If you’re earning money on Kick, you’re running a business. And like any business, you can deduct legitimate costs from your income before calculating how much tax you owe. Knowing what qualifies can make a significant difference to your bill.
Here’s a full breakdown of what Kick streamers can claim as business expenses in the UK.
The Basic Rule
HMRC allows expenses that are incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes. If something is partly personal and partly for streaming, you can claim the business proportion. Keep records, ideally using accounting software that connects to your bank.
Equipment and Hardware
Streaming gear is your core business equipment. Larger purchases are claimed as capital expenditure under the Annual Investment Allowance, meaning you can deduct the full cost in the year you buy:
- Gaming PC or console
- Capture card (e.g. Elgato)
- Monitors
- Microphone and audio interface
- Webcam or dedicated camera
- Green screen and lighting (ring lights, key lights, LED panels)
- Stream deck or controller
- Desk, chair, and monitor arms — business proportion
If an item is used for personal gaming as well as streaming, you should only claim the streaming proportion. For a dedicated streaming setup, the case for full deduction is strong.
Software and Subscriptions
- Streaming software (Streamlabs, XSplit, OBS plugins)
- Overlay and alert tools (StreamElements, own3d.tv)
- Clip editing software (Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve Studio)
- Graphic design tools (Canva Pro, Photoshop)
- VPN subscription if used for business purposes
- Cloud storage for VODs and content
Games and Content
Games purchased specifically to play on stream are a business cost. The key is that the purchase is for the purpose of creating streaming content, not personal entertainment. If you’re streaming a game you would have bought anyway for personal use, the deduction becomes harder to justify. Keep this in mind.
Internet and Utilities
Your broadband is a genuine business cost as a streamer. If you work from home, you can claim the business proportion of your internet bill. A reasonable estimate based on the hours you use it for streaming versus personal use is acceptable.
Similarly, you can claim the business proportion of your electricity bill if you’re running a high-powered streaming PC for significant hours.
Home Office
If you stream from home, you can claim a portion of your household costs:
- HMRC flat rate: £10 to £26 per month depending on hours worked from home
- Actual cost method: calculate the proportion of your home used for streaming and claim that fraction of rent, mortgage interest, broadband, and utilities
More detail is available at gov.uk/simpler-income-tax-simplified-expenses.
Marketing and Channel Growth
- Social media advertising to grow your Kick channel
- Thumbnail design and graphic work
- Video editing freelancer fees
- Website or landing page for your streaming brand
- Email marketing tools if you run a newsletter
Professional Fees
- Accountancy fees (what you pay Simplr is deductible)
- Legal fees related to sponsorship contracts
- Music licences for stream use
What You Cannot Claim
You cannot claim personal expenses, food and drink (unless travelling for a specific business event), clothing (unless it’s branded merch worn only on stream), or the personal portion of any shared cost.
Keep It Simple With the Right Tools
The easiest way to track expenses is cloud accounting software linked to your bank. At Simplr, we set this up for all our creator clients so everything is categorised automatically.
Read more in our guide to Kick streamer tax UK or visit our accountant for Kick Streamers. Book a free call at simplraccounting.co.uk.