KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 -- Almost 45 per cent of nearly 500 content creators surveyed were unaware that free products, gifts, hotel stays and vouchers received to produce content are classified as taxable income in Malaysia, according to a recent study.

This was despite 70 per cent of them receiving free products or gifts as their main form of compensation, according to the MYCreator Pulse Report 2026, commissioned by VoxEureka.

The report also said free products accounted for 46 per cent of a content creator's overall income sources, higher than direct cash payments, which stood at 43 per cent.

Only 34 per cent of the content creators polled have filed income tax and intend to continue doing so.

Of the remaining 66 per cent, 14 per cen...