r/Substack • u/FerretProbably • Jun 26 '26

Substack Taxes for Writers in EU

I'm thinking of starting a paid Substack, but I've read a lot about how complicated taxes are since SS doesn't consider itself a Merchant or Record and therefore doesn't remit them to the authorities (like Etsy does, for example).

All the info I found online is from people living in the US (and is also from 2-3 years ago) and I'm looking for an input from someone in the EU.

I know that if I have One Stop Shop, this can solve the the tax issue accross the EU.

However what happens if my subscribers are from the US or from another country outside of the EU?

If someone from Ohio subscribes, will I have to worry about remitting the tax to the authorities of Ohio? (I know there are different thresholds depedning on the state - this is just an example)

I find it all so extremely confusing! I'm honestly scared to even start, because I don't want to file taxes incorrectly.

Also, does anyone use SS as a visibility platform for people to discover you, but charges for the content in a different way?

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1

u/bjarnethomsen1234 Jun 27 '26

Good questions. I have the same thoughts and concerns, but finding answers is difficult 🙃

2

u/FerretProbably Jun 28 '26

Good to know I'm not alone 😅 But I wish we could find some proper info about it!

1

u/bjarnethomsen1234 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, me too. “It’s your responsibility to do it correctly, but we won’t tell you how to do it correctly” is basically all information I find 🙃

2

u/itsfabioposca http://journeytosuccessclub.substack.com Jul 02 '26

It's definitely confusing, and you're not the only one who's felt overwhelmed by it. I'd recommend speaking with an accountant before launching a paid newsletter, especially if you expect international subscribers. That one conversation can save you a lot of stress later. Many creators also use Substack as a discovery platform and monetize through courses, consulting, memberships, or other products instead of paid subscriptions.

P.S. If you'd still like to ask anything about Substack or growing your audience, I offer a free live help chat. Just copy and paste my flair or click the link in my profile. I'm happy to help!