As we approach the end of tax season, we’re excited to share a positive development that could bring much-needed relief to performing artists and address unfair tax burdens in the future.
On March 25, the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) — a bill supported by SAG-AFTRA — was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Thom Tillis (NC) and Mark Warner (VA). In January, the bill was also reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Vern Buchanan (FL) and Judy Chu (CA).
This bipartisan bill seeks to update the Qualified Performing Artist deduction, originally signed into law by President Reagan in 1986, to reflect the rising costs of living and doing business in the entertainment industry.
As you know, many SAG-AFTRA members dedicate a substantial portion of their income to essential business expenses — such as headshots, agents, managers and audition equipment — expenses that were once deductible but are now limited due to past tax changes. If passed, PATPA will restore these deductions and offer crucial financial relief to those working in our high-risk, high-cost profession.
The arts are a vital part of the U.S. economy, and performing artists have a profound impact on our culture and national identity. A tax code that supports working-class performers is essential for sustaining the industry and helping our local economies thrive.
SAG-AFTRA encourages Congress to do right by middle-class entertainment professionals and pass the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act. By restoring essential tax deductions, PATPA will help ensure that working artists can continue to contribute to our nation’s cultural and economic vitality.
We thank Sens. Warner and Tillis, and Reps. Chu and Buchanan for their unwavering commitment to addressing the financial challenges faced by those who dedicate their lives to the arts.
Fran Drescher
President
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.