In a July 2023 report, PerthNow said OnlyFans creator Kaila Smith reported having to pay about $15,000 in tax for the 2022–23 financial year. The figure and explanation came from Smith’s account, not a published ATO statistic or an independently verified notice of assessment. The report said she had not applied for PAYG instalments and was surprised by the bill.
Why did Kaila Smith say she had to pay $15,000 in tax?
PerthNow reported on 19 July 2023 that Smith said she owed about $15,000 for the 2022–23 financial year. According to the report, she said she had not applied for PAYG instalments and the bill caught her by surprise. That is her reported explanation; the article does not establish how the ATO calculated her individual liability.
Smith told PerthNow: “I just wish I knew more about tax time and finances.” Her comments describe a personal experience, not a typical tax bill for creators. The report does not verify the amount against her assessment notice, and the available information does not establish what happened with her tax arrangements afterward. This is a historical account, not evidence of a current debt.
What PAYG instalments do
Pay as you go (PAYG) instalments are payments made during a financial year toward expected tax on income such as business or investment earnings. The ATO credits those payments when it processes the tax return. They spread payments across the year; they do not set or reduce the final amount of tax owed. Depending on individual circumstances, eligible taxpayers may be entered automatically, and some people expecting business or investment income above the applicable threshold may be able to enter voluntarily. Check the ATO’s current PAYG instalments guidance for the rules, thresholds and process.
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Without instalments, tax owing may be payable after an assessment rather than paid in instalments through the year. Whether instalments apply, and how much is due, depends on a person’s circumstances; general guidance cannot establish Smith’s liability or explain the calculation behind her reported bill.
How the ATO treats income from online content
For creators, income may involve more than cash withdrawals from a platform. ATO guidance discusses platform payments and non-cash benefits, and advises creators to keep accurate records of income and expenses. Whether an activity amounts to carrying on a business depends on its circumstances, including factors such as an intention to profit and whether the activity is repeated and organised. Those details affect the applicable reporting and deductions, so a single rule should not be assumed for every creator.
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The ATO’s pages on income from online content creation and income you must declare explain the general obligations. Creators with questions about how those rules apply to their own income and records can consider seeking advice from a registered tax professional.
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