Business seller with Private account eBay doing nothing

[red_apple_av]

I'm fed up with eBay, I pay in excess of £2500 amonth in FVFs and have to compete with this seller who has a professional looking template selling product on a Private account but is clearly a Business seller

I have pulled them up to eBay several times but nothing is being done. This is one reason out of many that is pushing me to Amazon more

eBay if you are reading this, sort it out

[therenewalworkshopltd]

If I opened a private account to help with a house clearance selling the 

above and posted here for advice, I would no doubt be chased of the 

forum with pitch forks.

Actually, this is a business practice.

Unless you are clearing a relatives house with things have been left to you, you are engaging in trade.

For a one off, it's not such a big deal, but if you do this for one, then someone else asks you to help and so on, you do literally become a business.  Even if you are doing it for free.

The issue is simply that the goods do not belong to you, they belong to someone else.

This is a mistake that many make, when they are selling their own stuff, then the friend/neighbour etc asks them to sell something for them, it does literally make them a business.  

And the other part that you can't forget, even if you are doing this as a favour for someone else, by creating an account in your own name, you will have that turnover reported to HMRC as YOUR income and not theirs.

[smarts-gaming]

Changing over to business account was worst thing i did. Complete scam. Not even a bloody business, got roped in by idiots here. 

[messier44000]

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@therenewalworkshopltd wrote:

"And the other part that you can't forget, even if you are doing this as a favour for someone else, by creating an account in your own name, you will have that turnover reported to HMRC as YOUR income and not theirs."

It was just a scenario I was creating.  In reality when the time comes, it will all be donated 

to the local village art and knitting groups.

That is unless the family (living far away) need some extra ££s for funeral costs.

Had a website, retail premises and was vat registered before I knew 

eBay existed. So I do know all the do`d and don`t regards HMRC and

declaring income.

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[papso22]

If the trade is the selling of someone else's goods for them, the trade is the provision of a selling service and the income generated would be any amount kept over an above what was handed to the previous owner (commission).  

It's potentially a business activity, but only if there is a payment for the selling service.

On ebay though it would get very messy as for all intents and purposes the selling account used would be perceived as the owner and seller of the goods themselves.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

It's potentially a business activity, but only if there is a payment for the selling service.

Yes, I don't disagree with any of these.

But a payment is very likely for doing a service such as this whether it be for friend neighbour etc.

Usually something such as a bottle of wine.  Which is very much a payment.  🙂

It doesn't however exclude that income from being added to your personal income when it reported by Ebay to HMRC.  

The problem with this kind of thing, is that there is a very fine line between what is and what isn't a business.

The top and bottom of it being, that if you don't want to get hit, then it's just not worth the hassle.

And if HMRC come knocking, its very much on you to prove that you weren't trading, rather than them proving that you were.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

I'm well aware that it was scenario put forward.

And I was not having a go at you, as you seem to think from the tone of your answer.

Merely pointing out, the problems with what you suggested.

[5216elisabeth]

I've just added you to my saved sellers list too.  I use the mailing bags and often run out of a size.  I don't buy from businesses listing as private sellers generally so I wouldn't have spotted you previously 🙂

[securepack]

Thank you very much 😊

[nutrafituk]

That should cheer you up a bit - see the picture. When it comes to eBay, do not expect anything - it is a fact, not an opinion.