Tax basics for when you start making money from your art

Whether you sell your artworks on Etsy, are a freelance circus performer, or a sculptor working solely on commission, according to ATO you are running a business.
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Image: Norman’s Printery via Etsy

You may think of yourself as an artist not a business person, but once you start making money from your art you have to complete business tax requirements to avoid running into trouble from the Australian Tax Office.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics ​found that visual, literary and performing artists are between three and five times more likely to be self-employed than ​other occupations.​ And with self-employment comes responsibility: to the government, the community and to your business. Sorting out your tax and legal obligations may seem daunting, but it can be as simple as filling out a few online forms and updating a spreadsheet.

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Emma Clark Gratton
About the Author
Emma Clark Gratton is an ArtsHub staff writer.