Asked to provide my NI number.

[ukbanditaddicts]

I received an email today requesting that I update my account and provide my National Insurance number, as I have reached the threshold for either items sold or the selling limit.

My question is this.. I am simply selling some personal items that have accumulated in my garage over time. I am not making a profit, nor do I consider myself a business. I’m happy to close my eBay account and stop selling altogether. What will happen if I choose not to provide my National Insurance number and immediately stop selling?

[cobwebcottage]

Are you saying that you have been asked to change from a private account to a business account?

If this is right, I cannot understand the reasoning behind it unless you have other accounts too?.

At the very least, give them your NI no' as they may freeze your payments ( and your account).

Then it is up to you if you decide to continue to sell and change over or cease selling on Ebay.

[ukbanditaddicts]

I don't fully understand it to be honest. I received this..

We're getting in touch to let you know about the UK digital sales reporting law. This law requires marketplaces like eBay to collect and report seller information if you meet one of these thresholds: 30 or more sales, or sales exceeding £1740 in a calendar year.

Since you've reached this threshold, please update your account by providing your National Insurance number.

I've done some research into what happens if I just close the account but I can't find anything.

Rather than get into all the bother of providing details I'm not comfortable providing and feel i dont have to provide as this is not a business nor am i proffiting from this. I'd rather just close the account and stop selling the items all together. But do you think if I do that they'd be some kind of dispute from ebay or hmrc. I'm just looking for most hassle free solution really.

[cobwebcottage]

They are not saying you have to change to a business account. That is just the standard e mail which all sellers who have reached the reporting limit are sent.

You just have to provide your NI no' and then you can continue as normal.

You look to be a genuine private seller so just because they have asked for your NI no', that doesn't mean that you will have to pay tax.  Just keep records of your sales. Easy to get from Ebay reports.

I don't think you have anything to worry about ( from what I can see on this account).

[papso22]

If you stop selling and refuse to provide your NI number then ebay will still send your data to HMRC, but will probably flag you as non compliant.

[ukbanditaddicts]

I just found this on HMRC website 

Example — selling unwanted items

You’re clearing out your attic and decide to sell your unwanted items using online marketplaces. None of the items you sell are worth more than £6,000.

It’s unlikely that you’ll need to tell us about this income or pay any tax, no matter how many items you sell.

[padanpcparts]

Just give them it and get on with your day. I didn't see it as a choice. 

[papso22]

---

@ukbanditaddicts wrote:

I just found this on HMRC website 

Example — selling unwanted items

You’re clearing out your attic and decide to sell your unwanted items using online marketplaces. None of the items you sell are worth more than £6,000.

It’s unlikely that you’ll need to tell us about this income or pay any tax, no matter how many items you sell.

---

That is correct.  The £6,000 is in relation to Capital Goods Tax which is the only tax to apply to the selling of unwanted personal possessions.

Although a person doesn't need to tell HMRC directly about these sales they still come under the reporting regulations meaning ebay has to report them.

What point are you making?

[strangelysane]

Nobody seems to have reading comprehension skills these days, preferring to answer the questions you didn't ask.
I share your concerns about sharing your National Insurance via eBay - especially when HMRC already have it.  Doubly so when you consider you can't actually speak to anyone at eBay should something go wrong - like ID theft.
If you close your eBay account, it won't affect the fact that eBay have already forwarded on information regarding your sales. 
However, as you're selling old personal belongings of low value and not making a profit as a private seller, you are not liable to pay any tax.  So I would wait until HMRC contacted you themselves.  Bear in mind that they can always check your eBay account's past history if you leave it open and see that you're just decluttering.  I seriously doubt they have the resources to chase up every piffling report, instead will be concentrating on those sellers who are obviously a business and not paying their taxes nor complying with consumer law. 
But if they do, all you have to do is explain the situation, and they'll  be fine with it.
It might be prudent to take screenshots of your sales feedback, as these now include some details about the items and value of your sales - that's if you do close your account.

Eventually, eBay may prevent you from selling on their platform if you don't hand over your NI.  Frankly, the buyer protection fee they've slapped onto private sellers is killing sales anyway .
There's nothing to stop other members of your family selling off the rest of your clutter from their eBay accounts.

[lucy_farmer]

'Eventually, eBay may prevent you from selling on their platform if you don't hand over your NI.'

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Yes, they will, pretty quickly too.

(It's ebay's duty to conform to this rule, not their choice. They don't want the regulators coming down on them because their users are being recalcitrant)

And if you have any money in your ebay 'account' , they'll also hang on to that until you give them what they want.

And *not* giving your NINO, when asked for, is a bit like waving a red flag at HMRC saying ' Investigate ME ! I'm trying to hide from you...'

[edwardian-dreams]

If there’s nothing to investigate they won’t  and if they do and there’s nothing it’s no big deal 

just a refusal for privacy reasons to hand over sensitive information

in this day and age I wouldn’t blame anyone for that 

I’m sure the authorities understand this too 
the amount of scam texts and emails and data theft going on is alarming 

most people who are au fait with online stuff can deal with it but even then it’s becoming more sophisticated and dangerous

NI number is a bad one here

im not sure I would comply and I have nothing to hide 

do you trust eBay with all  your data ?

well, have a look at your account settings there’s one for AI

i didn’t know it was there 

I opted out

[lucia.lory]

Hi All !!!

I sell many times items than no more need. Items second hand who already was taxed when was new

and was buy with money who was already taxed. 

I have a hobby to collect and play with vintage audio devices as cassette deck, amplifiers,

speakers, turntables and many more in this domain. Most of them are 30-40 years old and all 

are second hand - used....!!!

When I boring of some of them, I sold and buy others. Many times I lost money in rapport of how much I pay for them.

What want HMRC to do ..??

To charge fees and taxes for this ??? 

Is absolute incredible , an abuse and attempt to stolen private money of people.

Maybe I want to sell all what I have in my house and renew furniture and everything.

They charge me ??

Maybe I sell my car who still is valued at over 10000 pounds...!!! They charge me fees ???

I have a few collection of diecast cars, crystal paperweight, audio devices. 

If I want to sell all, what happen..??

Can not find many information , many details regarding this problem.

I see on facebook market people who state items will not list on ebay due to HMRC request NINO.

I know there is business sellers on ebay who sell large quantity of new items on ebay. For that sellers maybe

need an evidence at HMRC to pay fees or taxes but for private sellers who sell used and second hand items

must be excluded.

Any detailed info will be great.

[stmaps]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-rules-for-digital-platforms

Its HMRC not Ebay you need to complain to.....if you wish