Beyond the Feed: Building Wealth on Social Media
YouTube & Twitch Accounting Services in Australia
You didn’t start your YouTube channel or Twitch stream to think about tax returns, ABNs, or the ATO. You started because you love creating content, growing your community, and building a brand. But once money starts hitting your bank account, whether from YouTube AdSense, Twitch subs, Bits, Patreon, Substack, or brand deals, the ATO sees you as running a business. When you’re juggling sponsorships, merch, donations, and payments in different currencies, it can quickly get overwhelming.
At Dolman Bateman, we help content creators turn their passion into a sustainable business. We know the creator economy inside out, and we’ll help you stay compliant, save on tax, and keep more of what you earn so you can focus on your content, not your bookkeeping.
From Streams to Income: Do YouTubers & Twitch Creators Pay Tax?
Yes. All of it. Every cent you earn is taxable income, whether it comes from:
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YouTube AdSense and channel memberships
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Twitch subs, Bits, and donations
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Affiliate links and sponsorships
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Patreon support, Substack or fan donations
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Merchandise sales or brand collaborations
Even donations count if it’s income from your streaming activity, the ATO wants to see them reported. Many creators assume small or “gift” income doesn’t count, but with PayPal, Stripe, and Google AdSense leaving a clear paper trail, the ATO is already watching.
The Deduction Dilemma: What Can You Claim?
The upside of being a creator is that many of your business costs can reduce your tax bill but only if you know what you’re entitled to. Common deductions include:
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Hardware: PCs, laptops, cameras, consoles, microphones, headsets, green screens.
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Software & tools: Editing programs, design subscriptions, overlays, streaming platforms.
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Home office expenses: Internet, electricity, workspace setup.
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Travel costs: To events, expos, or collabs.
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Merch & production costs: Printing, shipping, design.
⚠️ The catch: you can’t just claim 100% of everything. If you use your gaming PC 60% for work and 40% for personal gaming, only the 60% counts. The ATO is clear on this, and they can ask for evidence.
Many Streams, One Creator: Tracking Income the Right Way
Most creators don’t just have one source of income. You might have:
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YouTube AdSense in USD
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Twitch donations in AUD
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Affiliate marketing in EUR
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Sponsorship payments direct to bank
The ATO doesn’t care where it comes from or what currency it’s in.
It all has to be converted into Australian dollars and declared. Without proper tracking, it’s easy to under-report or overpay. That’s where we step in: we set up systems to keep all of this tidy, so tax time is stress-free.
Common Mistakes Streamers Make
We see the same mistakes over and over again:
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Not registering for an ABN even though they’re clearly running a business.
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Forgetting about GST once they pass $75k in income.
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Claiming personal gear as fully deductible.
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Spending all their income without putting aside tax.
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Thinking “donations” don’t count as taxable income.
These errors can cost you big time, either in penalties or in missed savings.
Why choose us?
We Know the Influencer World
From gifted products to brand collaborations and ad revenue, we understand how creators earn, and how the ATO expects it to be reported.
We Speak Your Language
(and the ATO’s)
No boring tax jargon here. We break things down clearly, so you know exactly what’s going on with your money and your tax.
We're Your Finance Partner, Not Just Your Accountant
Need help mid-campaign? Thinking of launching a product line? We’re here all year round, not just at tax time.
What can we provide for you?
Tax Services Tailored for Influencers
Get your tax done right with accounting services tailored for social media influencers. Whether you operate as an individual, through a company, or a trust, we’ll maximise your refund and ensure full ATO compliance. Specialised tax returns for content creators that are accurate, optimised, and stress-free.
Bookkeeping for CONTENT CREATORS
Stay financially organised with bookkeeping services built for influencers. We track income from brand deals, manage your GST, and categorise expenses, so your accounts stay ATO-compliant. Get monthly reports, fixed fees, and clarity on where your money’s going.
International Tax Advice for Content Creators
Paid in USD? Working with overseas brands? We offer expert international tax advice for influencers earning income globally. From foreign income reporting to double taxation and ATO requirements, we’ll make sure you're covered in every country.
Starting Out or Scaling Up? We’ve Got You.
Ready to level up your brand? We help content creators and influencers set up the right business structure, sole trader, company, or trust and register for tax, GST, and ABNs. Start strong with expert guidance tailored to the influencer space.
BUILD YOUR EMPIRE!
Launching your own product line, beauty, fashion, digital downloads, or merch? We’ll help you structure, register, and scale your business from side hustle to influencer empire, all with financial systems designed to grow with you.
STay ahead with strategic tax Planning
Keep more of your income with smart influencer tax planning. We help identify deductions, structure your income, and plan for ATO deadlines, so you stay ahead, save more, and grow with confidence.
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CONTENT CREATORS. INFLUENCERS. ARTISTS. ACTORS.
WE GOT YOU COVERED!
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