The Self-Employed Entertainer's Complete Guide to Federal Income Tax by Steven L. Snyder

Reviewed by Jamy Ian Swiss (originally published in Genii November, 2006)

There may be no sure things other than death and taxes, but when the IRS audit notice arrives in the mail, death can start to look like an appealing alternative. Steven Snyder has been a licensed tax preparer for more than 30 years. He is primarily a magician and motivational speaker, but retains his interest in tax preparation and provides such services for a handful of clients, while also lecturing on the subject. At a mere $30 asking price, this manuscript will likely be of use to any self-employed entertainer, defining as it does in clear and efficient terms what can and cannot be "written off" on your expense sheets. The booklet includes a blank set of tax forms, and the con-tents of the book address those forms on a step-by-step basis from very first to absolute last. Just as the author points out that "nothing replaces the knowledgeable advice you can get from professionals" in complex cases, nevertheless, if you're on your own in that sea of paperwork and regulations that the IRS requires, this book could serve as a welcome life preserver.