Judy Is a Self-Employed Musician Who Performs for a Variety

question 55

Essay

Judy is a self-employed musician who performs for a variety of events. This year, Judy was fined $250 by the city for violating the city's noise ordinance with a relatively loud performance. As a consequence, Judy contributed $1,000 to a campaign committee formed to recall the city's mayor. Judy normally hires three part-time employees to help her schedule events and transport equipment. Judy paid a total of $33,000 to her employees through June of this year. In June, Judy fired her part-time employees and hired her husband to replace them. However, Judy paid him $55,000 rather than $33,000. Judy is on the cash method and calendar year, and she wants to know what amount of these expenditures is deductible as business expenses.

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Definitions:

Body Image

The perception and attitude an individual has about their physical self, including beliefs about appearance, health, and functionality.

Barbie Dolls

A brand of fashion dolls introduced by Mattel in 1959, often criticized and praised for their influence on children's understanding of body image, gender roles, and social expectations.

Convergent Thinking

Thinking aimed at finding the one right answer to a problem.

Creativity

The ability to produce original and valuable ideas, solutions, or expressions, often involving imaginative thinking and problem-solving skills.