Twitch Affiliate Explained for Parents?

Jo
- in Twitch
20

Want to apply as an affiliate, but my parents have no idea and think that this is illegal, etc. How can I best explain this to them?

be

Well, that's not illegal in itself. As long as you tax the income accordingly. If necessary, self-employment is necessary for this.

Si

How old are you?

Me

What is an affiliate?

Si

Not necessarily, you can just take the standard tax rate from Twitch which means 30%

Jo

15th

be

As soon as you generate income, you have to pay tax on it.

be

Someone who keeps people on the platform and who is financially rewarded by Twitch. And this financial reward is the problem.

Si

Of course, if you take the standard from Twitch you can't have any problems because you automatically pay taxes on your income.

Me

OK thanks

be

This is wrong. See here for example here: https://basic-tutorials.de/muss-man-einnahmen-auf-twitch-versteuern/

The fact is: All income from self-employment is subject to income tax from the first cent. In plain English, this means that every streamer who generates income on Twitch must report self-employment to the tax office, be it a business or a freelance activity. This income includes not only affiliate sales or subscription income, but also all donations from Twitch viewers.

In particular, it is considered a self-employed activity and must therefore be registered with the tax office.

Jo

Problem

be

Well, you can't just "get" money from anywhere in Germany. If you regularly pursue an activity aimed at profit (and that is the case), this activity must be reported to the tax office - with all the corresponding consequences (tax return, proof of income, etc.). It doesn't matter whether you stream, advertise on your website or regularly sell self-sewn pillows on ebay.

Re

Someone who keeps people on the platform and who is financially rewarded by Twitch. And this financial reward is the problem.

That's not quite right.
Because an affiliate streamer supports Twitch financially for the time being.
And why that's so is in the small print. Key point: disbursement condition.

be

Yes - just an "advertising partner".

Re

"Advertising partner"? No. You will initially earn 0.00 euro on all income as long as you do not meet the payout conditions.

Twitch, on the other hand, earns full money from every sub you get and every advertisement you place.

be

Yes, stupid enough who does that… I meant in the sense that you are promoting Twitch, but Twitch offers you the opportunity to advertise yourself. You can read the conditions. But it doesn't change the fact that it is a commercial activity.

Re

Right… And 99% of the time nobody reports this commercial activity.
Why? Because there's no explanation about it.

be

Until then the tax office comes. Hence: Well thought out by the parents.

Lu

Affiliate is a business, or rather a business model! This is referral marketing. Basically, you earn money with other people's or company's products. Ideally, a win-win situation ends and you get a commission for each sale at the end…

… This is how you could explain this to your parents.

I wouldn't do it anyway!
All the promises are just window dressing… Well, a few earn money with them - unfortunately most of them don't!

Bo

Why do I always have the feeling that everyone wants to earn "easy money" on the PC in a simple way.

Unfortunately that does not work!

Young people in particular fall for it. When someone delivers the ad, they usually earn more than anyone who tries on a PC. But of course it's not a "business" and maybe not that cool.

Goes newspaper delivery and calls it "Print Media Distribution Activity" for me. Sounds cool, doesn't it? And on the holidays there's - provided friendliness - more tips than with all amateur business models combined.