Can I deduct Netflix, Hulu & other streaming services as a college drama major?

As someone who works with tax preparation for people in the arts, I can help clarify this for you. Unfortunately, as a student, you generally cannot deduct streaming services as educational expenses. The tax code distinguishes between working professionals and students. While professional actors can often deduct these expenses as business expenses on Schedule C (if they file as self-employed), students typically cannot. Education expenses for students usually fall under different categories like the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, which are specifically for tuition, books, and required course materials. Streaming services wouldn't qualify under these credits because they're not specifically required by your educational program. If you were doing some paid acting work on the side that generated income (reported on Schedule C), you might be able to deduct a portion of these services as business expenses against that specific income. But as a regular student without self-employment income from acting, these would likely be considered personal expenses.

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Theatre professor here - this is actually something we discuss in our Professional Development course. The key distinction is whether you have income from acting that you're reporting. If you're just a student with no income from acting, these are personal expenses. But if you're earning money from acting (even small gigs), and reporting that income on Schedule C, then a portion of these services can be justified as professional research. Pro tip: Start keeping a viewing log now. Note which shows/films you watched specifically for professional development, what you studied (acting techniques, dialects, etc.), and how it relates to your professional goals. This documentation is essential if you're ever questioned about these deductions.

I tried deducting streaming services during college when I had some acting income and got audited! The IRS agent told me that you need to be very careful about how you claim these. Here's what I learned: 1. You absolutely NEED income from acting to claim these deductions 2. You should only deduct the percentage used for professional research 3. You need documentation showing which specific shows/films were watched for professional purposes I ended up having to pay back the deductions plus a small penalty because I claimed 100% of my streaming services without proper documentation. Don't make my mistake!