After the Handelsblatt reported on a massive audit campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia, the focus is expanding to other federal states – now also to Hamburg. (Source: Press release from the Hamburg tax authorities)
In our first article, we show how the investigations came about, who is affected – and what creators can do to be well-positioned from a tax perspective: Influencer tax evasion: €300 million damage caused by 200 creators
Hamburg: sector review runs until 2026
The Hanseatic City of Hamburg is now also following suit with concrete measures, as can be seen from a press release issued by the tax authorities on July 17, 2025. As early as 2022, a Expert group on the taxation of influencers and other social media players. Since the beginning of 2024, Hamburg has systematic sector review which should be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
Around 140 individual case reviewswhich use data records from various sources, including data from social media platforms. Even if specific additional results have not yet been published, experience shows that even individual cases can lead to significant tax losses.
Hamburg relies on targeted evaluation of digital traces
To support the tax auditors, a comprehensive comprehensive reference work on influencer taxation and made available nationwide. During the audit, the tax authorities use Data from social-media platforms, marketing agencies and other control materials back. There is also a close exchange with the Tax investigation and other federal states.
Goal: Recognize tax errors at an early stage
Senator for Finance Dr. Andreas Dressel (SPD) emphasizes that Hamburg specifically intervenes “where a high reach is achieved and professional action is taken, while tax obligations are either not known or are deliberately circumvented”. Especially the The apparent anonymity of the internet should not be a shield against the tax office.
Conclusion: Digital revenues in the sights of tax investigators
The current development clearly shows that Tax gray areas in the influencer sector are being systematically addressed. For creators, now is the time at the latest to professionally examine the tax situation – before the tax authorities do. In our first blog post, we explain in detail what creators should look out for in terms of tax: Influencer tax evasion: €300 million in damages from 200 creators
