HMRC Knows About Your OnlyFans Income… Now What? 👀

HMRC contacted me about my OnlyFans income

Received a letter or message from HMRC about your OnlyFans income? Don’t panic — but don’t ignore it either.

For many OnlyFans creators, seeing HMRC and OnlyFans mentioned in the same letter is enough to make the stomach drop. But receiving correspondence from HMRC does not automatically mean you are in serious trouble, that you owe a huge tax bill, or that you are being investigated for tax fraud. It does mean you need to understand why HMRC has contacted you and what you should do next. And this is where getting the right advice can make a big difference.

Why might HMRC be contacting you about OnlyFans?

HMRC can check whether tax returns are accurate and complete, and there are a number of reasons why they may contact someone about their tax affairs.

For creators, this could involve questions about:

• Your OnlyFans income

• Your Self Assessment tax return

• Income from other platforms

• Expenses you have claimed

• Whether you have registered as self-employed

• Information included on previous tax returns

• Income that HMRC believes may not have been declared correctly

There is also another important development creators need to be aware of...

Digital platforms can report information to HMRC

Since 1 January 2024, rules have required certain digital platforms to collect information about sellers and, where the reporting rules apply, report information to HMRC. HMRC also explains that online content creators may need to tell HMRC about income received through online platforms. However, that doesn't mean "HMRC has received information, therefore you owe tax."

In fact, HMRC specifically states that information reported by a platform does not automatically mean that tax is due.

But it does mean that creators should take their tax responsibilities seriously.

Your next steps

Here's what NOT to do if you receive a letter from HMRC:

Let's start with the obvious one...

❌ Don't put it in the drawer and hope it disappears. Unfortunately, HMRC letters don't tend to become less important with age. If the letter gives you a deadline, make a note of it. Ignoring correspondence can make an already manageable situation considerably more stressful.

❌ Don't immediately assume the worst. An HMRC query isn't automatically an accusation. HMRC may simply be asking questions or requesting additional information. If it is a compliance check, HMRC should tell you what they want to check and why.

❌ Don't fire off a rushed response. This is particularly important if HMRC is asking detailed questions about your income, expenses or previous tax returns. Before responding, make sure you understand exactly what HMRC is asking for and that the information you provide is accurate and complete.

❌ Don't start deleting or changing records. Keep your OnlyFans statements, bank records, expense receipts, tax calculations and previous tax returns. If HMRC is asking questions, having your records organised can make the process much easier.

So, what SHOULD you do?

If HMRC has contacted you about your OnlyFans income, we'd suggest taking a step back before responding.

1. Read the letter carefully

Find out:

• Who has contacted you

• What they are asking for

• Which tax years or periods are involved

• Whether they want documents or explanations

• When they need a response

If HMRC's compliance team has requested information, there is now an online service that can be used to submit documents, and an authorised agent can submit information on your behalf.

2. Gather your records

Depending on the circumstances, this could include:

• OnlyFans income statements

• Bank statements

• Records of other creator income

• Business expense records

• Previous Self Assessment returns

• Receipts and invoices

• Records relating to other platforms

Remember that platform reporting and your own tax records are not the same thing. HMRC says information reported by platforms does not replace your normal business records or tax calculations.

3. Check what you've actually declared

This is the bit that can become complicated. You may have income from:

OnlyFans + Fansly + Instagram + TikTok + sponsorships + affiliate income + other work

Your tax position needs to take account of your circumstances as a whole. If you have previously submitted Self Assessment returns, it may also be worth checking whether the figures you declared were accurate.

4. Don't guess

If you're unsure about what HMRC is asking, don't guess at an answer simply because you feel you need to respond quickly. Understanding the position before responding can be extremely valuable.

What to do if you haven't declared your OnlyFans income

This is one of the most common things creators worry about.

Perhaps you started OnlyFans as a side hustle. Then the income grew. Then life got busy. And suddenly you've realised you've been earning money for a while without properly dealing with the tax side of things. You're certainly not the first person this has happened to. You won't be the last!

The important thing is not to bury your head in the sand. There may be ways to put your tax affairs right, but the correct approach depends on your individual circumstances, what income you received, what has already been declared and whether HMRC has already contacted you.

This is exactly the sort of situation where professional advice can be worthwhile. When HMRC contacts you, the question isn't simply:

"How much tax do I owe?"

You also need to consider:

• What exactly is HMRC asking?

• Why are they asking?

• Have I declared everything correctly?

• Have I claimed the expenses I'm entitled to?

• Are my previous tax returns accurate?

• Do I need to correct anything?

• What information should I provide?

• How should I respond?

• Would it be better for a professional to deal with HMRC on my behalf?

Getting these questions right can be much more important than simply trying to work out a tax figure yourself.

At OnlyTax, we specialise in helping OnlyFans creators understand and manage their UK tax affairs. That means we understand that your income may not look like a traditional business. You might have multiple income streams, international payments, platform fees, changing levels of income and expenses that need to be considered carefully.

If HMRC has contacted you, we can help you:

✅ Review the HMRC correspondence

✅ Understand what HMRC is asking for

✅ Review your OnlyFans and other creator income

✅ Check previous tax returns where appropriate

✅ Review expenses and supporting records

✅ Identify potential problems with your tax position

✅ Advise on how your affairs may need to be corrected

✅ Help you communicate with HMRC

✅ Deal with HMRC on your behalf where appropriate

Most importantly, we can give you a clear picture of where you stand rather than leaving you trying to work it out from Google searches at 11pm. The sooner you understand the problem, the more options you may have. Don't ignore the letter. Contact OnlyTax and schedule a free consultation with one of our trusted advisors.

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