BarbriSFCourseDetails
  • videocam Live Webinar with Live Q&A
  • calendar_month May 6, 2026 @ 1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Tax Preparer
  • schedule 110 minutes

Tax Issues After OBBBA for Musicians, Entertainers, and Athletes: Structuring Ventures, HITS Act, Reporting Royalties

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Discount expires 3/9/26

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About the Course

Introduction

This webinar will address the distinctive tax issues encountered by musicians, entertainers, athletes, and other performers. Our panel of seasoned entertainment tax professionals will address new provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that directly impact these creative individuals.

Description

There are unique tax issues for musicians, entertainers, and athletes. OBBBA added provisions directly impacting performing artists. The Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act allows a deduction of up to $150,000 for qualified sound recording expenses. Additionally, proposed regulations include "performing arts" as a specified service trade or business that does not qualify for the new tips exclusion. At the same time, the regulations point out that "entertainers and performers" are included on the Treasury Tipped Occupation Code list as occupations that customarily and regularly receive tips and do qualify for the new tip deduction. Determining eligibility for the new tip deduction for performing artists is problematic for performers and their advisers. 

It is the nature of this industry that individuals travel and work in multiple states. Often, entertainers and athletes must file tax forms or report income in many states. Keeping up with varying state requirements can be more daunting. Practitioners working with performers must understand how to properly structure and report taxable items and relative deductions.

Listen as our adept panel, well-versed in handling tax issues for creators, explains how to maximize deductions, minimize income recognition, and prepare for potential IRS examinations for these talented taxpayers.

Presented By

Conor Barnes, CPA, MAcc
Partner
Withum Smith + Brown, PC

Ms. Barnes has over 15 years of experience in public accounting. She is the Team Co-Leader of the Music Industry Services Team and leads the Theatre and Entertainment Services Team in the Firm’s Nashville office. Ms. Barnes specializes in tax compliance and strategic tax planning services for entertainers and business managers. She helps musicians with multi-state tours maximize available tax credits and compliance in all states and municipalities. Ms. Barnes experience in the entertainment industry also extends to assisting with catalog sales for artists and consulting on various outside ventures for entertainers. She is a licensed certified public accountant in New York and New Jersey.

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Robert Raiola
Director of the Sports and Entertainment Group
PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP

Mr. Raiola has more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sector. He provides business management services, tax planning and business consulting to high-net-worth individuals and their families in the sports and entertainment industries. Over the years, he has worked closely with many small business owners on tax consulting and cash flow management. Mr. Raiola co-authored the AICPA book, Winning Tax Strategies for Athletes & Entertainers, and has lectured nationally on the topic. In addition, Mr. Raiola was a founding trustee of the Chatham Athletic Foundation, an organization based in Chatham, NJ which is focused on promoting youth athletics and safety in athletics through public education programs. In June 2011, he received the Chatham Jaycees Distinguished Services Award for his work with the Chatham Athletic Foundation.

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Credit Information

  • BARBRI is a NASBA CPE sponsor and this 110-minute webinar is accredited for 2.0 CPE credits.

  • BARBRI is an IRS-approved continuing education provider offering certified courses for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Tax Return Preparers (RTRP).

Date + Time

  • event

    Wednesday, May 6, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

I.    Introduction: tax issues for musicians, entertainers, and athletes

II.    Choosing a structure

A.    Schedule C

B.    LLC or partnership

III.    OBBBA provisions

A.    HITS Act

B.    No tax on tips

C.    Increase in the SALT cap

D.    Other provisions

IV.    Income

A.    Royalties

B.    Self-employment tax

C.    Other income

V.    Deductions

A.    Studio/home office

B.    Amortization of recording costs

C.    Travel

D.    Maintaining skills, image, position

E.    Other deductions

VI.    IRS audits and audit guide

VII.    State tax issues

VIII.    Other considerations

The panel will discuss these and other critical issues:

  • Reporting royalties received by musicians and athletes
  • Structuring considerations for music ventures and bands
  • Provisions in OBBBA impacting performers and athletes
  • Withstanding potential IRS examinations
  • Best practices for handling multistate taxation of income for athletes and performers

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify unique deductions available to entertainers and performers
  • Determine tax-efficient reporting structures for bands and music ventures
  • Decide how to properly amortize recording expenditures
  • Ascertain reporting differences between musicians' royalties and other royalty income
  • Field of Study: Taxes
  • Level of Knowledge: Intermediate
  • Advance Preparation: None
  • Teaching Method: Seminar/Lecture
  • Delivery Method: Group-Internet (via computer)
  • Attendance Monitoring Method: Attendance is monitored electronically via a participant's PIN and through a series of attendance verification prompts displayed throughout the program
  • Prerequisite: Three years+ business or public firm experience preparing complex tax forms and schedules, supervising other preparers or accountants. Specific knowledge and understanding of individual income taxation, including itemized deductions, individual income tax credits, net operating loss limitations including carrybacks and carryforwards.

BARBRI, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE Credits. Complaints regarding registered sponsons may be submitted to NASBA through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

IRS Approved Provider

BARBRI is an IRS-approved continuing education provider offering certified courses for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Tax Return Preparers (RTRP).

BARBRI CE webinars-powered by Barbri-are backed by our 100% unconditional money-back guarantee: If you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. Contact us at 1-800-926-7926 .