Danish tax authorities discovered that 94% of influencers failed to report their income correctly. A targeted audit examined earnings from sponsored posts, OnlyFans content, and company gifts.
Tax Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen called the findings a serious problem rather than isolated mistakes. The audit stemmed from new insights into Danish users' earnings on OnlyFans and similar platforms.
OnlyFans allows creators to share content with paying subscribers. The platform is known for permitting more explicit material than mainstream social media.
During the first half of the year, authorities issued bills totaling nearly 13 million Danish kroner. More than 600 people received these bills for unreported social media income.
The largest individual bills ranged between 500,000 and one million kroner. All payments for creating online content are taxable under Danish law.
This includes selling personal photos or videos and promoting products or companies. The rules also cover payments received as products, discounts, gift cards, or unsolicited items.
The tax minister acknowledged that navigating tax rules can be challenging. She welcomed the tax agency's decision to initiate dialogue with the industry.
Authorities plan to create new guidance pages on the official tax website. The move aims to help content creators understand their obligations better.
Why did so many influencers get their taxes wrong? The rapid growth of creator economy platforms has outpaced many people's understanding of tax requirements. When money flows through new digital channels, some earners simply don't realize they need to declare it.