Streaming Gear Tax Deductions for Twitch and YouTube Creators

Your setup is your workplace. For Twitch, YouTube and Kick streamers, the PC, camera, microphone, lights and everything wired into them are tools of the trade, and their cost is generally deductible against your streaming income. This guide explains exactly what streaming gear you can claim in Australia, how depreciation works, and the records that make a claim bulletproof.

The Basic Rule

You can claim a deduction for equipment to the extent you use it to earn assessable income. If a piece of gear is used only for streaming, you can claim 100% of its business-related cost. If it is used partly for personal gaming or general use, you claim only the business-use percentage. Working out a fair, honest split (and being able to explain it) is the key to claiming confidently.

The $300 Rule and Depreciation

How you claim an item depends on what it cost:

• $300 or less. You can generally claim the full cost immediately in the year you buy it.
• More than $300. You usually depreciate it, claiming a portion of the cost each year over its effective life.

A gaming PC, a good camera or a capture card will usually be depreciated because they cost more than $300. Small-business rules can sometimes allow a faster write-off, which is worth checking with us based on your situation.

Streaming Gear You Can Typically Claim

To the extent it is used for your channel, streaming gear commonly includes:

• Streaming and gaming PC, plus consoles used to create content
• Monitors, including a dedicated second monitor for chat and alerts
• Cameras and webcams, lenses, tripods and mounts
• Microphones, audio interfaces, boom arms and headphones
• Capture cards and stream decks
• Lighting such as key lights, ring lights and LED panels
• Green screens, backdrops and acoustic panels
• Peripherals like keyboards, mice, controllers and chairs used for streaming
• Storage and networking such as external drives, NAS and routers

Don't Forget the Running Costs

Gear is only part of the picture. Streamers can also claim ongoing costs in proportion to business use:

• Internet and the business share of your electricity
• Software and subscriptions such as editing suites, OBS plugins, music licensing and overlays
• Home office or studio running costs via the home office deduction
• Games bought to stream and platform fees

Keeping Records That Hold Up

For every item, keep the tax invoice or receipt, the date, the cost, and a note of how it is used and its business-use percentage. Photos of your setup and a simple asset list make life easy at tax time and protect you if the ATO ever asks. Our record-keeping guide shows a simple system that takes minutes a week.

A Word on Mixed-Use Items

The ATO knows a gaming PC gets used for fun too. Claiming 100% of a machine you also game on personally is a red flag. Be honest about the split, document how you arrived at it, and you can claim your entitlement with confidence. If you are not sure how to apportion a big-ticket item, that is exactly the kind of thing we sort out for creators every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim my gaming PC as a streamer?

Yes, to the extent you use it to earn income. If your PC is used partly for streaming and partly for personal gaming, you claim only the business-use percentage. Because a gaming PC usually costs more than $300, you generally depreciate it over its effective life rather than claiming the whole cost in one year.

What is the $300 rule?

Individual items of equipment that cost $300 or less and are used to earn income can generally be claimed in full in the year you buy them. Items costing more than $300 are depreciated, meaning you claim a portion of the cost each year over the asset's effective life.

Do I need to keep receipts for my gear?

Yes. Keep the receipt or tax invoice for every item, along with a note of what it is used for and its business-use percentage. Without records the ATO can disallow the claim, so store digital copies as you go.