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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Australian creator Tasha Paige said her tax bill was about $150,000, plus $26,000 in GST, after an initial $86,000 estimate was revised. Yahoo Finance later described the revised total as just over $176,000. Those figures come from media reports of Paige’s comments—not an independently confirmed ATO account or assessment.
What was Tasha Paige’s reported tax bill?
PerthNow reported on 31 October 2023 that Paige had discussed the bill in a TikTok video posted over the preceding weekend. The outlet quoted her saying: “My tax bill is actually $150,000 for the last 12 months… not including the $26,000 I need to pay on top of that for GST.” PerthNow’s headline described the amount as more than $175,000. PerthNow’s report
In a follow-up published on 12 November 2023, Yahoo Finance said Paige’s accountant had revised an initial $86,000 estimate to just over $176,000 after checking her work. The reports do not provide the assessment notice, tax return, accountant’s calculations, or a detailed explanation of why the estimate changed. They also do not establish whether Paige challenged the amount, arranged a payment plan, or what the final outcome was. Yahoo Finance’s report
How to understand the reported figures
| Figure | What the reports say |
|---|---|
| $86,000 | The initial estimate reported by PerthNow and Yahoo Finance in 2023. PerthNow; Yahoo Finance |
| $150,000 plus $26,000 GST | The income-tax and GST amounts Paige gave in remarks quoted by PerthNow in 2023. PerthNow |
| Just over $176,000 | Yahoo Finance’s description of the revised total in its November 2023 follow-up. Yahoo Finance |
The numbers are broadly consistent as rounded descriptions, but they are not interchangeable tax categories: Paige’s reported breakdown separates income tax from GST. The available reports do not provide enough detail to reconcile the estimates or verify the amount owed.
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What Paige said about GST and sex work
Reacting to the GST component, Paige told PerthNow: “Apparently my body is an object that’s why I have to pay GST,” adding, “Thanks to the government for confirming that.” She also said, “If I don’t laugh I’m gonna cry.” These were her expressions of frustration about her own bill, not legal findings about the tax treatment of sex work or online content. PerthNow’s report
Yahoo Finance quoted Paige saying that banks’ treatment of sex work could make it harder for creators to obtain property, and that GST seemed to treat online creators as selling themselves. Those remarks convey her view; they do not establish how a particular bank assessed her or how GST law classifies any specific supply. Yahoo Finance’s report
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How Australian tax rules can apply to online creator income
Income may need to be reported
The ATO’s general guidance lists monetised digital content, platform creator payments, subscriptions, tips and fees for personalised content as examples of online business income that may need to be included in a tax return. Australian tax residents must also report overseas-sourced income from an online business. This guidance describes general obligations; it does not verify Paige’s income or explain her calculation. ATO guidance on online business income
Business status depends on the activity
The ATO says whether an activity is a business depends on its nature and organisation, including whether it is continuous or repeated and carried out for profit. Its example of monetised content considers factors such as regular production, promotion, platform monetisation and expense records. That general example does not establish Paige’s tax structure or deductions. ATO guidance on deciding whether an activity is a business
Yahoo Finance reported that Paige had an ABN and a company set up for her site. The report does not supply the company’s tax records or explain how its structure affected the figures. It would therefore be inaccurate to describe Paige as a sole trader on the available information. Yahoo Finance’s report
GST registration and the threshold
Under current ATO guidance, a business generally must register for GST when its GST turnover is $75,000 or more, or when it expects turnover to reach that level. GST turnover is not simply a tax bill: it is business income calculated under ATO rules, including specified exclusions, and businesses assess turnover across relevant activities. Meeting the registration threshold does not by itself determine the GST treatment of every sale or service. ATO guidance on GST registration and turnover
The ATO also has guidance concerning services supplied through digital platforms, but that page was last updated 12 June 2019. For the current threshold, the ATO’s GST registration guidance is the more up-to-date reference. Neither page determines the GST treatment of Paige’s specific activity or confirms her reported liability. ATO platform-services and GST guidance
Quick Recap
What is—and is not—confirmed about the bill
- Reported: Paige described a $150,000 tax amount plus $26,000 GST, and outlets reported that an $86,000 estimate was revised upward. PerthNow; Yahoo Finance
- Not independently confirmed: The reviewed reporting does not include Paige’s assessment notice or an ATO statement about her individual account.
- Unresolved: The reports do not explain the detailed calculation, the reason for the change, or the bill’s final outcome.
- General context only: ATO guidance explains how online income and GST registration can work in general; it does not settle Paige’s individual tax position.
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