This is not accountancy advice. It is the version that stops you being surprised, and the version most guides skip because it is dull.
Income from selling content is self-employment income. It is taxable, and the platforms report it.
What to track from day one
- Every payout, with the platform fee shown separately
- Everything you spend: postage, bags, props, the phone stand
- Mileage if you post items from a depot
A spreadsheet with two tabs is enough. Date, gross, fee, net, and a second tab for expenses.
The 25% rule
Move a quarter of every payout into a separate savings pot the day it lands. If you owe less, you have a buffer. If you owe more, you were warned.
Quarterly estimates
Once you are reliably clearing a few hundred a month, you likely need to pay quarterly rather than annually. Missing an estimate triggers a penalty that has nothing to do with how much you earned.
What you can claim
Anything wholly used for the work: postage, packaging, props, a portion of your phone bill, editing software. Keep receipts, even photographed ones.
Get an accountant the month you clear $1,000. Before that, a spreadsheet and the 25% pot will do.