Artists
make a decent amount of money in the U.S. They have multiple sources of income,
such as from shows, exhibitions, stage performances, and personal invites. Like
everyone else in the country, they have to register themselves as some sort of
business identity and to pay taxes. And when it comes to taxes, there are two
categories: salaried and self-employed.
Now, within
the self-employed category, there are multiple sub-categories. A small business
is considered self-employed in the eyes of the IRS, as is a freelancer and
corporation owner. Then what is the difference between the categories of
self-employed and small business? Let's find out in this tax preparation guide for artists.
Difference
Between Self-employed and Small Business
When someone
says they are self-employed, they are most likely referring to themselves as a
freelancer, an individual artist, or a sole business owner. On the other hand,
when someone says they run a small business, they are likely referring to a
business that hires employees. Both are considered self-employed, but a small
business also employs other people. With that comes the obligation of
collecting income taxes, paying the employer share of self-employment taxes,
offering sick and vacation pay, carrying workers' compensation insurance, and
so on.
How to
Register Your Self-employed Status with Your State
When you
work as a self-employed person, you need to choose a business structure in
order to register your business with the state. Then, you get a tax ID number
and file for the appropriate licenses and permits. You can register your
self-employed status in four primary ways:
●
Sole proprietorship
●
Partnership
●
LLC
●
Corporation
These are
the most common types of business structures. If you are working as a single,
self-employed individual, a sole proprietorship is the best option for you. On
the other hand, if you are planning to hire employees or have a business
partner, it is best to register as a partnership or LLC.
A sole
proprietorship does not provide any protection of personal assets against legal
claims and debts. In certain partnerships, you are protected against your
partner's debts, but you do not have personal asset protection against claims. However,
LLCs and corporations offer you personal asset protection.
You need to get an Employee Identification
Number, EIN, if you hire employees. You can partner with income tax services for the self-employed to apply for business
licenses, an EIN, and more.