Accounting and invoicing for gaming creators
Sponsorship from publishers, keys to test, tournament prizes and merchandise: gaming creators often get games and hardware instead of money or on top. Saldiqo writes the invoices to publishers and hardware brands, lets you record keys and devices as payment in kind and captures gear as an expense.
What comes up for gaming creators
Keys and loaned devices
Game keys, controllers and graphics cards arrive for testing. Some stay with you, some go back. That changes the billing.
Sponsorship at releases
Publishers book videos or streams for the release date. Date, scope and rights are in the contract.
Expensive hardware
Computer, graphics card, capture card and monitor are large items over their useful life.
How Saldiqo helps
- Invoice to the publisherVideo, stream, date and usage rights as lines.
- Record payment in kindName product or key with value in the invoice. For a pure exchange mark it paid with the payment method other.
- Match paymentsUpload the bank statement, and Saldiqo shows which job is paid.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Sponsored video for the release, 12 minutes
- Stream integration, 2 streams of 3 hours
- Usage rights for trailer clips, six months
- Payment in kind: game and accessories worth 120
- Travel to the event as per receipt
- Deposit 40 % on signing the contract
Tax and invoicing in Ireland
What applies to invoices in Ireland, in short. As of October 2026.
- VAT
- Standard rate 23 %, reduced rates 13.5 % and 9 %, 4.8 % for livestock, and 0 %. Since 1 July 2026 a 9 % rate applies to restaurants, catering, hot takeaway food and hairdressing, excluding alcohol and soft drinks.
- VAT registration
- Registration is required above €42,500 a year for services and above €85,000 for goods, if at least 90 % of turnover comes from goods. Saldiqo leaves VAT off your invoices while you are below the threshold and shows how much room is left.
- What goes on an invoice
- Registered businesses show their VAT number. Sole traders and partnerships providing services show their tax reference number, or their full name and address, on invoices and receipts of €7 or more (section 885 TCA). Companies show their name, CRO number and registered office, and directors’ details on letters, order forms and the website.
- Invoice timing
- Issue a VAT invoice within 15 days after the end of the month in which the supply took place.
- E-invoicing
- From 1 November 2028 every business must be able to receive e-invoices. Issuing is phased in: first for suppliers to large corporates, from November 2029 for businesses trading B2B within the EU, and from 1 July 2030 under the EU VAT in the Digital Age rules. A PDF does not count as an e-invoice, and the technical specifications are not yet published.
- VAT returns
- VAT3 returns are filed every two months through ROS, by the 19th of the following month, or the 23rd when you file online through ROS. Saldiqo does not file returns, your accountant or ROS does.
- Record keeping
- Keep records for 6 years, longer while a review is open.
- Late payment
- Interest on late business payments is the ECB main refinancing rate (2.40 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 10.40 %, plus fixed compensation of €40, €70 or €100 depending on the amount owed.
- Getting paid
- IBAN and BIC are on every invoice, plus a SEPA QR code (EPC) for banking apps that can read it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I treat game keys?
Keys you receive in return for content usually count as income at their value. Keys only for testing without consideration you clear with your tax adviser.
Can I depreciate hardware?
In Germany Saldiqo keeps an asset register. For other countries you record the purchase as an expense and clear depreciation with your tax adviser.
Do gaming creators in Ireland have to charge VAT?
Once they are registered, yes. Registration is required from the sale that takes turnover over €42,500 a year for services or €85,000 for goods, where at least 90 % of turnover comes from goods. Below those limits Saldiqo leaves VAT off your invoices.
Do gaming creators in Ireland need e-invoicing?
Not yet. From 1 November 2028 every business must be able to receive e-invoices. The duty to issue them phases in from the same date for suppliers to large corporates and later for more businesses. PDF invoices do not count as e-invoices.
How long should gaming creators keep invoices?
Keep records for 6 years, longer while a review is open. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.
Try Saldiqo for free
Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.
Start for freeThis page for other countries
Related niches
More industries
As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.