GST on Influencers & Content Creators

GST

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📢 2026 Creator Tax Guide

CREATORS, GST IS HERE.

You grew the followers. You landed the brand deals. Now the taxman wants his cut. Here's everything you need to know about GST — no jargon, no confusion.

18%

GST Rate

₹20L

Registration Limit

0%

On Foreign Sales

ITC

Credits Available

18%

Flat GST on ALL influencer services  ·  No exceptions  ·  SAC Code 998361

📋 Registration Rules

WHEN MUST
YOU REGISTER?

Once your total annual income from brand deals · YouTube · affiliates · courses · free products crosses the threshold — GST registration is mandatory.

₹20L

Per Year — Most States

Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and more.

₹10L

Per Year — Special States

Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura & others.

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Include EVERYTHING in your turnover: Brand deals + YouTube AdSense + Affiliate commissions + Course sales + Free products at market value. Even that gifted phone counts.

💰 Income Breakdown

GST ON YOUR
INCOME STREAMS

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Brand Promotions

Paid to promote a brand on Instagram 📸, YouTube ▶️, or TikTok 🎵? Collect 18% GST on top of your fee and deposit it with the government.

Service Fee     ₹1,00,000

GST @18%     ₹18,000

Invoice Total   ₹1,18,000 ✅

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Barter / Free Products

Received a ₹50,000 phone instead of cash? GST still applies on market value. No cash ≠ no tax. This catches most creators completely off-guard.

Product Value   ₹50,000

GST @18%      ₹9,000

GST Payable    ₹9,000 💸

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Affiliate + Foreign Income

Affiliate commissions are taxable at 18%. But courses or deals with foreign clients = 0% GST (Export of Service). File a LUT first.

Affiliate (India) ₹2,00,000

GST @18%      ₹36,000

Foreign Sales   🌟 Zero Rated

📱 Real Creator Scenario

YOUR TAX
REALITY CHECK

A typical mid-size Indian creator — annual income:

📸 Brand Deals (Instagram + YouTube)₹12,00,000

🔗 Affiliate Commissions₹5,00,000

▶️ YouTube AdSense₹6,00,000

Total Turnover₹23,00,000

🚨 GST Registration MANDATORY — Crosses ₹20L threshold

GST @18% on applicable income. Monthly returns mandatory. Late filing = penalties + interest.

🔥 Myth Busting

STOP BELIEVING
THESE MYTHS

❌ Myth

"My brand is a foreign company, so GST doesn't apply."

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✅ Reality

If the service is consumed in India, GST applies regardless of where the client is based.

❌ Myth

"I was paid in products, not cash — no GST needed."

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✅ Reality

Barter is fully taxable at market value. Cash is irrelevant to your GST obligation.

✅ Action Plan

YOUR GST
CHECKLIST

• 01
  Register on the GST PortalApply at gstin.gov.in once turnover is near ₹20L. Get your GSTIN number.
• 02
  Issue GST Invoices for Every DealEvery brand deal, affiliate payout, or course sale needs a GST invoice with SAC code 998361.
• 03
  File GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B + Pay MonthlyReport outward supplies and pay net GST by the 20th of each month.
• 04
  Claim ITC on Your Creator GearCamera 📷 · Laptop 💻 · Software 🎬 · Internet 🌐 · Studio Rent 🏠 — all eligible for credit.
• 05
  File LUT for Foreign IncomeBefore taking money from foreign brands or students, file a Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated status.

📸 ▶️ 🎵 👥 🐦

CREATE. EARN. COMPLY. 🚀

The creator economy is booming — make sure your GST game is too.

⚖️ Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified Chartered Accountant for your specific situation.

CA Ramakrishna Sanjay +91 7760252581