In this episode...
Most creators know to write off their camera and lights. What they’re leaving on the table though: the desk, the chair, the bookcase behind them, every software subscription, and the home office itself is costing them thousands of dollars.
Garrett Alexander from Game On Financial walks through the forgotten deductions that cost creators hundreds of dollars in taxes every year.
But there’s a line. Garrett clarifies the “ordinary and necessary” standard that separates legitimate deductions from TikTok tax myths—why a fashion creator can write off clothing but a finance creator cannot, and why a vehicle influencer’s car expense looks entirely different from a gamer’s.
Context matters. Your specific niche matters. That’s why having a professional in your corner isn’t optional; it’s the difference between leaving money on the table and keeping it.
You’ll also hear why you probably need both an accountant AND a financial advisor and when each one actually matters.
Game On Financial works with creators making $50K all the way up to multiple seven figures, and Garrett explains exactly how the relationship works, where the handoff happens, and why trying to do it all yourself costs you more than hiring the right people.
Highlights
What it looks like to hire Game On Financial, a creator focused accounting firm
The home office deduction creators leave off their returns (and why it’s costing them hundreds)
Software subscriptions that count as business expenses, from Adobe to Canva to CapCut
Why a boat, a blazer, or a vehicle might be deductible for one creator and not another
When to hire an accountant vs. when you need a financial advisor (and why you probably need both)
Chapters
0:00 Abby & Garrett Welcome
2:09 Game On Financial: How they Help Creators
10:03 Forgotten Deductions Creators Miss
15:34 Ordinary & Necessary: Context Matters for Deductions
20:40 Accountants vs. Financial Planners: Clear Lanes
23:44 Looking Forward: When to Hire an Advisor
26:10 Where to Find Game On Financial
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Helpful Links:
Social Media: Game On Financial
Questions this episode answers...
What can content creators write off on their taxes?
Content creators can generally deduct expenses that are ordinary and necessary for running their specific business. That could include cameras, lighting, computers, editing software, contractors, education, and other tools used to create content. Some commonly overlooked expenses include your home office, desk, chair, background props purchased for your filming space, and subscriptions such as Adobe Premiere, Canva, CapCut, Riverside, or other software you use to run your business. The important thing to remember is that deductions depend on your specific type of content. An expense that makes sense for a fashion creator may not qualify for a gaming or personal finance creator.
Can content creators deduct a home office?
Yes, a home office can be an important deduction for creators who have a dedicated space in their home that is used exclusively for their business. Garrett shared that the home office deduction is one of the expenses he frequently sees creators miss. Beyond the office itself, creators may also overlook items such as desks, chairs, lighting, bookcases, and props purchased specifically to create their filming or working environment.
Can I write something off just because I use it in a video?
Not necessarily. Simply putting something in one piece of content doesn't automatically make the entire purchase a business deduction. The expense needs to have a legitimate business purpose and be ordinary and necessary for the type of content you create. For example, Garrett explained that a boat might potentially make sense for a creator whose entire business revolves around boating content, but it would be much harder to justify for a gaming creator who happened to feature a boat in one video. The same principle applies to clothing, vehicles, travel, props, and many other creator expenses: the context of your business matters.
When should a content creator hire an accountant?
There isn’t one exact income level that applies to every creator, but Garrett suggested that once your content income is enough to support your lifestyle, professional tax help becomes increasingly valuable. As a general example, he said creators earning around 50,000–60,000 or more in self-employment income may reach a point where missed deductions and other tax decisions can have meaningful consequences. Creators earning closer to $100,000 or more may also benefit from more ongoing services such as bookkeeping and tax planning throughout the year. That said, your individual situation, business complexity, and lifestyle matter just as much as your revenue.
Do content creators need both an accountant and a financial advisor?
They serve different roles. An accountant primarily helps you with areas such as bookkeeping, tax returns, tax planning, deductions, and making sure the financial activity that has already happened in your business is handled correctly. A financial advisor or financial planner is generally more focused on what happens next: what to do with the money you’re accumulating, how much to save, how to invest it, and how to use your income to build long-term wealth. For many creators, an accountant may be the first financial professional they hire. A financial advisor may become more valuable once the business is producing excess cash beyond what you need to cover your lifestyle and you’re wondering what to do with it.