What Can Influencers Claim as Tax Deductions? A Simple UK Guide
If you're a YouTuber, TikToker, podcaster or Instagram influencer, you're probably spending money to create content. The good news? Many of those costs can legally be claimed as business expenses – meaning you’ll pay less tax.
But what counts as an expense, and what doesn't? Let's break it down in simple terms 👇
💻 1. Equipment You Use to Make Content
You can claim:
Cameras, phones, tripods, lights, microphones
Laptops, tablets, hard drives
Editing software (like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut)
Important: If you use it for both work and personal life, you can only claim the business portion. For example, if your phone is 60% for content and 40% personal, only 60% of the cost is claimable.
🏠 2. Home Office Costs
If you edit videos, record podcasts or reply to brand deals from home, that counts as working from home.
You can claim:
A portion of your rent or mortgage interest
Heating, electricity and internet
Cleaning costs
A desk, chair or monitor
👉 HMRC has a simplified method (flat rate), or you can work out the actual cost by percentage of use.
🚗 3. Travel & Mileage
If you drive or travel somewhere purely for business – say, to film a collab, attend an event, or meet a brand – those costs can be claimed.
You can claim:
Mileage (45p per mile up to 10,000 miles)
Train, bus, Uber, taxi fares
Hotel stays
Meals while travelling (if overnight)
Not claimable: Driving to the shops or going on holiday and vlogging it. HMRC won’t buy that.
🎁 4. Props, Clothes & Products for Shoots
Claimable if:
You only bought it to create content. For example:
Fancy dress for a sketch
Background decor for a shoot
Food for a mukbang
Beauty products for a tutorial
🛑 Not claimable if you’d have bought it anyway. Everyday clothes usually don’t count unless they’re branded uniforms or costume.
🌐 5. Subscriptions & Online Services
You can claim subscriptions that help your content or business grow.
Examples:
Canva Pro, CapCut, ChatGPT Plus
YouTube Premium (if you use it for research or content strategy)
Spotify (if used in podcasting or content ideas)
📱 6. Phone & Internet
Your phone and Wi-Fi are essential tools. If you use them for your business, you can claim a portion.
Phone contract
Mobile data
Broadband
Just be honest – if it’s 70% business use, claim 70%.
👩💼 7. Accountant or Business Support
Hiring an accountant (like me 😄) is a business cost. So are:
Legal advice
Business insurance
Software like QuickBooks or Xero
📢 8. Marketing & Ads
Promoting your content? You can claim:
Paid ads on Instagram, TikTok, Google
Tools like Meta Ads Manager or analytics platforms
Website hosting and design
💸 What You Can’t Claim
Some things are off-limits:
Everyday clothes (unless branded or costume)
Personal makeup and toiletries
Holidays (even if you vlog them)
Fines or speeding tickets
Gym memberships (unless you're a fitness coach)
✅ Quick Tips to Stay HMRC-Safe
Keep all receipts and invoices
Use a separate business bank account
Log expenses weekly – don’t leave it all to tax season
Work with a pro – they’ll find things you miss (and help you avoid penalties)
👋 Need Help From an Accountant Who Gets the Creator Space?
Claiming expenses isn’t just about saving tax – it’s about running your content like a real business. And the more tax you save, the more you can reinvest in growing your brand.
I help UK-based content creators and online business owners like you:
Pay less tax
Stay compliant with HMRC
Set up limited companies
Structure income from brand deals, ad revenue, digital products and more
📞 Book your free call here — no pressure, just solid advice tailored to how you earn.