Filing Your Self Assessment as an OnlyFans Creator in the UK

If you earn money from OnlyFans in the UK, you’ll almost certainly need to file a Self Assessment tax return. HMRC uses it to collect Income Tax from anyone who isn’t taxed through PAYE. The process is less complicated than it sounds, but you do have to get it right and get it in on time.

This page takes you through the whole process, from the deadlines to submitting your return.

This article is for general information only and isn’t financial advice. Speak to a qualified accountant if you’re unsure about any part of your tax return.

What is Self Assessment?

Self Assessment is how you tell HMRC about your income and pay the tax you owe. If you’re self-employed as a content creator, it’s up to you to work out your tax (or have an accountant do it) and pay it yourself.

Employees have tax taken from their wages automatically. When you’re self-employed, you settle up with HMRC once a year through your tax return.

Key dates you need to know

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. For the 2025/26 tax year:

• Tax year starts: 6 April 2025
• Tax year ends: 5 April 2026
• Paper return deadline: 31 October 2026 (if you file on paper)
• Online return deadline: 31 January 2027
• Payment deadline: 31 January 2027

The online deadline and the payment deadline fall on the same day. Most people file online, so 31 January is the date to remember.

If HMRC has asked you to make payments on account (more on those below), the second one is due on 31 July 2027.

Payments on account explained

This is the part that catches a lot of first-time filers out.

If your Self Assessment bill is over £1,000, and less than 80% of your tax was collected at source through PAYE, HMRC will ask you to make payments on account. These are advance payments towards next year’s bill.

Each payment on account is half of the previous year’s bill. So if you owe £4,000 for 2025/26, you’ll also pay £2,000 on 31 January 2027 (the first payment on account for 2026/27) and £2,000 on 31 July 2027 (the second).

That’s why your first January payment can be much bigger than you expected. You’re paying the full bill for the year that’s just ended plus the first instalment towards the next one. In the example above, that’s the £4,000 and a £2,000 payment on account on the same day. Plan for it by putting money aside all year. Our earnings calculator gives you a rough idea of what to expect.

Step-by-step filing process

Step 1: Gather your records

Before you start your return, you’ll need:

• OnlyFans earnings statements. Download these from your OnlyFans account. They show your gross earnings, the platform fee and your net payout for each period. Your total net payouts for the tax year make up your gross income for Self Assessment.
• Expense records. That means receipts, invoices and bank statements for your business expenses during the tax year.
• Any other income. If you’ve got employment income, savings interest or income from other platforms, you’ll need those figures too.
• Your UTR number. This is your Unique Taxpayer Reference, which HMRC gave you when you registered as self-employed.

Step 2: Log in to HMRC online

Go to the HMRC website and sign in with your Government Gateway details. Open the Self Assessment section and choose the option to file your tax return for the right year.

Step 3: Complete the self-employment section (SA103)

The self-employment pages (form SA103) are where your creator income goes. You’ll need to enter:

• Your business name and description. Something like “content creator” or “digital content production” is fine.
• Your gross income. This is the total you received from OnlyFans during the tax year (your 80% share, before your own expenses come off). Add income from any other self-employed work.
• Your allowable expenses. You can list them by category or give one total. The categories include equipment, office costs, travel, professional fees and advertising.
• Your net profit. That’s your gross income minus your allowable expenses, and it’s the figure your tax is worked out on.

Step 4: Complete any other relevant sections

If you’ve got employment income, savings or other taxable income, fill in those sections too. The system shows you which sections apply to you.

Step 5: Review and submit

Check everything carefully before you submit. The system works out your tax bill from what you’ve entered, so look at the figure and ask whether it seems about right. If something looks off, go back and check your numbers.

When you’re happy with it, submit the return. You’ll get a confirmation with a reference number. Save it.

Step 6: Pay your tax bill

Your tax bill is due by 31 January. You can pay by:

• Online banking or bank transfer (using the account details and reference number HMRC gives you)
• Direct Debit (you can set this up through your HMRC online account)
• Debit card (credit cards aren’t accepted any more)
• At your bank or building society

If you set up a budget payment plan with HMRC, you can spread payments across the year, which can make cash flow easier to manage.

How to calculate your tax bill

Your tax bill is made up of Income Tax and National Insurance on your taxable profit.

For 2025/26, Income Tax works like this (Scotland has its own rates and bands):

• 0% on the first £12,570 (Personal Allowance)
• 20% on income between £12,571 and £50,270
• 40% on income between £50,271 and £125,140
• 45% on income above £125,140

At high incomes your Personal Allowance starts to shrink, so less of your income falls in the 0% band.

Class 4 National Insurance:

• 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270
• 2% on profits above £50,270

Class 2 National Insurance:

• Nothing to pay. Profits of £6,845 or more get a free credit, and below that you can pay £3.50 a week voluntarily.

Use our tax calculator for an estimate before you file. It’s a quick way to check your Self Assessment figure is in the right ballpark.

What happens if you miss the deadline

HMRC takes deadlines seriously. If you file late or pay late, you’ll get penalties.

Penalties for filing late:

• 1 day late: £100 penalty (even if you owe no tax)
• 3 months late: £10 a day, up to a maximum of £900
• 6 months late: £300 or 5% of the tax due, whichever is greater
• 12 months late: £300 or 5% of the tax due, whichever is greater (in serious cases, up to 100% of the tax due)

Penalties for paying late:

• 30 days late: 5% of the unpaid tax
• 6 months late: a further 5%
• 12 months late: a further 5%

HMRC also charges interest on overdue amounts from the due date.

So file on time and pay on time. If you can’t pay your full bill, contact HMRC before the deadline. They can sometimes agree a payment plan (called a “Time to Pay” arrangement), and getting in touch early is always better than ignoring the problem.

Tips for making it easier

Keep records all year

Don’t leave everything until January. Download your OnlyFans statements every month, photograph receipts and log expenses as you go. A few minutes a week saves you a lot of stress later.

Use accounting software

Xero, FreeAgent and QuickBooks all make it easy to track income and expenses, sort transactions into categories and pull out the figures you need for your return. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being rolled out to self-employed people in stages, starting with higher earners, and it needs compatible software. Check GOV.UK to see whether it applies to you yet.

Set money aside every month

A common rule of thumb is 25% to 30% of your income, though the right amount depends on your profits. Keep it in a separate savings account so it’s there when the bill arrives.

Know your deadlines

Put 31 January and 31 July in your calendar, with reminders set well before each one.

Get an accountant if your situation is complex

If you’ve got several income streams, you’re thinking about setting up a company or you just want peace of mind, a good accountant is worth the fee. Accountancy fees for your business are usually an allowable expense too.

Getting support

Self Assessment is one of the duller parts of being a creator, and you can’t skip it. Once you’ve got a system in place, though, it gets easier every year.

To get a clearer picture of your tax position, try our tax calculator or earnings calculator. If you’d like help with the strategy and growth side of your page, find out how we work.

This article is for general information only and isn’t financial advice. Tax rules and rates can change. Speak to a qualified accountant about your own circumstances.