Work · creators and influencers
Paid post? Say it clearly, keep your money clean
Paste a caption to see if the disclosure is clear and upfront, then check tax and GST on what you earn. Everything runs on your phone.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources
Is my "Ad" label enough?
Tax and GST on creator income
* Whether content creation can use the profession or the business presumptive scheme depends on your facts. A chartered accountant must confirm. Estimates for tax year 2026-27, pending CA review.
Brand deal contract checklist
0/12 checked. Ticks are saved on this phone only.
Tax basics for creatorsCA review pending
- Your earnings are business or professional income: Brand deals, AdSense, affiliate income and the value of free products you keep are all income. With no salary there is no standard deduction; you deduct real costs instead. egazette.gov.in
- TDS brands cut: Brands usually deduct 10% TDS on professional fees above ₹50,000 a year, and 10% on free products or trips above ₹20,000 a year (section 393). Claim it back in your return. egazette.gov.in
- GST at ₹20 lakh: Register for GST once total turnover from services crosses ₹20 lakh in a financial year (₹10 lakh in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura). Selling services through a platform does not force registration below this. taxinformation.cbic.gov.in
- Money from abroad: A service to a client outside India, paid in foreign exchange, is an export when the conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act are met. Exports count towards the threshold but carry zero GST under a Letter of Undertaking. Whether your YouTube income meets every condition is a question for a CA. taxinformation.cbic.gov.in
Estimate and summary for tax year 2026-27, waiting for a chartered accountant’s review. Confirm with a CA or the e-filing portal before you file.
How it works
- The caption check looks for the labels ASCI accepts, where they sit (before the "more" cut, not lost in hashtags), and the language of the post. It is a helper, not ASCI’s decision.
- Pick what the brand gave you: money, a free product, your own brand, or your employer. Each needs a disclosure.
- The tax check uses the new regime for tax year 2026-27. GST registration is needed when total turnover from services crosses the threshold; income from abroad counts.
- Contract ticks are saved only on this phone.
Questions people ask
Which label should I use?
A clear one that viewers understand, such as "Advertisement", "Ad", "Sponsored", "Collaboration" or "Partnership", placed at the start of the caption and on the video itself. Use "Free gift" for gifted products and "Employee" if you work for the brand.
Is a free product also an ad?
Yes. If you got the product free, or any benefit or relationship with the brand, it counts as a material connection and must be disclosed.
Do I need GST registration as a YouTuber?
Only when your total turnover from services in a financial year crosses ₹20 lakh (₹10 lakh in some states). Money from Google or foreign brands for your services is usually an export, which counts towards the threshold but is charged GST at zero with a Letter of Undertaking.
Are free products taxed?
Their value is income. When a brand gives benefits worth more than ₹20,000 in a year, it must deduct TDS on them.
Can I give investment or health tips in sponsored posts?
ASCI asks influencers giving investment advice to be registered with SEBI where needed, and health and nutrition influencers to have the right qualification, and to show it with the post.
Sources
Last checked:
- ASCI: Guidelines for Influencer Advertising in Digital Media (with Addendum II, 17 Aug 2023)
- PIB, 20 Jan 2023: Department of Consumer Affairs "Endorsement Know-hows!" for influencers
- PIB, 10 Jun 2022: CCPA guidelines on misleading advertisements and endorsements, penalties
- PIB, 10 Aug 2023: guidelines for health and wellness influencers
- Income-tax Act, 2025 (Gazette of India, 21 Aug 2025): sections 58, 156, 202, 393
- CBIC: CGST Act, section 22 (registration threshold, special category States)
- CBIC: CGST Act, section 24 (compulsory registration) and the services exemption
- CBIC: IGST Act, section 2(6) (export of services)
Something looks wrong?
No text is sent: we only count reports. Experts in our reviewer network check the reported line; fixes go in the corrections log.