When does a professional trapeze artist have to collect NY sales tax -- on performance fees, instruction, or admissions?

Plain-English summary

The petitioner is a professional trapeze (aerial) artist who works in six situations: (1) hired as an independent contractor by dance schools or nonprofits to instruct beginning/intermediate aerial skills; (2) hired to perform at functions by event planners (who are themselves hired by individuals or companies); (3) hired to perform directly by private party hosts; (4) hired by aerial groups as a subcontractor performer; (5) hired by other aerial groups that charge the public admission; and (6) when she herself performs for the public and charges an admission. She asked when she must collect sales tax.

The Office of Counsel concluded she must collect tax only in situation (6). NY taxes only certain enumerated services (Tax Law 1105(c)), and none of situations (1)-(5) -- instructing, performing for a fee for event planners or private hosts, or subcontracting to other performers/groups -- is an enumerated taxable service. So her fees in those cases are not taxable.

Situation (6) is different because of the admissions tax. Tax Law 1105(f)(1) taxes any admission charge over ten cents to a place of amusement, with exceptions including dramatic or musical arts performances and live circus performances. But:
- A solo trapeze act is not a "dramatic or musical arts" performance (1101(d)(5)); the regulations say live dramatic/musical arts do not include variety shows, magic shows, circuses, animal acts, ice shows, or aquatic shows (20 NYCRR 527.10(d)(2)).
- It is also not a circus -- a circus is a unique form with multiple acts of physical skill interspersed with clowns and sometimes animals (Ringling Bros.).
- Her act is more like the variety-type acts the regulation lists, and fits no other 1105(f)(1) exception (e.g., participatory sports).

Amusement charges are presumed taxable until proven otherwise, and the burden is on the collector (Tax Law 1132(c)(1)). So if she charges the public an admission over ten cents to watch her perform, that admission is taxable.

What this means for you

Performers, aerialists, and specialty acts

Getting paid to perform or teach is generally not taxable in NY -- performance fees and instruction are not enumerated taxable services. The tax problem arises when you sell admission to the public: a solo specialty/variety act (trapeze, magic, animal act, ice/aquatic show) does not get the "dramatic or musical arts" or "circus" admission exemption, so the admission is taxable.

Event planners and venues

Booking a performer for a flat fee is not a taxable service, but if you charge the audience admission to a show that isn't exempt dramatic/musical arts or a circus, collect tax on the admission.

Common questions

Q: I'm paid a flat fee to perform or to teach aerial classes -- do I charge tax?
A: No. Performing for a fee (including for event planners, private hosts, or as a subcontractor) and instructing are not enumerated taxable services.

Q: I sell tickets to my own show -- is that taxable?
A: Yes. An admission over ten cents to a place of amusement is taxable, and a solo trapeze act is neither dramatic/musical arts nor a circus, so no exemption applies.

Q: Isn't a trapeze act a 'circus'?
A: No. A circus has multiple acts with clowns and often animals; a single aerial act is treated like the excluded variety-type performances.

Citations and references

• Tax Law section 1105(c) (enumerated taxable services)
• Tax Law section 1105(f)(1) (sales tax on admission charges)
• Tax Law section 1101(d)(5) (dramatic or musical arts admission charge)
• Tax Law section 1132(c)(1) (amusement charges presumed taxable; burden on collector)
• 20 NYCRR section 527.10(d)(2) (variety/circus/animal acts not dramatic or musical arts)

Source

• Landing page: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/advisory_opinions/sales_ao_2013.htm
• Opinion: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/advisory_opinions/sales/a13_7s.pdf

Original ruling text

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance

Office of Counsel
Advisory Opinion Unit

TSB-A-13(7)S
Sales Tax
February 25, 2013

STATE OF NEW YORK
COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE
ADVISORY OPINION

PETITION NO. S120103B

On January 3, 2012 the Department of Taxation and Finance received a Petition for
Advisory Opinion from name redacted. Petitioner asks whether she is required to collect sales tax
in any of the circumstances listed in the petition where she renders services as a professional trapeze
artist. We conclude that the Petitioner is required to collect sales tax only when she performs
directly for the public and charges an admission.
Facts
Petitioner states that she is a trapeze artist who performs aerial skills under the following
circumstances:
1. When hired as an independent contractor by dance schools or not-for-profit
organizations to “instruct beginning and intermediate aerial skills.”
2. When hired to perform at functions by event planners that are themselves hired by
individuals or companies to plan functions, such as parties and conventions.
3. When hired to perform aerial skills directly by people hosting private parties.
4. When hired by aerial groups as a subcontractor performer.
5. When hired by other aerial groups who charge admissions to perform for the public.
6. When the Petitioner performs directly for the public and charges an admission.
Analysis
Section 1105 of the Tax Law imposes sales tax on receipts from certain enumerated services
(Tax Law §1105(c)). The services provided by the Petitioner as described in paragraphs one through
five above are not among the taxable services enumerated in §1105(c) of the Tax Law. Therefore
Petitioner is not required to collect sales tax for the payment she receives for providing these
services.
The remaining issue is whether the Petitioner is required to collect sales tax when she
collects an admission charge from members of the general public who come to see her perform
aerial skills as described in paragraph six above.
Section 1105(f)(1) of the Tax Law imposes sales tax on “any admission charge where such
admission charge is in excess of ten cents to or for the use of any place of amusement in the state,
except charges for admission to race tracks, boxing, sparring or wrestling matches or exhibitions
which charges are taxed under any other law of this state, or dramatic or musical arts performances,
or live circus performances, or motion picture theaters, and except charges to a patron for admission

-2-

TSB-A-13(7)S
Sales Tax
February 25, 2013

to, or use of, facilities for sporting activities in which such patron is to be a participant, such as
bowling alleys and swimming pools.” Section 1101(d)(2) of the Tax Law defines “admission
charge” as the amount paid for admission, including any service charge and any charge for
entertainment or amusement or for the use of the facilities therefore. Section 1101(d)(10) defines
“place of amusement” as any place where any facilities for entertainment, amusement, or sports are
provided.
Section 1101(d)(5) defines “dramatic or musical arts admission charge” as any admission
charge paid for admission to a theatre, opera house, concert hall or other hall or place of assembly
for a live dramatic, choreographic or musical performance. Tax regulation §527.10(d)(2) provides
that live dramatic and musical arts performances do not include variety shows, magic shows,
circuses, animal acts, ice shows, aquatic shows and similar performances. A circus is a unique
form of entertainment with multiple acts consisting primarily of feats of physical skill, strength and
daring, interspersed with clowns for comic relief and sometimes trained animals. Ringling Bros.
and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, Inc. v. New York State Tax Commission and The City
of New York, 1978 WL 25633 at *3 (N.Y. Sup.); aff’d, 1980 WL 102278 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept.);
TSB-A-98(1)S .
All amusement charges of any type mentioned in subdivision (f) of section 1105 of the Tax
Law shall be presumed to be subject to tax until the contrary is established. The burden of proving
that any amusement charge is not taxable shall be upon the person required to collect the tax (Tax
Law §1132(c)(1)). We conclude, based upon the facts provided, that the aerial performances for
which the Petitioner charges the admission described in paragraph six above do not constitute either
a live dramatic and musical arts performance or a circus and clearly do not fall within the remaining
exception set forth in Section 1105(f)(1) of the Tax Law. Rather, it appears that her trapeze act is
similar in nature to the other acts described in Section 527.10(d)(2) of the Sales and Use Tax
Regulations. Accordingly, if Petitioner charges admission exceeding ten cents to attend her aerial
performances, those charges are subject to sales tax under Section 1105(f)(1) of the Tax Law.

DATED: February 25, 2013

NOTE:

/S/
DEBORAH R. LIEBMAN
Deputy Counsel

An Advisory Opinion is issued at the request of a person or entity. It is limited to the
facts set forth therein and is binding on the Department only with respect to the person
or entity to whom it is issued and only if the person or entity fully and accurately
describes all relevant facts. An Advisory Opinion is based on the law, regulations, and
Department policies in effect as of the date the Opinion is issued or for the specific time
period at issue in the Opinion. The information provided in this document does not
cover every situation and is not intended to replace the law or change its meaning.