An accountant has lifted the lid on what some Aussie influencers have tried to claim back on tax — but fret not, normies, nothing slips by the overlords at the Australian Taxation Office.
The intel comes courtesy of Sydney-based accountant Kirsty Donachie, the CEO of a firm which specialises in accounting for Aussie content creators.
Donachie recently spoke with The Daily Telegraph, revealing that — and I kid you not — Botox is a common expense influencers have tried to claim when tax time rolls around, presumably on the grounds they have camera-facing jobs.
I’d raise my eyebrows in shock, but I just got my forehead done.
“Some of our clients have tried to claim Botox … which obviously seems personal in nature by the ATO, so you definitely cannot claim those sorts of things,” Donachie said.
According to Donachie, influencers with specific niches, like travel creators, have attempted to claim whole-ass caravans worth $40,000, but that’s another expense that would (thankfully) be flagged by the ATO.
“There’s definitely a personal component there … so you can’t do that, it’s unreasonable,” Donachie said.
Home gyms were another expense Donachie said influencers might misclassify as a business cost (because biceps are essential for engagement), but there are some forms of content, particularly in the adult space, where tax deductions are warranted.
“[Sex work creators] can claim streaming services like porn,” Donachie revealed. “If we’ve got an OnlyFans creator, if they have a subscription to another membership, then that is deductible because it’s almost like research.”
Lingerie, props and “almost everything in that area” can also be claimed back by adult creators “because it’s part of their work”, Donachie added.
It comes after the ATO announced a crackdown on all sorts of digital side hustles, including stricter scrutiny on gifts, PR packages and freebies that haven’t been properly declared by influencers.
The crackdown has been in effect since as far back as 2023, and it treats content creators like small businesses — meaning the gifts they receive are “subject to the same income tax and GST treatment as normal cash or credit payments”, Donachie said.
“They need to report it … especially now with all the data matching, it’s going to be more enforceable going forward,” she added.
Anyway, I’m off for a little (tax-deductible) touch-up to my crows feet. ATO, if you’re reading this… no you’re not.
Lead image: Paramount Pictures
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