What’s the Right Principal Business Code for OnlyFans Creators?

If you’re making money on OnlyFans, you’ve probably figured out that taxes can get tricky. Between reporting your income, figuring out expenses, and paying your quarterly taxes, there’s one small box that causes a lot of confusion: the Principal Business Code on your Schedule C.

This article is for content creators, especially those earning income on platforms like OnlyFans. As self-employed individuals, content creators have specific tax responsibilities, including understanding tax forms, deductions, and proper classification for their work.

This code may look like just six digits, but it tells the IRS how you make your money. And for OnlyFans creators, that can be hard to pin down. Let’s break it down together, clear, honest, and without any fluff.

Introduction to Taxation for OnlyFans Creators

Understanding how taxes work is a must for keeping on track and keeping your finances healthy. All the money you earn, whether it’s from subscriptions, tips, or custom content, is considered self-employment income. That means you’re responsible for paying taxes, including both regular income tax and self-employment taxes.

As a self-employed individual, you don’t have an employer withholding taxes, so it’s up to you to set aside money for your tax obligations throughout the year. This includes not just the money you make, but also any additional earnings from related activities. Staying on top of your taxes helps you avoid penalties and ensures you’re taking advantage of valuable tax write-offs that can lower your taxable income.

Paying taxes as an OnlyFans creator might seem overwhelming at first, but knowing your responsibilities and the benefits you can claim puts you in control. By understanding how your OnlyFans income is taxed and what you can deduct, you’ll be better prepared to manage your money, stay compliant, and keep more of your hard-earned earnings.

What Is a Principal Business Code?

The Principal Business Code (also known as a NAICS code) is something the IRS uses to classify what kind of work you do. You’ll need it when filling out Schedule C, the form that reports your self-employment income and helps define how your OnlyFans income is reported to the IRS.

As a content creator, this is one of the boxes that helps the IRS understand your business. It tells them what type of work your OnlyFans income is coming from. Whether you’re sending pay-per-view content, selling exclusive clips, or offering monthly subscriptions, the code helps frame it all as business income that’s subject to income tax and self-employment taxes.

Why Does It Even Matter?

The code you choose won’t change how much you owe on your taxes, but it helps define what kind of business you’re running. That matters when:

• You’re filing your taxes as a self-employed creator
• You’re trying to deduct things like your home office deduction, editing software, or software subscriptions
• You’re trying to stay on top of your tax obligations and keep everything clean

The right code also helps when you’re trying to stay eligible for OnlyFans tax write offs. It’s one part of the bigger tax picture that includes gross income, net income, and how much you need to pay each quarter.

Ultimately, it is your responsibility as a creator to choose the correct code and maintain accurate records to ensure tax compliance.

The Two Codes That Make Sense for OnlyFans Creators

Here are the two most common NAICS codes we recommend:

Code	Title	Best For
711510	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	Creators who make exclusive content like photos, videos, or livestreams. You’re the face of the content.
519130	Internet Publishing and Broadcasting	Creators who post but don’t appear in the content, or run things more like a blog or media page.

Why Most Creators Go with 711510

This code is the most common for creators who treat their page like a performance business. You’re filming, editing, promoting, and engaging with your fans. All of those points to an active content creator and qualify you as an independent performer.

It fits if:

• Your OnlyFans earnings come mainly from content you appear
• You’re responsible for the look, feel, and voice of your page
• You offer value through your personality, videos, and interaction

When 519130 Might Make Sense

This might be a better fit if you’re managing content from behind the scenes or your platform looks more like a publishing operation. This could apply to resellers, blog-style creators, or pages that use other creators’ content with permission.

How to Choose the Right One for You

You know your business best, but here are a few things to think about:

• Am I performing in the content, or managing the platform?
• Is most of my money coming from content I create myself?
• Do I control the editing, branding, and connection with fans?

Choosing the correct code is important for compliance with tax law and IRS regulations, ensuring you meet all legal requirements for reporting your income.

If you’re the one creating and sharing content that fans are paying to see, 711510 is likely the better choice. This gives you access to more direct business expense categories and lines up with how your self-employment activity looks on paper.

If you’re not sure, you can always seek advice from a tax pro who understands the OnlyFans space. It’s worth getting this right if you want smooth, low-stress filing each tax year.

Where Do I Even Put This Code?

You’ll find the Principal Business Code field near the top of Schedule C. This is where you tell the IRS what your business does. It sits alongside other key pieces like:

• Total income (what you made in the year)
• Gross income (after returns or fees)
• Net income (after deductions)

Make sure your business address is correct on Schedule C so you receive important tax documents at the right location.

If you use tax software, it may guess a code for you. That guess might not reflect the OnlyFans world, so don’t hesitate to change it manually to either 711510 or 519130.

Tax Forms and Filing

When tax season rolls around, OnlyFans creators receive a 1099-NEC form from the platform if they’ve earned $600 or more during the tax year. This form reports your gross business income and is the starting point for filing your taxes as a self-employed creator.

To report your OnlyFans income, you’ll need to fill out Schedule C, which details your business income and expenses. This is where you list all the money you made and the business expenses you paid throughout the year. You’ll also complete Schedule SE to calculate your self-employment taxes, which cover Social Security and Medicare contributions.

Keeping accurate records of your income and expenses is essential, not just for maximizing your deductions but also for staying in good standing with the IRS. Make sure to save all receipts, invoices, and payout reports from the platform. When it’s time to file your tax return, you’ll use these records to support your deductions and accurately report your OnlyFans business income.

Don’t forget: the IRS has strict deadlines for filing tax returns and paying any taxes you owe. Missing these deadlines can result in penalties and interest, so it’s important to stay organized and file on time. By keeping your paperwork in order and understanding the forms you need, you’ll make tax season a lot less stressful.

How This Impacts Your Taxes

The code doesn’t affect your tax bracket directly, but it does shape the bigger story on your return. It supports the deductions you take and helps the IRS understand what kinds of business expenses are normal for your industry.

For example, if you’re deducting things like:

• Costumes and props
• Wi fi used during livestreams
• Editing software
• Ring lights and tripods

The cost of these items can be deducted as business expenses, which reduces your profit and, in turn, lowers your self-employment tax liability.

… those all make sense under a performer code. Having the right Principal Business Code helps these deductions stick without red flags.

Stay Organized: Your Taxes Depend on It

Choosing a code is only part of the process. You also need to track your OnlyFans income and expenses carefully. Here’s what that looks like:

• Download monthly payout reports from your OnlyFans account
• Keep receipts and records of your purchases (digital and physical)
• Log your business expenses into accounting software or a spreadsheet
• Know your deadlines for quarterly taxes

The cleaner your records, the easier it is to file, deduct, and stay in full tax compliance. Accurate records are also essential for proper federal tax reporting and compliance.

Creating Exclusive Content: What It Means for Your Business

For OnlyFans creators, producing exclusive content is at the heart of your business, and it comes with important tax benefits. Exclusive content includes anything you create specifically for your paying subscribers, such as custom videos, photos, or digital downloads. The good news is, the costs you incur to make this content are considered business expenses and can be deducted on your Schedule C.

Think about all the tools and resources you use for content creation: editing software, cameras, lighting, props, and even marketing costs to promote your page. These expenses can be deducted from your business income, reducing your taxable income and lowering the amount you owe in taxes. If you use a dedicated space in your home for filming or editing, you may also qualify for a home office deduction, which can further decrease your tax bill.

To make the most of these deductions, it’s crucial to keep detailed records of every expense related to your OnlyFans business. Save receipts for equipment, software subscriptions, and any other costs tied to creating exclusive content. By staying organized and understanding how these expenses impact your taxes, you’ll be able to maximize your deductions, stay compliant with tax laws, and keep more of your OnlyFans earnings in your pocket.

What You Can Write Off

If you’re self-employed and running an OnlyFans page, many of your everyday business tools may qualify as tax write offs.

Category	Examples
Content Tools	Cameras, tripods, lighting kits
Editing & Design	Adobe, Canva, Final Cut Pro
Online Tools	Link-in-bio apps, email tools, watermark software
Marketing	Paid ads, promotional graphics, shoutouts
Home Office	Rent portion, internet, utilities
Appearance	Wigs, costumes, and makeup used for content
Subscriptions	Stock music, sound effects, editing presets

Remember, these need to be ordinary and necessary for your work. Mixed-use items like phones or the internet can still be partially deducted if used for business.

Maximizing your deductions helps increase your profits by lowering your taxable income.

FAQs

What’s the best Principal Business Code for OnlyFans creators?

Most creators should use 711510. It aligns with the kind of work you do when you’re actively performing and creating content.

Will I get in trouble for choosing the wrong one?

As long as your choice reflects your actual business, you’re fine. The IRS isn’t looking to penalize creators who pick a reasonable, honest code.

Can I change my code next year?

Yes. You can update your Principal Business Code every time you file your taxes. If your business changes, your code can too.

Does the code affect my taxes?

Not your tax rate, but it affects how your tax return is reviewed. It supports your deductions and shows you’re taking your self-employment seriously.

Conclusion

The Principal Business Code is one of those quiet tax details that make a big difference. It supports your right to deduct legitimate business expenses, show your income clearly, and stay on track with your tax obligations.

If you need help choosing the right code or want a second set of eyes on your tax forms, The OnlyFans Accountant is here to help. We know what it’s like to run a creative business, and we’ve helped dozens of self-employed individuals stay compliant and confident. Want to learn how to maximize deductions, track expenses like a pro, save more, and navigate tax season like a boss? Get your FREE copy of our eBook.

Let’s make tax season easier and smarter. Reach out to us and let’s get your OnlyFans taxes done right.