Bloggers may face demands from Revenue for promotions
IN A statement this week to the MoS, the Revenue Commissioners said all products or services received in return for online promotion were subject to benefit-in-kind tax.
This could seriously dent the income of bloggers who make a living by promoting products and services received for free.
Leading blogger Joanne Larby told the MoS she was always transparent. She recently went on a cruise, which she revealed on her blog was for free in return for posts and a review.
‘I’m always vocal and transparent about every paid job that I do, I also use the appropriate #SP or #AD [the social media shorthand for ‘sponsored’ and ‘advert’] for paid campaigns. I mention the same in blog posts.’ she said. ‘My followers understand I need to make a living like everyone else.’
Blogger Rosemary McCabe could be subject to tax as she had the use, for free, of a Volkswagen for the past year. She is liable for benefit-in-kind for the car but argued on an online forum recently that she always made clear that the car was a loan and did not believe she should be taxed. She declined to comment when contacted.
Blogger Grace Mongey has been known to posts gifts on her social media platform without declaring the brand interest. She found herself at the centre of controversy recently when she shared a delivery of a TV from Currys. Unwrapping the TV on her Snapchat, Grace claimed that she ‘got the TV for her mother’. But people were quick to point out that the same TV, in the same box, had been part of a media drop on the same day to other bloggers around the country.
Yesterday Grace said: ‘I pride myself on being completely honest when collaborating with a brand.’
Blogger Suzanne Jackson recently drove to Limerick to buy a new bed, which she posted to her Instagram page complete with a glowing review – but insisted it was ‘NOT AN AD’. She also posted a video to her Snapchat for her new carpet, saying she had ‘bought it from Des Kelly’.
Suzanne was unavailable for comment.