Ebay asking for my Nat Ins Number

[lights-camera-actionuk]

I have had a e mail for E Bay asking for my national Insurance number so i can contiunue to sell on e bay

 I am a registered business and have been for over 20 years

 I am VAT registered and have been for over 15 years with my VAT number oin my  e bay account

I pay an accountant to do my accounts of my sales on ebay  every 3 month and now this 

I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT GIVING MY NAT INSURANCE NUMBER TO E BAY, and there is no mention of it being safe   wit E Bay   im furious

[papso22]

they can operate without paying tax.

Not to forget ebay fees.

[minihamilton]

People are right to be paranoid and if they’re not they can’t have read much Orwell.  This is the government tightening the noose, along with debanking, limiting deposits and withdrawals, the gradual extinction of cash etc etc.  

Ive been selling on eBay since 2001, buying since 2009.  This is my last batch.  

[minihamilton]

Fair enough. Scary. I’m out.
Sent from my iPhone

[susapric-68]

Not to mention when the EU work out that eBay allowed business sellers to sell on Private accounts and avoid the new GPSR they will issue eBay with a multi million fine and eBay will pass that fine over to business sellers in the way of an extra fee

[atlantis-myshop]

And here you’re wrong – ‘I’m sure that if the government announced that all those who voluntarily provided their National Insurance numbers (NI) would receive a financial boost... complaints and the need for advice would be negligible’ – because not everyone, like you, looks at financial benefits. This thread discusses various reasons for disagreeing with providing an NI number.

You called me paranoid in your penultimate post. Now you claim this is a discussion among business sellers. Yes, I am one of them, although you seem to think otherwise. From your message, it seems you haven’t read my earlier posts. Had you done so, you would understand why your words offended me (and other sole traders who made similar choices). Calling everyone leaving eBay paranoid is simply not true, as there are various reasons for leaving the platform (not just the issue of providing an NI number). On forums like this, you cannot make sweeping generalisations about everyone, as such remarks are controversial.

As a former admin of another forum, I can say that if people want to, they can ask the same questions a thousand times. That’s precisely what forums are for. By delving into the details step by step, it often turns out that each case is different.

[papso22]

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@susapric-68 wrote:

Not to mention when the EU work out that eBay allowed business sellers to sell on Private accounts and avoid the new GPSR they will issue eBay with a multi million fine and eBay will pass that fine over to business sellers in the way of an extra fee

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Oh yes, forgot about that one.  The rules apply to 'businesses', not 'ebay business accounts'.

[vinylscot]

I am beginning to find some of the indignant reactions quite amusing. Some still seem to think they will just be able to run away from this.

If a seller refuses to provide eBay with their NINO, that will not stop eBay from reporting their sales, if they have breached the applicable limits.

Indeed, I would imagine that eBay's submissions of these individuals' figures will be accompanied by a notice informing HMRC of the individuals refusal to comply with the NINO request.

Common sense would suggest that, resources allowing, these would be the cases which would attract HMRC's attention.

[its-a-small-world]

The indignant part is , if you don’t sell , you don’t buy , it’s a major
problem

[minihamilton]

Ingsoc and Airstrip One here we come
Sent from my iPhone

[vintage-london-uk]

I feel exactly the same I’ve been trading on eBay since 2011 I’m refusing to share them details I feel it’s a breach of our privacy, I have ended all my

listings and will no longer sell on eBay what is this world coming too!

[minihamilton]

Agreed completely. I’m out
Sent from my iPhone

[papso22]

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@vintage-london-uk wrote:

I feel exactly the same I’ve been trading on eBay since 2011 I’m refusing to share them details I feel it’s a breach of our privacy, I have ended all my

listings and will no longer sell on eBay what is this world coming too!

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I hope you have been paying tax then seeing as how you were doing all that 'trading' on the wrong type of ebay account.

[dch2112011]

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@vintage-london-uk wrote:

I feel exactly the same I’ve been trading on eBay since 2011 I’m refusing to share them details I feel it’s a breach of our privacy, I have ended all my

listings and will no longer sell on eBay what is this world coming too!

Except for the new champagne buckets you have for sale - they are still listed ! 

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[its-a-small-world]

Private and business accounts ? It’s allowed you know

[papso22]

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@its-a-small-world wrote:
Private and business accounts ? It’s allowed you know

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I know,  I have more than one myself.

What isn't allowed (by ebay or the law), is using a private account to trade as a business. 

[its-a-small-world]

EBay have not enforced that law , are they in breach of uk law ?

[papso22]

Ebay are not a law enforcement agency and they (ebay)  are not trading on a private account. 

[its-a-small-world]

They are enforcing the NIN law ?

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Do none of these that are throwing their dummy out of the pram realise, that no matter where you sell something online now, it is covered by this law?

It seems crazy to me. 

"Oh, Ebay want my national insurance number.

Right that's it.  I'm not giving it to them, they might abuse it!

I'm not going to sell on here any more.

Mmmm, Ebay are now keeping my funds until I provide it........

I'll go sell on Onbuy instead.  Oh, they want the NI number too!

Not to worry, lots of other places to sell, hmmm....  NI number wanted.

Oh dear.  It's back to Ebay again, give them my number and continue on selling on my private account, even though I'm a business."

Absolutely farcical.

[papso22]

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@its-a-small-world wrote:
They are enforcing the NIN law ?

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They are abiding by it (not enforcing it)  in the same way that you (presumably) abide by the law on speed limits but don't enforce that law.  

The law requires them, not you, to provide your NI number to HMRC with sales data.  If they don't they are the ones who are in trouble with HMRC for not providing it, but you would be under greater scrutiny if you don't.  Provided ebay make sufficient effort to get the NI number (which they do by stopping payments), I think they will have a reasonable excuse for not getting it and so won't be sanctioned/fined.