Freelancer Taxes: How to make your travel tax deductible

Freelancer Taxes: How to make your travel tax deductible

Travel Deduction - From Rags to Reasonable

*I am not a tax professional. This is meant to be an educational tool and NOT a recommendation. Each personal situation is different and there’s a lot of grey area in self-employed deductions. If you have questions (even just little ones) … talk to a tax expert.*


Travel is the one of the best parts of being an opera singer.

Sure, there are the weeks when it’s really not that fun… the non-descript hotel rooms, the 12th meal in a row at Applebees… but at the end of the day, I really like it.

And the only thing that makes it better is that all of that travel is tax-deductible!

Or is it? (more…)

Freelancer Taxes: What counts as ‘professional development’ for artists?

Freelancer Taxes: What counts as ‘professional development’ for artists?

Professional Development - From Rags to Reasonable

*I am not a tax professional. This is meant to be an educational tool and NOT a recommendation. Each personal situation is different and there’s a lot of grey area in self-employed deductions. If you have questions (even just little ones) … talk to a tax expert.*


One of the coolest things about life as an artist is that you’re forced to always be learning.

Something you won’t hear very often…

“Today I learned all the Art… I guess that’s done with…”

Actors, dancers, musicians… are constantly studying not matter what level they’re at. Working with teachers, private coachings, doing classes and looking for anything to help them grow as an artist.

What a beautiful thing.

But how do we translate that really nice thought into black and white numbers at tax time?

How to find your ‘professional development deduction’ when everything you do seems like professional development…. (more…)

Freelancer Taxes: How to deduct your mileage

Freelancer Taxes: How to deduct your mileage

*I am not a tax professional. This is meant to be an educational tool and NOT a recommendation. Each personal situation is different and there’s a lot of grey area in self-employed deductions. If you have questions (even just little ones) … talk to a tax expert.*


Ever since moving to the big ole city of Toronto I haven’t had a car, but it wasn’t long ago that I called the prairies home… and getting around without a car was just plain impossible.

So for all of you who are using some kind of motorized vehicle to get from place to place here’s how to deduct your business mileage. (more…)

Freelancer Taxes: Taking advantage of the RRSP deduction

Freelancer Taxes: Taking advantage of the RRSP deduction

RRSP Deduction - From Rags to Reasonable

*I am not a tax professional. This is meant to be an educational tool and NOT a recommendation. Each personal situation is different and there’s a lot of grey area in self-employed deductions. If you have questions (even just little ones) … talk to a tax expert.*


A little while back I wrote an epic RRSP break down complete with colourful pictures and my new adorable mouse friend, but it’s worth taking a specific look at just the ‘tax deduction’ portion of the RRSP universe.

It’s got to be one of the easiest ways to lower the amount of tax you have to pay in a given year… but it still might not be the best choice for everyone.

How does it work?

This one is pretty simple. #famouslastwords

When you put money in an RRSP you don’t have to pay tax on that money until you take it out (hopefully years from now).

Now, it’s important to remember that although this deduction is very real, it’s also temporary. All the other deductions we’re talking about are forever, but you will have to pay tax on your RRSP contributions at some point…

So it takes a little strategic thinking. (more…)

Freelancer Taxes: Business Food Deductions

Freelancer Taxes: Business Food Deductions

*I am not a tax professional. This is meant to be an educational tool and NOT a recommendation. Each personal situation is different and there’s a lot of grey area in self-employed deductions. If you have questions (even just little ones) … talk to a tax expert.*


BOLD STATEMENT: I feel that there isn’t a deduction more contentiously debated than the freelancer food deduction…

I keep thinking I’ve heard every single theory/justification in the book… but then another one comes out.

So I’m going to try and avoid my usual cute metaphoric brilliance (#notsohumblebrag) and try to get to the heart of this issue (if you really would rather read all the information with a big dose of classic Chris… read THIS… it’s awesome).

What does CRA say about business food deductions? (more…)

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