Built for streamers tracking subs, bits and sponsorships.
Twitch pays from California. Streamlabs sends tips from a different processor. Sponsors send wire transfers with no invoice. Cadence keeps every revenue source on one ledger — and flags the records your accountant will ask for.
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Every way you earn
Built around how Twitch streamers actually get paid.
Every income type gets its own record — with the date, source, gross, fees, currency, and CAD equivalent. So when tax time comes, your accountant gets a summary, not a scavenger hunt.
Subs & gifted subs
Tier 1/2/3 subs and gifted subs from your channel — split with Twitch and paid monthly.
Bits / Cheers
Viewers buy bits from Twitch and cheer them in chat. Track the period, gross, and net payout.
Tips & donations
Streamlabs, StreamElements, Ko-fi, PayPal — usually self-employment income, not gifts.
Sponsorships & creator deals
Brand integrations, sponsored streams, energy-drink and peripheral deals — usually invoiced separately.
Affiliate / merch
Amazon Influencer Storefront, Streamlabs Merch, Throne wishlist payouts.
Gifted gear
Keyboards, headsets, capture cards, chairs. PR gear conditional on content usually counts as business income.
Where it gets messy
The recordkeeping problems Twitch streamers actually hit.
Tips feel like gifts. They usually aren't.
Money sent to your stream in connection with your work is generally business income — not a true tax-free gift. Keep the platform statements.
Multiple payout processors.
Twitch, Streamlabs, StreamElements, Ko-fi, PayPal — each pays separately, in different currencies. One ledger keeps it sane.
USD payouts and FX drift.
Twitch pays USD on the 15th of the following month. Cadence saves the gross, fees, and CAD equivalent on the day paid.
Sponsorship invoicing is informal.
Energy-drink and peripheral deals often land via wire with a one-line email. Save the contract, deliverables, posting dates, and gear sent.
One calm place for the business side.
Cadence is not a content tool, a media kit, or accounting software. It is the layer underneath Twitch streamers' work that keeps the record clean.
One ledger across every platform
Payouts, brand deals, gifted products, affiliate income — all in one place, not five spreadsheets.
GST/HST threshold tracker
Rolling 12-month view of your total taxable creator revenue against the $30,000 small-supplier threshold.
Records that hold up to review
Receipts, contracts, screenshots, and notes saved with each entry. The CRA's Part XX rules mean creator income gets reported — clean records are the easiest defense.
Accountant-ready export
Income by type, brand deal summary, gifted product schedule, expense summary, GST/HST summary, and CSV. Send it to your accountant in one file.
What to track
The Twitch streamers recordkeeping checklist.
Use this as a starting point. Add what is specific to your channel and trim what does not apply.
- Monthly Twitch payout (subs, bits, ads) with USD-to-CAD conversion
- Streamlabs / StreamElements / Ko-fi / PayPal tip statements
- Sponsor contracts, deliverables, posting dates, and invoices
- Affiliate commissions across Amazon, merch, and partner platforms
- Gifted gear with brand, estimated value, and content-required flag
- Streaming expenses: capture card, lighting, microphone, internet portion
- Subscription costs: editing software, OBS plug-ins, music licensing
- W-8BEN status to reduce US withholding on Twitch payouts
Recommended reading
Guides written for Twitch streamers.
FAQ
Questions Twitch streamers ask.
Cadence helps you keep records — it is not tax advice. Always confirm with your accountant.
Are Twitch subs and bits taxable in Canada?
Generally yes — subscription revenue, bits, and ad payouts are self-employment income reported on a T2125 with your T1. Twitch does not issue a Canadian tax slip; report from payout history.
Are Streamlabs and Ko-fi tips taxable?
Usually yes. The CRA generally treats money received in connection with your creator work as business income — not as personal, tax-free gifts. Keep the platform reports.
Do I need a W-8BEN for Twitch?
Yes. Submitting a W-8BEN with your Canadian tax info in the Twitch payout settings generally reduces US withholding under the Canada–US tax treaty. Without it, US-source payouts can be withheld at up to 30%.
Can I write off my streaming gear?
Capture cards, microphones, lighting, headsets, software subscriptions, and the business-use portion of your internet are generally deductible against streaming income. Higher-value gear may be capitalized and depreciated.
What about GST/HST on subs?
Once worldwide taxable revenue crosses $30,000 in a rolling 12 months you generally have to register. Whether GST/HST applies to subs and bits depends on the platform's collection model and the location of the payer — your accountant can confirm.
Keep your Twitch streamers business organized.
Track payouts, deals, gifted products and records — all in one place.