Self-employed as a creator in Austria: trade licence or Neue Selbständige, taxes and an account of your own
Do you earn on OnlyFans or a similar platform and live in Austria? When you need a trade licence, when you count as Neue Selbständige, what the small business rule means and why a separate account for your income helps.
Subscriptions, tips and paid messages are real income for many creators in Austria. Once that income is regular, the tax office (Finanzamt) and social insurance want to know about it. Getting organised early saves you back taxes, trouble with your bank and long evenings with old bank statements.
This article gives general information for creators who live in Austria. It is not tax or legal advice: have your situation checked by a tax adviser (Steuerberatung) or by the start-up service of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO).
Trade licence or Neue Selbständige?
The Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) is clear: there is no specific trade licence (Gewerbe) for "online content creators". Which rules apply depends on how you earn your money.
- Advertising, sponsorship, affiliate links or promotional gifts: according to the WKO, this usually requires a trade licence (Gewerbeschein), and you become a member of the Chamber.
- Subscription payments, pay per click or per view, webinars: according to the WKO, these can fall under the "Neue Selbständige" (new self-employed). You then need no trade licence, but you are still self-employed.
Many creators do both. Ask the WKO start-up service or a tax adviser what applies to your mix. The WKO page does not mention adult content specifically, so ask openly if you work in the adult industry.
Social insurance with the SVS
With a trade licence, you are automatically insured with the social insurance for the self-employed (SVS), according to the WKO. As Neue Selbständige, you become liable for insurance once your income exceeds an annual threshold. The WKO and the SVS publish the current amount every year. The WKO also offers a calculator so you can estimate your contributions and taxes in advance.
Income tax and the small business rule
Trade licence or Neue Selbständige: your income is subject to income tax either way. Register the start of your activity with the Finanzamt and ask them or your tax adviser about the deadlines.
For VAT (Umsatzsteuer) there is the small business rule (Kleinunternehmerregelung). Since 1 January 2025, the threshold is 55,000 € turnover per year according to the Austrian business service portal (USP), up from 35,000 €. If you exceed it in a year by no more than 10 %, you can still use the exemption for the rest of that year. If you exceed it by more, the exemption ends from the transaction that takes you over the limit. And if you exceed the threshold in one year, you cannot use the rule the following year. How to count your platform income for this is best discussed with your tax adviser.
Records, records, records
- Note every payment you receive, with date and platform.
- Download your platform's payout statements regularly.
- Keep invoices for expenses: camera, lighting, costumes, software, advertising, tax advice.
Do you need a separate business account?
In Austria, sole traders have no legal obligation to keep a separate business account. Still, the WKO and tax advisers recommend separating business and private money. The reason is practical: in an audit, the Finanzamt can ask for statements of a mixed account, and some banks close private accounts that are used for business. An account just for your creator income keeps your bookkeeping simple and shows at a glance what is business.
Many creators in the adult industry find that a bank asks questions or refuses an account once it becomes clear where the money comes from. For your private account there is the Basiskonto: since 2016, consumers legally resident in the EU have a right to an account with basic functions under the Austrian payment accounts act (VZKG). A study by the Vienna Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer Wien, February 2026) shows, however, that banks do not always inform people correctly about it. Note: the Basiskonto is a private account, not a business account. Why banks in our industry often say no, and what you can do then, is explained in Opening a bank account as a sex worker. General tips on payouts are in Online creators: how to organise your income professionally.
What GloryPay does for creators in Austria
GloryPay is made for professionals and businesses in the adult industry, and creators on platforms such as OnlyFans are explicitly welcome, in Austria too. You get an account with a Belgian IBAN, usable in Europe, with SEPA payments by QR code and card terminals. You can receive your OnlyFans payouts directly on that account. The account is in your company or artist name: on an ordinary bank transfer, people see that name, never your personal name. Opening an account is free, with no monthly or yearly fees. Questions about countries and documents are answered in our FAQ.
Sources: WKO, "Online Content Creator:in", as of 20/03/2026; Unternehmensserviceportal, "Kleinunternehmen (Regelung seit 1. Jänner 2025)", updated 01/01/2026; Arbeiterkammer Wien, "Informieren Banken korrekt über den Rechtsanspruch auf ein Basiskonto?", February 2026; capitalo.at, "Geschäftskonto Pflicht Österreich", updated 19/08/2026. Status: 02/11/2026. Thresholds and rules may change. This article is not tax or legal advice.