What are the tax obligations for making money on OnlyFans? 💴

1. File taxes according to your income 💸

If you make money on OnlyFans, it’s important to understand how to properly file your taxes. Filing taxes as an independent contractor or freelancer can be a complicated process, but it’s important to keep up with your filing obligations. Here are the steps you need to take to ensure you are filing accurately:

💱 Estimate taxes – Estimate the taxes you will owe for the year and then divide by four, as the payments are due in equal amounts on a quarterly basis. Failing to make payments on time can result in a tax penalty.

🧾 Recordkeeping – Open a separate bank account for income payments and expenses. Use a separate credit card for business purchases. Scan and create copies of all expense documentation.

Self-Employment Tax – Use Schedule SE to calculate the Social Security and Medicare tax equivalent (FICA), as well as Self-Employment Taxes.

💵 Taxable Earnings – Add up all your expenses and deduct them from your total income. Those remaining amounts will be taxable earnings.

📋 Tax Table – Consult the tax table to figure out how much tax you owe.

 Itemized Deductions – If you itemize your deductions, state income tax may be deductible from your federal taxable income.

Using the right software and a reputable tax accountant can make the filing process a lot easier. With TurboTax Live Full Service Self-Employed, you can work with a tax expert who understands independent contractors and freelancers to ensure you don’t miss any deductions or credits. Similarly, TurboTax Self-Employed helps you find every industry-specific deduction you qualify for.

2. Understand which taxes apply to your business 💲

If you are a business that makes money through OnlyFans, you need to understand the taxes that apply to your income.

This includes paying your income tax, Social Security and Medicare tax equivalent (FICA), and Self Employment Taxes.

You should use Schedule SE to calculate your Social Security and Medicare tax and use Schedule C to calculate your income tax.

Your deductions should be added to the main form 1040 to determine your taxable income and the year’s tax table should be consulted to figure out how much tax is owed.

Additionally, you should make estimated payments to the IRS quarterly.

3. Keep records and receipts for business expenses 💵

Making money on OnlyFans means tracking your business expenses and keeping records of all those expenses. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to keep records and receipts for business expenses:

1. Find a reputable tax accountant or financial advisor and work with them throughout the year to ensure you meet all filing obligations and are prepared for tax season.
2. Use accounting software or find a bookkeeper (virtual bookkeepers are becoming more common) to keep your finances in order all year long. This will help reduce the burden of compiling and calculating all your expenses during tax season.
3. Open a separate bank account where income payments are deposited and funds for expenses are drawn from. This will help ensure a hard line is drawn between personal and business activities and increases the odds of a favorable audit.
4. Use a separate credit card for business purchases only to ensure clean recordkeeping.
5. Take advantage of technology – use your phone to scan and create copies of all expense documentation.
6. Make sure to keep receipts and documents for all your business expenses and write down the purpose of each expense.
7. If you work from home, you can deduct a portion of your household expenses, such as rent, house payments, and utilities, as long as you have a studio or office reserved full-time for business use.
8. Keep track of all the goods and services you purchase, such as electronics, office furniture, advertising, supplies, domain and hosting fees, and insurance.
9. If you use items in your personal life as well as for business, make sure to estimate the percentage of business vs personal use.
10. If your content creation or influencer activity consistently fails to earn a profit, the IRS might categorize it as a hobby. In that case, the IRS will disallow your business tax deductions.

Following these steps can help you keep better track of your business expenses and make sure you are organized come tax season.

If you would like to read the Ultimate Guide to taxes for Onlyfans, click here to read now.

4. Make sure to claim the proper deductions 🛄

Making money on OnlyFans is a legitimate business and therefore requires you to meet certain tax obligations. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you understand your filing obligations:

1. Find a reputable tax accountant and work with them throughout the year to ensure you meet your filing obligations and are prepared come tax season.
2. Use accounting software or find a bookkeeper (virtual bookkeepers are becoming more common) to help you keep your finances in order all year long. This reduces the burden of needing to compile and calculate all of your expenses during tax season.
3. Open a separate bank account where income payments are deposited and funds for expenses will be drawn from. This ensures a hard line is drawn between personal and business activities and increases the odds of a favorable audit.
4. Similarly, use a separate credit card for business purchases only to ensure clean recordkeeping.
5. Take advantage of technology – use your phone to scan and create copies of all expense documentation.
6. If you earned over $600, any brand you work for should send you a 1099 form. You should include it in the taxable earnings section of form 1040.
7. In order to deduct your business expenses from your total income, you should first add up all your expenses. Those remaining amounts will be taxable earnings for you. Your Schedule SE must be filled out using Schedule C to indicate that this is the case.
8. On Schedule C, you list your earnings and expenses to determine how much profit you made. Combined with other income and deductions, it is added to the main form 1040 to determine your taxable income.
9. The Social Security and Medicare tax equivalent (FICA) can be computed using Schedule SE. There are also what is known as “Self Employment Taxes” (often called simply “SE Tax”), and they are imposed separately from income tax.
10. When you have determined your taxable income, consult this year’s tax table to figure out how much tax you owe.
11. To keep your tax receipts organized, you can store them online using software or use a business bank account/credit card specifically designated for your OnlyFans deductions.

Following these steps will help ensure that you meet your tax obligations and are prepared for tax season.

5. File your taxes on time ⏲️

It is extremely important to file taxes on time when making money on OnlyFans. Failing to make payments on time can result in a tax penalty and can also incur an underpayment penalty of up to 3% for freelancers. 

To ensure that your taxes are handled properly, it is recommended to consult a reputable tax accountant and use accounting software or find a bookkeeper. 

Additionally, it is important to open a separate bank account and use a separate credit card for business activities, so that your recordkeeping is accurate and up-to-date. 

By taking advantage of technology, such as using your phone to scan and create copies of all expense documentation, you will be able to keep your finances organized and make sure you meet the quarterly tax payment deadlines of April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the next year.

6. Know how to handle self-employment taxes 📃

If you are making money on OnlyFans as a self-employed individual, then it is important to be aware of your tax obligations. 

At a minimum, you must pay quarterly estimated taxes to the IRS. You can calculate your estimated taxes with a tax calculator and use accounting software or find a bookkeeper to help you keep your finances in order all year long. 

It’s also a good idea to open a separate bank account and credit card for business purchases only to ensure clean recordkeeping.

Once you have estimated your taxes, it’s important to make the payment on time or face a tax penalty. 

To make your estimated payments, you will need to divide your estimated taxes by four and make payments on the following dates: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of filing your taxes, you can consider using TurboTax Live Full Service Self-Employed. 

This service provides a tax expert who is knowledgeable on independent contractors and freelancers who can do your taxes for you and make sure you don’t miss any deductions.

Of course, you can also file your taxes on your own with TurboTax Self-Employed to make sure you get every dollar you deserve.

When filing your taxes, you will have to pay self-employment taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes. 

Understanding the tax implications of self-employment and OnlyFans is essential to ensure you remain compliant with the law.

7. Check for any tax breaks that apply to your business 🏢

Content creators and influencers who make money from OnlyFans may be eligible for certain tax breaks. One of the first steps is to determine if you are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a freelancer, as this will determine which tax deductions you are eligible for. 

Generally, if you earn over $400 from your OnlyFans activities, you need to pay self-employment tax. The IRS recognizes that many expenses are ordinary and necessary for running a successful business, so you can deduct the cost of goods and services that are related to your business on Schedule C.

The content creator and influencer write-offs can include electronics, office furniture, advertising, supplies, domain and hosting fees, and insurance. If you work from home, you may be able to deduct a portion of your household expenses, such as rent, house payments, and utilities. 

Additionally, you should open a separate bank account and use a separate credit card for business purchases to ensure clean recordkeeping and make filing taxes easier. 

Finally, use accounting software or virtual bookkeepers to help you keep your finances in order all year long, and consult with a tax accountant to ensure you are meeting all filing obligations.

8. Talk to a tax professional for help 🧑‍💼️

If you are making money on OnlyFans and need advice on how to file taxes, it is best to find a reputable tax accountant and work with them throughout the year to ensure you meet your filing obligations. 

You can also use accounting software or find a bookkeeper to help you keep your finances in order all year long. 

Additionally, it is important to open a separate bank account where income payments are deposited and to use a separate credit card for business purchases to ensure clean recordkeeping. 

Finally, take advantage of technology and use your phone to scan and create copies of all expense documentation.

You may also be able to find tax advice online, in forums, or on sites like Intuit (TurboTax). Ultimately, it is best to hire a tax expert to help you handle all of your taxes and filing obligations.