The Actors & Performers Fix Kit
Built for actors and performers.
Actors get paid in pieces long after the job ends: residuals, penalties, overtime, reuse. Some of it is held by the union because nobody can find you. Some of it is commissioned when it shouldn't be. Some of it is a tax break written specifically for low-earning performers that most never claim. This kit starts from your own pay stubs, residual statements and contracts.
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The 9 leaks it covers
2 you can close it · 5 the other side owes it · 2 a pro decides
- Residuals sitting unclaimed because the union can't find youWhere to look first: Search SAG-AFTRA's Unclaimed Residuals Tracker by your name and any loan-out company name.Keep it from coming back: Update your address with the union every time you move.The other side owes it
- Residual statements never checked against your creditsWhere to look first: List every project you've worked that pays residuals.Keep it from coming back: Match residual statements to your credit list twice a year.The other side owes it
- Agent commission taken on money that isn't commissionableWhere to look first: Pull your pay stubs and your agency's commission statements.Keep it from coming back: Read every commission statement against the stub.The other side owes it
- Meal penalties, overtime and late-payment penalties never claimedWhere to look first: Keep your own call sheet log: call time, meal breaks, wrap, and when you were paid.Keep it from coming back: Write call, meal and wrap times on every work day.The other side owes it
- The qualified performing artist deduction never checkedWhere to look first: Check the four tests for your year: performing work as an employee for at least two employers; at least $200 from each of two; performing-arts expenses over 10% of that income; and adjusted gross income of $16,000 or less before the expenses (VERIFIED: AFM Local 802 citing IRS Publication 463).Keep it from coming back: Keep performing receipts in one folder all year.A pro decides
- Self-tapes, classes and headshots on 1099 work never trackedWhere to look first: Split your income into W-2 work and 1099 or direct-pay work.Keep it from coming back: Tag every receipt W-2 or 1099 the day you buy.You can close it
- Representation with no written commission agreementWhere to look first: List everyone who takes a percentage: agent, manager, lawyer, business manager.Keep it from coming back: Nothing commissioned without a written agreement.You can close it
- Health and pension eligibility missed by a few dollars of earningsWhere to look first: Find your plan's earnings or days threshold for health coverage and pension credit.Keep it from coming back: Check plan statements against stubs each quarter.The other side owes it
- No tax set-aside from performing income that arrives with nothing withheldWhere to look first: Mark which of your performing money comes in with no tax held back (1099, direct pay, app or card deposits).Keep it from coming back: Move the set-aside the same day each gig payment lands, and keep the quarterly dates on your calendar two weeks ahead.A pro decides
Free: one full leak from this kit
No sign-up, no email. Here is leak 1 of 9 exactly as it appears in the kit, so you can see what you get before you buy.
Residuals sitting unclaimed because the union can't find you
The other side owes it- Search SAG-AFTRA's Unclaimed Residuals Tracker by your name and any loan-out company name.
- SAG-AFTRA says that if it's holding unclaimed residuals, it's because it can't locate you, often from outdated contact information (VERIFIED: SAG-AFTRA).
- Follow the claim steps for performer, beneficiary or loan-out owner; identity must be verified.
- Update your address and payment details with the union and every payroll company you've worked with.
Your part: Search and claim.
Message to the residuals department: Hello, I'm [NAME], [MEMBER # / SSN LAST 4]. I found possible unclaimed residuals under my name on the tracker. Please tell me what you need to verify my identity and release them. My current address is [ADDRESS]. [NAME], [PHONE]
Update your address with the union every time you move.
What this kit can't decide for you: SAG-AFTRA verifies identity and decides release.
That's 1 of 9. The other 8 come the same way in the kit: steps, words to send, a habit to keep each one closed.
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What people in this work look up
When actors and performers go looking for answers, they search things like “actor residuals”, “sag aftra residuals”, “actor tax deductions” and “acting agent commission”. Those searches turn up forms, averages and other people's numbers. This kit starts from your own records instead: the 9 places money leaks in this work, where to look first and the words to send to close each one.
What you get for each leak
- Numbered steps to close each leak
- Your part, spelled out
- Words you can use: letters and scripts, ready to send (fill in the brackets)
- A habit that keeps each leak from coming back
- An honest line on what the kit can't decide for you
A page from the kit
Questions people ask
Residuals sitting unclaimed because the union can't find you: where do I start?
Start here: Search SAG-AFTRA's Unclaimed Residuals Tracker by your name and any loan-out company name. To keep it from coming back: Update your address with the union every time you move.
Residual statements never checked against your credits: where do I start?
Start here: List every project you've worked that pays residuals. To keep it from coming back: Match residual statements to your credit list twice a year.
Agent commission taken on money that isn't commissionable: where do I start?
Start here: Pull your pay stubs and your agency's commission statements. To keep it from coming back: Read every commission statement against the stub.
What it can't decide for you
This kit works from your own records. It doesn't give legal, tax, licensing or financial advice, and it never tells you what to charge. Where a CPA, attorney, insurer or state board makes the call, the kit says so and gets your records ready for them.
15-page PDF · instant download after payment · Code VYR-KIT-ACTORS-01
Opens secure checkout. Instant download after payment. 30 days to ask for a refund — refund policy · terms
Next step
- Run your free LeakReceipts check — it reads your own receipts and records and shows where money is leaking out, line by line.
- TrueNET — the whole-picture money truth: what you actually keep after every cost, across everything you earn and spend.
Use Jobber or Housecall Pro? Run the free leak check — it reads your job export in your browser and shows the money leaks the software doesn't flag. Nothing is uploaded.