There are only two things in life that are certainties – death and taxes. As thrilling, exciting, and fun as selling feet pics online is, it’s still a lucrative way to make money. Just like any other online business or endeavor, you’re required to pay taxes on the money you make.
With the average foot pic seller making anywhere from $5 up to $100 or more on a single photo, these numbers can rack up quickly. Stay out of legal trouble by learning how to pay taxes on feet pics so you can keep earning without worrying.
How Does Selling Feet Pics Work?
Selling feet pics online is a pretty straightforward business venture. With an increasing number of foot pic platforms popping up all over the Internet, it’s never been easier, more convenient, or more lucrative to sell feet pics, videos, and foot fetish-related items like socks, shoes, and stockings.
On most websites, the process works the same. Beautiful and sexy sellers create an attractive profile and detailed bio sharing details about their foot fetishes, experiences, hobbies, and kinks. Next, they post high-quality foot pics that showcase their talents, beauty, and uniqueness. Sellers can list their foot pics and videos for whatever price they want. More experienced and well-known sellers with an original angle can charge more than generic foot pics posted by beginners. The good news is, there are plenty of resources and guides to help you take high-quality foot content that brings you top dollar.
Interested buyers can search the site by fetish, category, age, gender, and other keywords and specifications. Once a buyer finds a picture or seller that piques their interest, private and secure chat systems allow them to contact the seller directly and discuss pricing, delivery, and custom orders. Not all sellers fill or accept special orders but those that do often earn more.
Once the deal is made, the buyer sends money to the seller using a secure payment app like CashApp, Venmo, or Apple Pay. The seller then releases the final version of the foot pic, usually as a digital copy. Some buyers prefer a tangible foot pic which requires the seller to print and mail the content, which can lead to increased fees, costs, and shipping rates.
All of these factors and expenses should be taken into consideration when choosing a listing price for your content. These figures also come into play when figuring out how to pay taxes on feet pics.
Who Qualifies as a Taxpayer for Selling Feet Pics?
Not all foot content creators qualify as taxpayers. It all depends on how much money you earn in a given year. For example, sellers in the US that make over $600 selling feet pics are required to file taxes and report their income. The good news is that most professional sites will send you a record of your total earnings for the year. Not all foot pic platforms do this, though, so it’s ultimately your responsibility to keep track of your earnings and activity and pay taxes on your foot pic income. A certified personal accountant (CPA) can help you calculate the total amount you owe and if you qualify for any deductions.
Deductions include any equipment or supplies purchased and used to produce your foot content. These items include things like a digital camera, shoes, socks, and other accessories, Internet or WiFi, listing or membership fees, and more. Get creative with your deductions but not so elaborate that you’re claiming items or expenses unrelated to your foot pic business.
How to Pay Taxes on Feet Pics: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re ready to start selling feet pics online and making a steady income, you also need to know how to legally file taxes on your earnings. Making money and paying taxes go hand-in-hand (or should we say, foot-in-foot?).
Here’s a step by step guide on how to pay taxes on feet pics and earnings to help lead you down the right path of success.
Fill out the Schedule C Form
First things first. You need to start by documenting your extra income on Schedule C (business income), which is attached to Form 1040. You’ll also list any business expenses or deductions. These forms are designed to show any loss or profit from your foot pic business and are used for all types of businesses including single-member LLCs and sole proprietors (aka – foot pic sellers).
If you’re unsure whether or not your foot pic side hustle constitutes a business, ask yourself this question – is the primary purpose of engaging in this activity to make money? If the answer is yes, then you’re considered a business. Another clue that your foot pic sales are subject to business tax laws is if you’ve been engaging in these activities continually or regularly. Some one-time sales may not be subject to income taxes, however, if you’re selling foot content on a regular basis, you’ll need to follow the steps mentioned above when filing your taxes.
Schedule C is also where you’ll list any and all business expenses related to your foot pic business. See the FAQ section below for a comprehensive list of what costs and expenses are tax deductible. However, keep in mind that any equipment or supplies you purchase for running your foot pic business, including photography equipment and computers, are subject to depreciation. This means that if you purchase a $1,000 laptop, you can’t claim that entire amount for the current calendar year. Instead, you calculate how many years the laptop will serve you and then divide the amount by that.
If the laptop will work well for 5 years, then you can claim $200, or one-fifth the amount of the purchase price, for that calendar year. The good news is, this $200 deduction will apply for every year that follows up to 5 years. If you prefer not to use the depreciation method, you can list these expenses as 179 deductions on your tax return.
Certain deductions may also be considered personal expenses like pedicures or foot cream. Be sure to do ample research and have proof that these expenses are, in fact, investments and a common expense for other professionals in your life of work.
Calculate Schedule SE Tax
Schedule C will help you determine your gross profit or loss. These totals are found on lines 31 and 32. These figures should then be entered onto line 2 of Schedule SE, a form used to calculate self-employment tax. This tax rate can range from 12.4% to 15.3% for Social Security and around 3% for Medicare.
In a traditional work setting, these taxes are calculated for you by your employer. The net among you receive in your paycheck is the total after these tax deductions are made. As a foot pic seller, you’re considered a freelancer or self proprietor, which means you need to calculate these deductions yourself.
Fill Out Schedules 1 and 2
Two more important but minor Schedules you need to address when determining how to pay taxes on feet pics are Schedule 1 and 2. The Schedule 1 form is for any adjustments or additional income and schedule 2 is for additional taxes. Take the profit or loss total from Schedule C mentioned above (or line 31 or 32 on Schedule SE) and add it to line 3 of Schedule 1.
Next, refer to line 13 of Schedule SE and enter this onto line 15 of Schedule 1. The self-employment tax number from line 12 of Schedule SE should then be added to line 4 of Schedule 2.
Complete Form 1040
Form 1040 is the main form required by all individual US taxpayers. At the time of this writing, Form 1040 has 13 Schedules to complete. It’s important to read each Schedule carefully and fill out all those that apply to you. Once this step is complete, total all of these amounts and write it on the correct line on Form 1040.
For example, if you’re filing as a business, take the total from line 26 of Schedule 1 and write it on line 10 of Form 1040. Next, take the other amounts from line 10 on Schedule 1 and write it on line 8 of Form 1040. The amount on line 17 from Form 1040 should be written on line 3 from Schedule 2. If you work a traditional job in addition to selling feet pics, you also need to document the amount listed on your W2 form.
Your total tax amount is calculated by adding your regular income and your freelance income, plus any other income including dividends.
File Form 1040 ES and Pay Taxes Quarterly
As a freelance worker, you receive the full payment every time someone buys one of your foot pics. For example, if you charge $15 for a photo, that’s how much is deposited into your account. (Minus any overhead fees or commission charged by the site.) Because there’s no employer deducting taxes from your earnings, it’s your job to pay estimated taxes on your income every quarter. If you don’t, not only could you face penalties come tax time but you may lose track of your earnings and owe an even larger amount at the end of the year.
It’s recommended you pay an equal amount every three months based on your estimated annual income. A good rule of thumb is to set aside between 25% and 30% of your freelance income to pay your quarterly taxes. This can easily be done online.
Tips for Staying Compliant
Whether you’re just starting out as a freelancer or only just started making enough money off your feet pics to claim, here are a few tips and pointers for remaining compliant and earning a legitimate living off your feet pics.
Keep Impeccable Records
In the event that your foot pic business is audited or the IRS has a question about a payment you received, it’s imperative that you have detailed records of all of your transactions. From the minute you start your foot pic business you should keep track of things like
- The seller’s name
- The payment method used
- The final sale price
- The date of the final sale
- The type of content you sold (i.e. a downloadable file, a printed picture, a video, an item)
- Any additional expenses including supplies or equipment, shipping fees, or travel expenses (if applicable)
The income you make from selling feet pics should be added to your regular income. These two figures are used to calculate your income tax. Your self-employment tax is then added onto this total.
File on Time
Regardless of the type of side hustle or business you run, filing your taxes on time prevents late fees, penalties, and other complications. Be sure to file your taxes before the April 15th deadline or apply for an extension, if necessary. In most cases, the late fee is %0.5 of the tax amount owed after the due date for every month the taxes are late, up to but not exceeding 25%. If you have a legitimate reason for paying late and you can prove it, these penalty fees may be waived.
Create a Payment Plan
The best way to avoid late fees is to create a payment schedule. As a freelancer or independent contractor, it’s ultimately your responsibility to pay your income taxes on time. It’s advised that all sole proprietors pay estimated taxes every quarter (or every three months). Not only does this help you budget your expenses properly, but you may end up paying less than if you wait and try to pay the entire amount at the end of the year.
FAQs on How to Pay Taxes on Feet Pics
The more you know about how to pay taxes on your feet pics, the more money you can make while also avoiding unwanted trouble or red flags. Here are some frequently asked questions about the tax process for foot pic income.
What happens if I don’t pay taxes?
Tax evasion is no laughing matter. It’s never advisable to skip out on paying your taxes or to lie about your deductions, overhead costs, or income totals. Even foot content creators with the best intentions might be tempted not to report their full income once they see the money start rolling in. The small reward of keeping 100% of your income isn’t worth the trouble or aggravation you’ll face down the road if you fail to report your foot pic earnings or lie on your tax return.
Potential penalties include
- Fines
- Tax liens
- Assessment penalties
- Interest payments
In more serious cases, imprisonment is a very serious and realistic punishment.
What happens if I pay my taxes late?
Most taxes must be filed by April 15th. In some cases, you can request an extension. If you don’t or the extension isn’t approved and you don’t file your taxes in time, you may encounter a penalty known as Failure to File. The penalty varies but in most cases, you’ll owe 5% of your unpaid tax liability for every month that your taxes are late, with some fines reaching as high as 25% of your total unpaid taxes.
If you’re owed a refund on your taxes and you file late, you won’t incur the Failure to File penalty, however, you also won’t receive your expected refund. Refunds must be claimed within a certain window of time. Most refunds can be filed up to 3 years after the due date. Once this time limit expires, the refund is forfeited.
Do feet pic sellers get audited?
Less than 1 out of every 100 tax papers will ever be audited. But, it does happen. Which is why you should be prepared in case your feet pic earnings ever undergo an audit by the IRS. It starts when the IRS looks at the payment system you use. Some of the most popular payment apps for selling feet pics include PayPal, CashApp, Venmo, and Skrill. Other foot pic platforms have built-in wallets that keep track of all the money made and spent by each member. Some sites will even send you a 1099 at the end of the year as proof of your income. Beware, this same 1099 is sent to the IRS.
Regardless of the payment method you use or how the system keeps track, all of these earnings are subject to an IRS audit. The IRS can see all of the money deposited and withdrawn, including every single transaction. If they decide to audit you and you’ve failed to accurately report your earnings, you could be prosecuted for tax fraud or evasion.
Is selling feet pics legal?
Yes! In most states and countries, selling feet pics is totally legal. And therefore, there’s no need to hide your earnings. Selling feet pics online is the same as selling any other product or service including artwork or chat services. While some buyers do have a foot fetish and want very specific or sexy feet pics, there are plenty of other mainstream buyers out there looking for generic and beautiful feet pics. These include advertising agencies, foot product companies, artists, and stock photo sites.
The practice of selling feet pics is perfectly safe and legal, however selling or buying to underaged individuals could get you in hot water (depending on the content). Always protect yourself when selling feet pics by using legitimate websites that verify the identity of all users. Considered a legal way of making money, all the money you make selling feet pics is subject to taxes.
Can I reduce the amount of taxes I have to pay?
Deductions are one of the most common ways to reduce the amount of taxes you pay. Tax deductions are the amount you can legally subtract from your taxable income, usually in the form of overhead expenses. For example, if you purchase a laptop for your business, build a home office, or purchase other supplies that help keep your business running. And this includes your foot pic business. For example, ring lights and other photography equipment, props and accessories, and even some footwear may all be considered legal tax deductions if the items were purchased to help run or sustain your business and source of income.
Other possible deductions include
- Pedicures and other foot care products
- Internet or Wifi
- Camera and lenses
- Tripod or wireless remote
- Nail polish
- A personal blog or website for your foot pics (hosting fees)
- Medicine related to your foot health or care
In addition to business expenses and deductions, here are a few other ways to reduce the amount of taxes you pay on your feet pic earnings.
Self-Employment Tax
As a sole proprietor, you may also be eligible for the self-employment tax deduction. This line item is listed on the Schedule SE in form 1040. Under the “Other Taxes” section, you can report your self-employed earnings. This allows the IRS to differentiate between the self-employed tax and federal income taxes, helping you save money and owe less.
Charitable Donations
All charitable donations are tax deductible. Plus, giving back feels good! Use some of your feet pic earnings to donate to your favorite charity or foundation. Established organizations will provide a tax receipt showing how much you donated. You can then file these receipts along with your tax paperwork as proof of reduced taxable income. Be sure to only donate to registered charities that can provide a legitimate receipt.
Contribute to an HSA (Health Savings Account)
An HSA is a health savings account used to pay for certain medical expenses. The tax-advantages savings account can also be used to cover insurance premiums. Any money you contribute to an HSA is done using pre-taxed income, helping lower your overall taxable income. Any withdrawals from an HSA that are used to pay for qualifying medical expenses also enjoy a tax-free benefit.
Earn Money on Your Feet Pics the Right Way
It’s never been easier to earn money selling feet pics. With millions of eager buyers and dozens of reputable foot pic platforms, now more than ever, you can create high-quality foot content that converts. With the average foot pic selling for between $10 and $30 and custom requests selling for even more, you can sell feet pics as a side hustle or turn your skills into a full-time job. Either way, it’s vital you know how to pay taxes on your feet pics so you can keep what’s yours without incurring penalties or fines.
Now that the money is squared away, explore the rest of the blog for tips and tricks on producing and selling sexy feet pics that earn you top-dollar.
