What Can Content Creators Claim on Tax in Australia?

Content creator tax deductions in Australia are the work-related expenses you can claim against your content income, including cameras and equipment, editing software, home office running costs, phone, internet and travel to shoots. Claiming them well can save you thousands, while claiming the wrong things is a fast way to attract an ATO audit.

Here is a complete, plain-English guide to what content creators can claim on tax in Australia, and the records you need to back it up.

The Golden Rule of Creator Deductions

To claim a deduction, an expense must be directly related to earning your income, you must have paid for it yourself and not been reimbursed, and you must have a record to prove it. If something is used for both work and private life, you can only claim the work-related portion.

Equipment and Gear

• Cameras, lenses, lighting, microphones and tripods
• Computers, laptops, tablets and phones used for your content
• Ring lights, backdrops, gimbals and other production gear

Anything costing $300 or less can be claimed in full in the year you buy it. Items over $300 are depreciated over their effective life instead.

Software and Subscriptions

• Editing and design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut or CapCut Pro
• Stock footage, music licensing and asset subscriptions
• Scheduling, analytics and link-in-bio tools
• Cloud storage for your files

Home Office Running Costs

If you create from home, you can claim home office deductions for electricity, internet and the decline in value of office furniture, either using the fixed rate per hour or by apportioning your actual costs.

Phone, Internet and Subscriptions

You can claim the work-related percentage of your phone and internet bills, plus subscriptions you genuinely use for your content. Keep a record of how you worked out the business-use split.

Travel and Car

Travel to shoots, brand events and collabs can be deductible. You can claim car expenses using cents per kilometre or a logbook, and the work portion of flights and accommodation for trips away.

Other Common Deductions

• Platform and payment processing fees (Patreon, PayPal, Stripe)
• Bank fees on a dedicated business account
• Accountant and bookkeeping fees
• Advertising and marketing to promote your content
• Props and materials used to make specific content

What You Generally Cannot Claim

Some things feel like they should be deductible but are not. Conventional clothing, makeup and grooming are treated as private, even for influencers. The private portion of any mixed-use expense, and anything you were reimbursed for, also cannot be claimed.

Records You Need

• Receipts or invoices for everything you claim
• A note of the business reason for each purchase
• Your business-use percentage for mixed-use items
• A logbook or hours record where relevant

Good records turn a stressful tax time into a quick one and protect you if the ATO ever asks questions. Keep them as you go rather than scrambling in July.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can content creators claim on tax in Australia?

Content creators can claim expenses directly related to earning their income, including cameras and equipment, computers and phones (work portion), editing and design software, home office running costs, internet, travel to shoots, platform fees and accountant fees. Conventional clothing, makeup and the private portion of mixed-use costs generally cannot be claimed.

Can I claim my camera, computer and phone?

Yes, for the work-related portion. Items costing $300 or less can be claimed in full in the year of purchase, while more expensive gear is depreciated over its effective life. For phones and computers also used privately, you can only claim the business-use percentage.

Do I need receipts to claim deductions?

Yes. To claim a deduction you need a record such as a receipt or invoice, you must have paid for the item yourself, and it must relate to earning your income. For mixed-use items you also need to show how you calculated the business-use portion.