Free Creator Tax Resource

Creator Expenses Checklist

A practical checklist for Irish influencers, YouTubers, TikTok creators, streamers, podcasters and other digital creators who want to organise their business expenses properly.

View the Checklist Ask Paddy About Your Expenses

What expenses can a content creator claim?

A business expense will generally need to be incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of your creator business. If something is used for both business and personal reasons, only an identifiable business portion may potentially be allowable.

Use this checklist to organise your records—but remember that whether an individual expense qualifies will depend on how and why it was incurred.

Your working checklist

Expenses to review with your accountant

Tick the items that apply to your creator business and gather the supporting invoices, receipts and payment records.

Content Equipment

  • Cameras and lenses
  • Microphones and audio equipment
  • Lighting, tripods and stands
  • Computers, tablets and monitors
  • Storage drives and memory cards
  • Podcasting or streaming equipment
  • Repairs and maintenance of business equipment

Software and Online Tools

  • Video and photo-editing software
  • Graphic-design subscriptions
  • Social-media scheduling tools
  • Cloud storage and file-transfer services
  • Email-marketing platforms
  • Website apps, plugins and hosting
  • Music, stock-image or media licences

Marketing and Brand Costs

  • Website design and maintenance
  • Online advertising and promoted posts
  • Branding and graphic-design services
  • Photography and videography services
  • Business cards and promotional materials
  • PR, marketing or talent-management fees
  • Creator platform and marketplace fees

Professional Services

  • Accountancy and bookkeeping fees
  • Legal advice connected to the business
  • Contract-review costs
  • Business insurance
  • Agent or management commissions
  • Freelance editors and designers
  • Other business subcontractors

Phone, Internet and Workspace

  • Business portion of phone bills
  • Business portion of internet costs
  • Studio or office rent
  • Business portion of qualifying home-working costs
  • Office furniture and storage
  • Stationery, printing and postage
  • Business-related repairs or cleaning

Travel and Content Production

  • Qualifying business travel
  • Travel to business meetings or paid shoots
  • Location or studio hire
  • Production props used for business content
  • Event or conference admission for business purposes
  • Courier and equipment-transport costs
  • Accommodation where qualifying business rules are met

Expenses that need particular care

An item appearing in your videos does not automatically turn it into an allowable business expense. Revenue will consider the true purpose of the purchase and whether it has a private or personal use.

  • Ordinary clothing is generally not allowable simply because it appears in content.
  • Personal grooming, beauty treatments and everyday personal costs require particular care.
  • Your own food and personal travel are not normally allowable business expenses.
  • Client or business entertainment is generally not tax deductible.
  • Mixed personal and business expenses should not automatically be claimed in full.
  • Large equipment purchases may be treated as capital expenditure rather than an ordinary expense.

Keep evidence for every claim

Keep clear records showing what was purchased, how much was paid and how the expense relates to your creator business. Irish businesses are generally required to retain relevant supporting records for six years.

  • Invoices and purchase receipts
  • Bank and card statements
  • Subscription confirmations
  • Mileage and business-travel records
  • Notes explaining mixed-use expenses
  • Contracts and payment statements

Not sure what you can claim?

Gahan Accountants helps Irish influencers and content creators understand their expenses, organise their records and meet their tax obligations with confidence.

Book a Creator Tax Consultation Explore the Creator Tax Hub

This checklist provides general information only and does not constitute individual tax advice. The tax treatment of an expense depends on your circumstances, business structure and the purpose for which the cost was incurred.