Tax Advice & Accountancy Services for Ballet Dancers
I’m going to assume you’re a ballet dancer – whether you’re just stepping into your first company role or you’ve been dancing for years and you’re still not 100% sure you’ve got the tax side sorted.
If that’s the case, you’re in the right place.
Ballet dancers are often self-employed – especially when freelancing, teaching, or working on short-term contracts. That means completing a Self Assessment tax return is usually a must. We offer specialist tax advice for dancers to help make sure you’re meeting HMRC’s requirements, without getting overwhelmed by the admin.
Oh – and if no one told you – ballet dancers have to do a tax return… now you know!
The dance world is demanding – your finances don’t have to be.
The tax return can be a daunting thing to tackle, especially when you’re juggling rehearsals, auditions, and performance prep. Most accountants won’t understand the specifics of the industry – but we do.
Dance-related tax guidance is a core part of what we do.
Let me help you get things sorted
Click the button below to book a free, no-obligation chat.
Tax information for Ballet Dancers, from a fellow performer.
Before I was a Chartered Accountant, I trained as a professional opera singer – so I understand the demands of a creative career first-hand. My goal is to take the stress out of bookkeeping and tax, so you can focus on your craft, not your spreadsheets.
Let me help you reclaim the time and mental space you need to do what you love most: dance.
Becoming self-employed means you are responsible for:
- Keeping records of your income and expenses
- Completing a Self Assessment tax return each year
- Paying tax and National Insurance on your profits (not your turnover)
If you earn over £1,000 per tax year from your dancing work, you must register as self-employed with HMRC.
Do Ballet Dancers need to do a tax return?
Yes, if you are self employed, freelance or work under short contracts with theatres, touring companies or agencies, you must register with HMRC and complete a Self Assessment tax return each year. This will include dancers who teach, coach or receive grants/bursaries.
If you are under contract on a PAYE job (ENB, RBOH), and you have no extra side work, then you do not need to file a tax return. You may have other income (such as rental property) which many deem you need to do a return, but that is another story.
What counts as income?
…It is a cost you have of running yourself as a business, but it is specially excluded as an allowable cost for taxation as it is classed as entertainment. There is a specific page for Ballet Dancers in the Business Income Manual from HMRC which supports why we disallow certain costs >>>>> https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/business-income-manual/bim50160 <<< So check this out later.
For more information in expenses, please go to >>> https://performanceaccountancy.co.uk/allowable-expenses/ and there is an opportunity to download that very useful chapter of my book written just for you.
Performance Accountancy has been giving advice for actors, musicians and performers for many years.
If you are an Ballet Dancer, actor, performer or entertainer, and would like a no-obligation 30 minute chat to discuss your accounting, bookkeeping and taxation concerns then please contact us.
You can also tell us about you, and we can be in touch shortly.
If that’s not enough options, call us on 01344 669084**