Revenue tracking & monetisation
Expense management & budgeting
Tax planning & compliance
Royalties & licensing agreements
Welcome to Ocelot – expert accounting for streamers
To the outside world, streamers might well have the dream job: sharing your passion, interests, and personality around the globe. But we know the determination and effort that goes into your work.
From balancing sponsorships and brand endorsements, donations and product sales, a streamer’s life is far from straightforward. And we haven’t even mentioned the time that goes into your content.
Well, with accounting for streamers, you can lessen that load. Whether it’s managing your revenue streams, completing tax assessments, or optimising your business expenses, our experienced what our accountants for streamers are here to help.
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Why do professional streamers need accountants?
01
Complex revenue streams
Tracking and management of all streaming income, whether from endorsements, brand deals, donations, or more.
02
Tax advisory services
Comprehensive guidance on streaming taxes, helping you to remain compliant while optimising tax benefits.
03
Financial planning
With changing income streams, an accountant for streamers can offer financial planning to safeguard your future.
04
Expense Optimisation
Identify which costs can be claimed as business expenses to maximise your tax savings.
Frequently asked questions
As with all sources of income, streamers have to pay taxes on the money they earn. That being said, the amount they need to pay can often vary.
In the UK, you’ll only need to pay tax on the income you earn above your tax-free allowance. However, you’ll still need to submit a tax return for earned income if it’s over £1,000 per year.
Either way, with a streamer’s income often coming from a mix of sponsorships, donations, and so on, it can be tricky to monitor your total earnings. This is where specialist accounting for streamers becomes invaluable.
At Ocelot, we can put all your revenue streams and finances together into one tidy, easy-to-understand package. We can also advise on which expenses you’re able to claim taxes back against. At the end, you can be assured that every last penny is accounted for, made the most of, and has gone to the right place.
As a streamer, filing taxes in the UK often involves declaring your income with HMRC through a Self-Assessment tax return. Alternatively, depending on your circumstances, you might be better off in a Limited Company structure.
This means registering with HMRC and putting together a record of all your earned streaming income. You’ll also need to list out your expenses that can be claimed as business costs. For instance, this could include equipment or software subscriptions.
We know that you’re the experts in what you do. Well, we’re the experts in what we do! Given the complexities of tax laws and deductibles, you’ll want to speak to specialist accountants for streamers first. At Ocelot, we can ensure your tax assessment is filed correctly and that you’re taking advantage of every potential tax saving.
Twitch streamers make money by monetising their channel through Twitch Affiliate and Partner programs. Before being able to monetise content, streamers must build a following and establish themselves. After this, they can join the Affiliate or Partner program to start generating streaming income. Twitch streamers can also make money through other avenues such as ad revenue and donations.
Becoming a Twitch Affiliate*:
• Gain at least 50 followers
• Have an average of 3 viewers per stream
• Stream for at least 8 hours on at least 7 days of the week in the last 30 days
Becoming a Twitch Partner*:
• Stream 25 hours across 12 unique streams
• Have an average of 75 viewers
• Get an exclusive partnership invite from Twitch
*as of November 2024
The amount of tax streamers pay is based on streaming income. However, streamers are classed as self-employed, which means no matter the income, standard tax rules apply.
When operating as a self-employed worker, streamers pay income tax on their earnings via a self-assessment. They will pay National Insurance on their taxable income, and if a streamer’s profits reach £90,000, then they must also register for VAT. If a streamer has registered their company as a limited company, they will be liable to pay corporation tax.
At Ocelot, our accountants for streamers can help you navigate how much tax you need to pay so you can always stay compliant.
When streamers get paid can be different depending on each platform. However, on Twitch, streamers get paid when their channel makes at least $50 to $100.
Payouts for streamers on Twitch are made 15 days after the end of the month revenue has been earned. The exact date a streamer gets paid can depend on the payment method, as it may take a few days for the payment to settle in their bank. If you’re a streamer and you want to know when you’ll get paid, we recommend checking with your streaming platform.
The US tax withholding requires the streaming service to collect up to 30% from payments that are issued to non-US residents. This means that the applicable withholding tax will be automatically deducted from your payment(s).
However, because of the UK’s tax treaty with the US, UK residents can be eligible for a reduced rate of US withholding tax under certain circumstances.
