Those who are self-employed are usually taxable.
The new job description of influencers is no exception.
This is a challenge for the tax authorities.
When you hear “influencer” do you think of the flu? The viral disease "influenza" actually sounds similar to the job description of "influencers". The latter are mostly young people who reach many people in social networks such as TikTok and Instagram and sometimes have well over 10,000 subscribers or followers.
In their videos and posts, which are often about fashion, nutrition, fitness or lifestyle in general, influencers repeatedly incorporate products and brands that they advertise
. The more followers an influencer has, the more manufacturers usually pay for the placement of their product. Critics speak of a kind of "surreptitious advertising" if the influencers do not clearly identify the advertising.
Around 15,000 influencers are said to have registered a business in Germany, as the
Business Insider
portal
quotes the Federal Association of Influencer Marketing (BVIM).
The number of those who are only casually active on social networks and earn extra income, however, is likely to be significantly higher
, it continues.
But independently earned money must be taxed, which calls tax offices on the plan *.
But they face a big problem.
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With influencers, the boundaries between professional and private life are often blurred, as attorney Markus Deutsch explains in "Wirtschaftswoche".
In addition, this professional group not only earns money, but also receives gifts and trips from their clients.
In theory, this income is also taxable, according to
Business Insider
.
According to him, many of the influencers would naively deal with tax law, as the
Business Insider
quotes him.
+
Influencers make money by promoting products on their social media channels - from swimwear to cosmetics to fitness equipment.
(Archive image)
© Jens Büttner / dpa
The same applies to influencers as to other traders: Anyone who does not correctly declare their income and pay taxes accordingly must expect severe penalties.
These include high back payments to imprisonment.
The tax authorities have adjusted to the relatively new job description of influencers: In Bavaria, a dedicated online task force is looking for social media channels that can be used as advertising platforms.
Tax evading influencers can also be exposed as part of the tax audit.
The clients have to disclose their books during a tax audit.
In the course of the train, contractual partners who have received money from the company also become known.
Customers from abroad can also be examined, according to
Business Insider
.
(jg)
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List of rubric lists: © Jens Büttner / dpa
