California Wedding Photography

New wedding photography business in California. If I charge labor only for wedding shoots and give pictures and cd disks away no charge do i need to worry about paying California for sales tax?
I was planning on paying sales tax when I purchased the items and giving them away as no charge/free so California would still get the sales tax.

Labor for wedding shoots is subject to sales tax in California if the customer receives any tangible personal property (CDs, photos). It does not matter whether you are making a separate charge for the photos or not.
When the Board of Equalizaton audits you, they will make you pay tax on the entire charge to your customers with no exemptions for labor.

2008-07-26 20:18:51 by D H

Created with animoto.com for joebuissink.com - Joe Buissink photographs weddings all over the world, including Venice Italy, the Amalfi Coast ...

i live in los angeles! san diego is too far! thanks anyways :)

In Los Angeles, The Rose Garden at the University of Southern California, Huntington Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, or any of the wineries in Temecula (about an hour north of San Diego).

2006-07-02 22:24:33 by sweetcherri02

Price: $34.95

Found advice on here about trying to start a wedding photography business. The advice I found was do not get a business license at first and try a couple of weddings and see if you are going to stick with it or not. All may not agree on it but my question is in California it sounds like the total price charged is taxable. Is that correct? Then if so how do you report sales tax if you don't have a license? And if the reply is don't then I would ask about my bank, they opened us a business checking account without a business license and or fictitious name. Does the bank report income deposited into that to any one? I am only asking in case this business does not take off what do I do about sales tax?

You are correct about the entire selling price charged to customers being subject to sales tax in CA. In order to report the sales tax , you need to get a seller's permit with the Board of Equalization. You don't need a business license to apply for a sellers permit. There is no charge. Follow the link provided to find your local BOE office. If your business does not take off, it is easy to close your permit.
If you don't get a seller's permit, but get audited by the BOE, the auditor will look at your bank accounts, both private (if you are a sole proprietor) and business. They can get a subpeona if you don't hand the statements over voluntarily. If you can't prove otherwise, the deposits will be considered taxable income. The BOE exchanges information with the FTB (CA income tax) who exchanges info with the IRS, so you could get audited by all three.

2008-08-01 19:12:25 by D H

Price: $26.99

My future husband and I are planning a backyard poolside intimate wedding reception 50-75 guests September 23rd, 2006 in Southern California Baldwin Hills area . We want to achieve a Caribbean theme, my wedding colors are burnt orange for my bridesmaids and champagne for me, the bride. I enjoyed your website and would like to receive some additional information. looking for a service that provides everything.. Cake, flowers, photography, invitations, music..etc...

Try Craigslist. Start here...
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/about/c ities.html


Find the city you live in, or live closest to, or are
planning to visit.


This is a large community site with free ads for housing
and rentals, finding new friends or lovers, pen pals,
various items for sale, want ads, personals,
services,volunteers, job openings, local events and
classes, and global discussion forums, ...


Best of luck,
Jeffrey

2006-05-18 10:04:43 by chay L

I want to get married in a garden-type setting in the Mendocino or Santa Cruz area. There are about 35 people I want to attend. How can I afford a venue, a cake, photography, and lunch for 35 people with $4000? I've tried looking at "budget wedding" sites, but there idea of a "budget wedding" is way more than I can afford.

Secure a city or county park...they're usually cheap to reserve, maybe $150. They may have restrictions on what kind of alcohol you can bring it, but it will work out. Get your cake at Safeway - they do a really beautiful job and it's very tasty! See if a friend's spouse or cousin would be willing to do the photography for $500. Formal portraits are boring anyway, just pick a few pretty spots at the park or along the route and have that person photograph you. Keep it to appetizers, preferably ones that don't have to be hot. Finger sandwiches, cheese and crackers, veggies and fruit will make a fine mid-afternoon snack.

2009-05-28 10:31:15 by Supercalifragilistic