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Twitch and live streaming
Live streaming lets you broadcast games, chat or other activities and build a community around your channel. You can begin with equipment you already own, but earning money is uncertain and usually takes time.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Choose something you enjoy sharing live.
- Use a phone, console or computer you already have.
- Talk, play or make things while viewers watch.
- Build your audience slowly by streaming regularly.
- You may earn money, but there is no guarantee.
Who it suits
Suits people who enjoy talking to an audience, sharing an activity live and returning regularly to build a community. It may suit gamers, artists, chat hosts and people with a hobby they can demonstrate or discuss.
Viewers may pay to support a channel they enjoy, subscribe, or watch sponsored content. They can also value the entertainment, company or useful demonstrations you provide; audience growth and income are uncertain.
Step by step
- Choose a clear focus for your channel. Pick a game, hobby, chat topic or activity you can share. Decide what a new viewer will see and hear when they join, and describe the focus in one simple sentence. About 20-30 minutes.
- Start with equipment you already have. Try a phone, console or computer before buying anything. Twitch says a microphone and camera are not required to start; it lists a stable internet connection and a broadcasting tool, called an encoder, as basic requirements. Twitch How Do I Stream FAQ About 30-60 minutes.
- Set up your account and channel page. Create a Twitch account and add a short channel description. Choose a recognisable name and image, and keep the description clear about what you stream. About 30-60 minutes.
- Check your upload speed. Test your internet connection before going live. Twitch recommends upload speed equal to the stream bitrate plus 30%; its example says a 6mbps stream may need at least 8mbps upload speed. Twitch How Do I Stream FAQ About 15-30 minutes.
- Run a short test stream. Do a brief, low-key test and check whether the stream stutters or buffers. If it does, check stream health with Twitch Inspector and review Twitch’s broadcast guidance. Twitch How Do I Stream FAQ About 15-30 minutes.
- Plan a simple first broadcast. Choose the activity, prepare a brief opening and decide how you will respond to chat. Practise speaking while doing the activity so the conversation does not depend on viewers asking questions. About 20-40 minutes.
- Go live and review one thing. After streaming, note what worked with sound, picture, pacing and explaining the activity. Change one thing before the next stream so you can tell whether it helped. About Stream time plus 10-15 minutes.
- Track progress if you want Affiliate. Use the Creator Dashboard’s Achievements to track progress. Twitch requires 25 followers, 4 hours streamed, streams on 4 different days and an average of 3 viewers on 4 different days, all within the same 30-day period. Twitch Affiliate Guide About A few minutes each week.
- Complete onboarding carefully if invited. If invited to Affiliate onboarding, enable two-factor authentication and complete the tax interview using your legal name as it appears on your tax documents. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian to agree to the Monetized Streamer Agreement. Twitch Affiliate Program FAQ About 30-60 minutes.
Your first 15 minutes
Set up your channel, run an internet test and make one short practice broadcast, then note one improvement to make before the next stream.
The money
There is no fixed price for a stream: platform subscriptions, donations and sponsorships can vary, and audience income is uncertain. If you sell a separate service or product, estimate your time and costs, compare similar offers, and state clearly what the buyer gets. Remember that platform deductions, fees and tax can reduce what you keep.
Example only: suppose a month’s streaming payout after platform deductions is £40 and your costs are £12; £40 − £12 = £28 before tax. Separately, suppose a month’s payout is €40 and costs are €12; €40 − €12 = €28 before tax. These are made-up examples, not typical earnings or an exchange rate.
The rules
This checklist covers selected tax, advertising, platform and benefits points for live streaming. It isn't a complete legal checklist. Check the rules that apply to your activities and circumstances.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Trading income and tax. You can use the trading allowance for the first £1,000 a year of trading income. If your income is above that, tell HMRC. The £1,000 is gross income, before expenses. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles
- Self Assessment. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the tax year ends. If you're unsure whether you need to register, check with HMRC. GOV.UK
- Advertising. Clearly label advertising and affiliate content. For example, use “Ad”. Advertising Standards Authority
- Platform monetisation. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must agree to the Monetized Streamer Agreement for you to apply. Twitch Affiliate Program FAQ
- Personal data. This ICO guidance isn't a general rule for every sole trader. Use its self-assessment tool to check whether you need to pay a fee. It gives advertising or marketing another person's business, goods or services as an example of when a fee is required. Information Commissioner's Office
Ireland
- Tax return route. If you're a PAYE worker, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. Revenue
- Self-employment tax. If you're self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC under self-assessment. Your preliminary tax is due by 31 October. Check your situation with Revenue or a tax adviser. Citizens Information
- Advertising. If you promote a product or service commercially, label it as an advertisement, for example with #Ad. If in doubt, the CCPC advises you to label it. CCPC
- Platform monetisation. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must agree to the Monetized Streamer Agreement for you to apply. Twitch Affiliate Program FAQ
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Buying expensive equipment before testing what you already own.
- Expecting viewers or income to grow quickly.
- Going live without checking your connection, sound or picture.
- Trying to change several things at once after a stream.
- Forgetting to track income, costs or advertising disclosures.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.