In order to apply for designation from the IRS as an Enrolled Agent, one must first pass all three parts of the Special Enrollment Exam (SEE). This exam is extensive, intensive, expensive, and exhaustive. If it has to do with the intricacies, delicacies, or details of tax law and procedure, it's covered on the test!

After months of preparing, studying, and not quite passing the first time, I have finally and successfully navigated my way through part one! Part one covered all there is to know about taxes and the individual -as opposed to businesses....but there were of course some business items just to keep it all interesting.

Now...on to Part two! (Business)

bzmobiletax.com

Have a great one....and BE great!
Lori B.

Some of you may be aware that I am not only an artist, wife, and mother, but also a student. I am finishing up my Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting. (The nerd part of my "rebel nerd" designation). I am working full time at school right now which means four classes at a time and only 12 weeks to cram those full four classes in, instead of the usual semester.

If this were my only other distraction, I might yet be finding more fruitful time for musing. Alas, it is not. I am also studying for the Special Enrollment Exam* (to become an Enrolled Agent) and the start up of a tax and bookkeeping company with my brilliantly cool tax partner, Jackie Z. How does this relate to my art? One of the things I hope to offer through this business venture is an extension of my tax advice geared to artists. I hope to help fill a void in this industry. It is near impossible sometimes to find someone to help with taxes that understands artists and how their "businesses" operate. I am hoping to be able to offer long-distance tax services (due to popular demand) for artists across the country, most likely beginning with the next tax season -early 2009. I feel a need to not only help clarify tax codes and how they affect or do not affect artists, but to also offer direct one on one tax services and advice.

So...know that even though the art is at a temporary pause, my muse is wide awake and lots of new designs are being worked on while I prepare for an added chapter to my life as a "rebel nerd." I will post updates on my progress towards this end as well as notification of when I am taking on new clients.

*From irs.gov: " What is an enrolled agent? An enrolled agent is a tax professional, who has demonstrated special competence in tax matters, applied for enrollment, and has been issued an enrollment card." "An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of practicing, that is, representing taxpayers, before the Internal Revenue Service. Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can practice before."

My very underpriced eBook, Art and Taxes 2007, can help show you how to simply prepare your small art business for taxes all year long.

If you are not yet selling your art, but are considering it, then you definitely should invest your first and possibly the best spent $20 on this easy to read compilation of what you need to know.

Not sure? Go ahead and check it out... http://rosesofonegarden.com/at07.html

I am always willing to help further. If you find that after reading this eBook, you are still confused on one of the issues discussed, just drop me an email, and I will be happy to help clarify if I can.

The more artists are successful, the easier it will be for artists to be successful. Let's work together and create!

Lori B.