If you receive products and benefits from your content creation activity, the monetary value of the items should be included in your tax return. This applies where these items are received as well as, or instead of, cash payments.
When products or benefits you’re given are considered taxable
Not all products or benefits you’re given will be income. The rules that apply are similar to income from payments or donations.
It's important to consider:
- how regularly you receive income from products or benefits
- the relationship between you and those making payments to you
- the reason for the payments
- whether the item can be converted into money (for example you can sell it).
Example
If you like fashion and post online in your spare time and receive gifts of samples and giveaways from time to time then they are unlikely to be income. If you are an established fashion content creator working to promote brands and you regularly accept gifted products, then they will be income.
If you give items to friends or charity
Items will be taxable when they are received. If you accept an item and then give it to friends or to charity, it will still be income because you accepted the item and then chose to give it away.
If you do not want to be taxed, do not accept the item.
For more help
When content creators need to pay tax on payments, products and services