Do you have to pay income tax on money earned from feetfinder in Ontario?

Yes, you absolutely need to report income earned from platforms like feetfinder on your tax return in Ontario (and anywhere in Canada). The Income Tax Act requires you to report all income from all sources worldwide. There's no minimum threshold for reporting income in Canada - technically every dollar earned should be reported. That said, the platform likely won't issue you a T4A or other tax slip unless you earn over $500, but that doesn't remove your obligation to report the income. You'd report this as self-employment income on your T1 return using Form T2125 (Statement of Business Activities). Keep track of all your earnings and any related expenses that might be deductible against this income (portion of internet costs, perhaps equipment/props used exclusively for this purpose, etc.).

After spending hours trying to figure out my own tax situation with side income, I stumbled across this incredibly helpful AI tool called taxr.ai that specifically helps with unique income situations like this. I was in a similar boat with my Etsy shop income and wasn't sure how to properly report it. I uploaded my payment statements from Etsy to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed everything and gave me a complete breakdown of what I needed to report, what forms to use, and even identified potential deductions I hadn't considered. It was way easier than trying to piece together different bits of advice online that sometimes contradict each other.

Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was actually super helpful for my situation. I have income from a few different online platforms (not feetfinder but similar concept) and was totally confused about how to report everything. The tool gave me clear instructions for reporting self-employment income in Ontario specifically, identified business expenses I could claim, and even explained how the CPP contributions would work. Saved me from having to pay an accountant for something relatively straightforward. Definitely worth checking out if you're confused about this kind of income!

If you're having trouble getting answers from the CRA directly (which is pretty common these days), I'd recommend using Claimyr. I spent DAYS trying to get through to a CRA agent to ask questions about my side hustle income and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. With https://claimyr.com they actually got me connected to a real CRA agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to ask specific questions about reporting my online platform income and what documentation I needed to keep. The agent was surprisingly helpful once I actually got to speak with someone.

Well I'm eating my words now. After spending another frustrating morning trying to get through to CRA myself (got disconnected twice after 45+ minute waits), I tried Claimyr out of desperation. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes and got clear answers about reporting my side gig income. The agent confirmed that all income from sites like feetfinder needs to be reported regardless of the amount, and explained exactly which forms to use. They also mentioned that keeping good records is essential since the CRA might request proof of income and expenses if you're ever reviewed. Honestly, the peace of mind was worth it after weeks of uncertainty.

Just wanted to add one more thing - if you're making money on feetfinder, consider setting aside like 25-30% of what you earn for taxes. I learned this the hard way with my first year of side income... ended up owing a bunch come tax time and wasn't prepared for it. Now I automatically put 30% of all my side hustle money into a separate savings account so I'm not scrambling when tax season hits.

I'm wondering what tax software people use for reporting this kind of income? I've always just used the free SimpleTax/Wealthsimple Tax but not sure if it handles self-employment stuff well?

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of keeping detailed records from day one. Since platforms like feetfinder handle payments digitally, make sure you're downloading monthly statements and keeping screenshots of your earnings. The CRA can ask for proof of income going back several years if they ever audit you. Also, don't forget about potential business deductions! If you're using your phone for photos, a portion of your phone bill might be deductible. Same with internet costs, any props or clothing you buy specifically for photos, even a portion of your home if you're using a specific room for photo shoots. These deductions can help offset some of the tax burden. I'd also recommend opening a separate bank account just for this income if you're planning to take it seriously. Makes tracking so much easier come tax time, and it looks more professional if the CRA ever has questions.