Changes to private selling - less free listings etc.

[lostloads-2]

Changes to private selling on eBay

We want to let you know about some upcoming changes to seller fees and to payment options when selling locally. These will be effective from 1 October 2024.

Free listing allowance change
Currently, private sellers can list up to 1,000 items a month for free on eBay. From 1 October, this will decrease to 300 listings per month. After you've used your monthly allocation of 300 free listings, you'll be charged 35p for each new listing created.

International fee change
If your registered address is in the UK, we charge an international fee when the delivery address for the item is outside the UK.

Until now this fee has varied by region. Starting from 1 October there will be a flat rate of 3% across all shipping regions. This will be calculated on the total amount of the sale which includes the item price, any handling charges, postage, and any applicable taxes.

Removing cash on pickup for local listings
Many sellers offer free collection in person, especially for large items which may be difficult to post. As we continue to make sure eBay is a safe and secure place to sell your items, we will be removing the option for buyers to pay with cash for items from 1 October. Instead, all payments for local items will go through the site - with a simple digital confirmation on collection - to ensure that you get paid securely and promptly by buyers.

[thetimetower]

Thing is Kath, can easily see you're a legitimate private seller. Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the discounts for this. It's the ones who  come on complaining about the restrictions with their thousands and thousands of items sold which have all been clearly bought from a wholesaler. I don't even mind people doing that. It's the fact they come on to cry about their free lunch becoming more expensive lol

[dch2112011]

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@eyeball-industries wrote:

I understand the UK ebayers go on about biz vs private sellers (I hear it on youtube), but its different in the states ebay, where everyone is a tax payer, and just selling over $600 a year makes you tax liable, and we all have a national tax ID which we use to file. So I've just checked with my lawyer (uncle) on fb chat to double check I'm sharing the right info here, and he replied "the UK doesn't establish tax nexus based on your property address where you registered the eBay account. You don't have a physical presence in the UK for tax purposes. And as you don't store any inventory in the UK (through a fulfillment service or otherwise), so there is no UK tax nexus."

You may need to take further advice if you are banking your sales in the UK, are living in the UK , using the UK address status as  a domicile with the sole purpose to deceive customers as to your location.

You may find that the tax authorities may classify you as a UK unregistered business - even though you are based in and a citizen of the USA  selling goods direct to the consumer via a third country.

If you are classed as operating from the UK address you are certainly liable to provide consumer protection under the consumer rights act, which you are not able to do using a personal ebay account for business sales.

Even if you want to claim you are legit. In your scenario you are also possibly avoiding VAT  when selling to VAT registered entities - you should be registered for VAT for this purpose  applies specifically to foreign business selling on platforms shipping direct from abroad.

it is not about deceiving ebay or their rules it is all about providing and displaying legal rights for customers.

I do not understand other than to deceive why you would use an owned property address in the UK to either claim it as your permanent residence or to pretend to conduct business  from- you could easily open a UK account using your legitimate permanent address. Tax / rights evasion is not clever in any country  

[carolfirstborn]

I am confused..no idea what you mean. This is my home address  I AM registered as a tax payer on all I sell and I am not VAT registered as too small.  But I pay vat on everything and can't claim it back! I live and sell only in UK.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

the post was not replying to you it was to another commentor.  However, regardless of being registered for tax with HMRC etc you are still listing as a private seller on e bay which clearly you are not.

[kempseykate]

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@carolfirstborn wrote:

I am confused..no idea what you mean. This is my home address  I AM registered as a tax payer on all I sell and I am not VAT registered as too small.  But I pay vat on everything and can't claim it back! I live and sell only in UK.

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dch2112011 was replying to eyball-industries.

[carolfirstborn]

Hi, but what is the situation for basic shop sellers as of 1 October?  I can't find this info anywhere. Please?

[carolfirstborn]

Ah  ok no wonder I was confused  lol. If someone would just answer my questions  🙃 

[myriad*seller]

I presume you realise that HMRC will be asking you to complete a tax return following eBay sending all your sales figures to them in January 2025, don't you?

You buy items to sell, so are legally a business seller who should be paying tax (and possibly) VAT on your sales.

If you haven't been declaring this to HMRC they can go back years and request tax returns for ALL your sales going back years! 

You could end up with a massive tax bill when penalties etc are added.

You are not a private seller and should upgrade your account (s) to business accounts as you are currently trading illegally on a private account. 

This link explains what data eBay will send to HMRC in January and the implications for you

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/account/regulatory/uk-digital-sales-reporting?id=5454

[carolfirstborn]

What is wrong with you people.  Why you suspect everyone is a crim.  I have been doing tax returns since I started. I took advice on what kind of seller I was and went with that advice. I was told a sole trader is NOT a business.  I always play by the rules as best I can.  Ebay community never answers my questions...all I get is attacked by this whole private/business seller thing. I nay jot be with ebay much longer if I can't find out what the new listing costs will be for a basic shop from 1st October. 

[kempseykate]

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@carolfirstborn wrote:

Hi, but what is the situation for basic shop sellers as of 1 October?  I can't find this info anywhere. Please?

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No one knows for certain yet.

Currently on the help page:

For a monthly cost of £19.99, in addition to the 1,000 free listings, you'll receive an extra 100 free listings a month which include the Special duration listing upgrade. After that, the listing fee is 35p per listing.

I would imagine that will change to "... in addition to the 1,000 300 free listings, you'll receive an extra 100 free listings a month ..."

But ebay are not very good at updating help pages.

[carolfirstborn]

Ah ok thank you so much for that 😊.



Sent from my Galaxy

[dch2112011]

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@carolfirstborn wrote:

What is wrong with you people.  Why you suspect everyone is a crim.  I have been doing tax returns since I started. I took advice on what kind of seller I was and went with that advice. I was told a sole trader is NOT a business.  I always play by the rules as best I can.  Ebay community never answers my questions...all I get is attacked by this whole private/business seller thing. I nay jot be with ebay much longer if I can't find out what the new listing costs will be for a basic shop from 1st October. 

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The problem is very simple  a sole trader is a type of business. You can be a sole trader as your only job or at the same time as working for an employer.

As such the personal ebay account denies you the right to display and offer your customers their consumer rights  which you are obliged to do by law,  this is because the personal account is solely designed for members selling personal items which are mainly exempt from displaying or offering consumer protection.

This is why you really should change accounts to a business ebay account, the real danger of operating the way you do may be when your sales figures and volume is mandatorily reported you run the risk of being assessed for tax as a private individual - where your gross sales including all costs  purchase, advertising etc  are assessed as 100% profit for tax purposes because  you are claiming not to be a business and therefore cannot claim business costs. 

If you are uncertain about all this I would take some proffessional advice for your own protection.

[ett1954]

"I was told a sole trader is NOT a business" - whoever told you that is completely wrong - if you are trading you are a business.

You may be paying your due taxes and I note you do accept returns so I commend you for that, however to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you are required to have your contact details on your listings / adverts.  The only way you can do this is by registering as a business on eBay.  

I hope this clarifies the situation for you.

[myriad*seller]

A sole trader IS a business 

Hence why you are taxed on profits, and why you must register as a business seller on eBay in order to trade lawfully

At present, you are trading illegally

As you admit you are a sole trader, you must upgrade your account to a business account 

[myriad*seller]

Whoever told you that being a sole trader is not a business was lying to you. 

From the horses mouth, HMRC website 

https://www.gov.uk/become-sole-trader

"What a sole trader is

A sole trader is a type of business. You can be a sole trader as your only job or at the same time as working for an employer." 

[carolfirstborn]

I will do this if I should, I don't have a problem with it.



Sent from my Galaxy

[carolfirstborn]

I am going to check this out AGAIN. But is there even one person actually going to answer my question.

WHAT WILL THE FREE LISTINGS AND LISTING FEES BE FOR A BASIC SHOP ON 1ST OCTOBER 2024?

ANYONE..



Sent from my Galaxy

[kempseykate]

As I told you before, no one knows, only what it is at the moment. People can't answer you if they don't know the answer. You could try ringing ebay, but even their staff don't seem to have any idea. 

[carolfirstborn]

Ah sorry, okay. Yes I had 9 callbacks from Ebay (not exaggerating) all cut off as soon as connected..turns out my new phone (from Ebay 😂😂😂) no longer working. Ah you gotta laugh..cos there's not a lotta choices.

Thanks



Sent from my Galaxy

[beastlybundlestcg]

please make sure you guys are not ignoring the fact taht the lowering to 300 is in return for not charging you any fees including fvf or any of that. a worth trade off by a million miles

i was someone that would usually only list on 80% fvf weekends, so to go from being able to post every fortnight at a discount to posting anytime i want and for free, it is an insane upgrade!

thanks ebay!