producers; Affiliated Property Craftpersons, Local 44, IATSE; Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles; and the Film Musicians Secondary Market Fund.