If you're earning money online in 2026, congratulations – you've built something that millions of people dream about. Whether you've grown an audience on OnlyFans, Fansly, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch or another platform, you're running a business. You may not think of yourself as a business owner, but HMRC almost certainly does.
Every day we speak to creators who have spent months, sometimes years, building their income before realising they have tax obligations. Some assumed the platforms dealt with everything automatically. Others believed that because they were paid through Stripe, PayPal or an overseas company, HMRC wouldn't know about their earnings. We've even spoken to creators who thought they only needed to pay tax once they withdrew the money from the platform.
None of those assumptions are correct... Read on for the truth