Kenyan content creator-cum-comedian Terence Creative has sent a public appeal to giant video platform YouTube to rescind its decision to tax content creators starting June 2021.
Terence told the US government which imposed the tax that creators in Kenya are going through hard times due to the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus now in its third wave.
He said that they have no other source of income now that most entertainment joints have been shut down leaving them with no other revenue stream.
“Dear YouTube please I beg you stop taxing us at this tough time, our country Kenya is locked down and we no longer have any gigs as before, the entertainment industry is shut down, the little you give us monthly is what we use to run a few things here and there,” Terence appeal read.
He urged YouTube to revise it June 2021 date to another date when it will start taxing Kenyan creators.
“If possible, just postpone the taxation until a further date let’s say after 8 months, have mercy for content creators in Kenya, this could be our only source of income for now.”
Google in March Google said that YouTubers from across the world will be taxed by the US government in new tax reforms instituted by Joe Biden’s led administration.
The US government will tax YouTube earnings at 15 percent for total views generated.
All creators are now required to submit their tax detail by May 31 failure to which the giant video creation platform will deduct up to 24 per cent of their total earnings.
“We’re getting in touch because Google is said to deduct U.S. taxes from earnings to creators living outside of the U.S. this year (as early as June 2021). Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be requesting the content makers to submit your tax info in AdSense to decide the correct amount of taxes to deduct if any apply. If your tax details are not submitted by May 31st, 2021, Google may be required to deduct up to 24% of your entire earnings worldwide,” an email sent to all YouTube creators read.
