Can You Claim OnlyFans On Taxes?

Making money on OnlyFans feels great until tax season rolls around and you suddenly realize—yep, this counts as real income. But don’t panic. Whether you're pulling in a few hundred or multiple five figures a month, understanding what you can claim on your taxes as an OnlyFans creator can seriously reduce how much you owe. Yes, you can claim OnlyFans expenses on taxes—but only if you know how to do it properly.

Can You Claim OnlyFans On Taxes?

Short answer: yes. Long answer? It depends on how organized you are.

If you're earning money from OnlyFans, you're considered self-employed. That means you’re running a business, even if it’s from your bedroom. And like any business, you’re allowed to deduct ordinary and necessary expenses—aka, the stuff that helps you earn income.

This could include your phone, camera, lighting, outfits, makeup, props, subscription management tools, editing software, and more. You can even deduct a portion of your rent or utilities if you shoot at home. But just slapping receipts on a spreadsheet isn’t enough. You need to treat this like a business from day one.

Need help setting things up? Our OnlyFans Management Guide for Creators covers how to structure your creator business like a pro.

What Counts As a Tax-Deductible Expense?

If it helps you make money on OnlyFans, chances are high it’s deductible. Here are categories that typically qualify:

Home Office & Utilities

If you regularly film or edit in a specific area of your home, you can claim a portion of rent, electricity, internet, and even cleaning costs. Just make sure the space is used mostly for work, or the deduction might not hold up if you're ever audited.

Equipment & Tech

Tripods, ring lights, DSLRs, microphones, and editing software? All deductible. Even your phone bill can be partially written off if you use your phone to film, manage DMs, or post content.

Costumes, Lingerie & Props

Outfits and props you use exclusively for content creation? Yep, deductible. Just don’t try to claim your entire Zara haul—stick to purchases directly tied to your OnlyFans brand.

Looking for ideas on what kind of content drives income? Check out OnlyFans Content Ideas to plan purchases around high-performing formats.

Subscriptions & Marketing Tools

Third-party apps to schedule posts, message fans, or run analytics? Deductible. Same for platforms or agencies that help with promotion or chatting. And if you’re investing in shoutouts or ads, you can absolutely write those costs off too.

Read more in our Ultimate OnlyFans Marketing Guide for Creators.

What About OnlyFans’ 20% Cut?

Many creators don’t realize this—but yes, you can write off the OnlyFans platform fee. That 20% commission they take? It’s considered a direct business expense. Just make sure you’re tracking your payouts vs. gross earnings so you can show the deduction clearly.

How Do You Track Everything?

Good tax prep starts with solid tracking. Ideally, you should:

• Use a separate bank account for OnlyFans income and expenses

• Save all receipts and invoices

• Log your income and purchases monthly

• Work with a tax professional who understands creator income

If you’re not sure what category an expense falls under, it’s better to flag it than to guess. And if you haven’t started tracking yet—do it now. Seriously. Even if you’ve been on the platform for months, it’s not too late to backtrack and gather records.

Want a breakdown on reporting OnlyFans income properly? Check our OnlyFans Reports to IRS – Here Are the Facts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many creators miss out on deductions because they think they don’t qualify or they're scared of triggering a red flag. But not claiming eligible business expenses means giving away money for free. Avoid these mistakes:

• Mixing business with personal accounts: Makes it messy to separate what’s deductible.

• Not declaring income at all: Platforms like OnlyFans report to tax authorities. You will be flagged if you don’t.

• Claiming personal items: Don’t try to deduct a couch unless it’s literally in every video.

• Forgetting digital costs: Cloud storage, OnlyFans manager tools, watermarking apps—they add up and are often missed.

Need help separating personal vs. professional expenses? The OnlyFans Tax Guide breaks it down in creator-friendly language.

What If You Don’t Have a Huge Following Yet?

Even small creators need to file. Whether you’ve made $100 or $100,000, the rules are the same. And in fact, if you're just starting out, writing off early expenses can actually reduce your tax bill significantly.

Starting from scratch? Here's how to Start an OnlyFans Without Followers. You’ll want to track every dollar from day one, so you can grow without financial stress.

Does It Matter Where You Live?

Absolutely. Tax rules vary by country and even by state. Some allow home studio write-offs more generously, others treat digital content differently. But no matter where you live, OnlyFans earnings are taxable.

If you’re unsure about your country’s tax stance on content creation, we’ve put together a legal overview here: Is OnlyFans Illegal in My Country?

Don’t Forget to File Your 1099 (or Equivalent)

If you’re based in the U.S., you’ll receive a 1099 form if you earned over $600 in the year. That’s what you use to report your income to the IRS. Other countries have equivalent forms. Keep this document safe and use it when prepping your taxes.

Need a walkthrough? Check out our post on how to fill out a W9 for OnlyFans if you’re just getting started with tax forms.

Final Tips: Make Taxes Work For You

Treat your OnlyFans like a business and you can use tax season to your advantage. The more you earn, the more your deductions matter. If you want to:

• Lower your taxable income

• Stay audit-proof

• Feel in control of your creator finances

…you need to keep clean records and claim every legitimate expense.

If managing this sounds like a headache, that’s what we’re here for. At PhoeniX Creators, we help creators handle everything from chatting to taxes, strategy to growth. You focus on content—we help with the boring stuff (and the money-making stuff too).

Want to work with us or ask questions about taxes? Get in touch here.