IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) is launching a letter-writing campaign in order to support the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, which would allow middle-class arts and entertainment workers to deduct business expenses.
You can read the letter released to members below:
“Sisters, Brothers, Kin –
IATSE has launched a new letter-writing campaign for the 118th Congress in coordination with our sibling arts and entertainment unions to Tell Congress to Restore Tax Fairness for Entertainment Workers by supporting the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), H.R. 2871.
If passed, PATPA would allow middle-class arts and entertainment workers to once again deduct their business expenses. Our goal is to build additional support in the U.S. House so that the bill may be brought up and considered for a vote this Congress.
We need your help amplifying IATSE’s joint Congressional letter-writing campaign with Actors’ Equity, AFM, AGMA, and DPE. Using the link below, please urge your U.S. House Representative to cosponsor PATPA and encourage others to do the same by circulating the campaign. If your Representative is already a cosponsor, you will instead be prompted to send them a thank you note!
Click here to send a letter to your representatives
IATSE is proud to have partnered with Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) on this critical bipartisan legislation that provides a necessary update to the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) tax deduction, correcting an unintended consequence of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that drastically increased taxes for many behind-the-scenes entertainment workers. IATSE members lost the ability to deduct common work-related expenses and must now shoulder the cost of the equipment, tools, and travel necessary to do their jobs.
As President Loeb said upon the bill’s reintroduction, “While it was disappointing to narrowly miss getting PATPA across the finish line in 2022, we remain greatly encouraged by the bipartisan support that has been built for Representatives Chu and Buchanan’s bill. There is increased awareness in Congress of this issue that has been affecting our members’ financial well-being since well before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered our industries. IATSE is working intensely to build on the momentum of last Congress and finally restore tax fairness for thousands of middle class behind-the-scenes entertainment workers.”
Let’s use the strength of our collective voice to ensure that Congress hears us on this critical issue.
Tell Congress to Restore Tax Fairness for Entertainment Workers!
In solidarity,
Team IATSE”