HMRC Situation, For older accounts?

[nwillmott]

Heya so i like to sell some stuff on enay for the last 2-3 years and ive always gone over the 30 sales mark, and might look like im trading when im not. 

With the HMRC thing being announced, and alot of missinformation being spread etc. As i am an older account does the 30 item limit come into play next year for me?

[arkwebus]

If HMRC contacts you - and I very much doubt they have enough to go after the "smaller" members - all you have to do is convince them that you are not trading.  If they still quibble simple file a SA return showing NIL profit and let them take it from there.   It's profit not just turnover of course

@nwillmott 

[papso22]

 The 30 item limit applies to all accounts whenever registered, if they sell more than 30 items in the 12 months since 1st January 2024.  It's only sales this year that will be reported though. 

[nwillmott]

i 100% saw that the 2024 year is for new accounts.

[*vyolla*]

Even though the above data is being shared, it doesn't mean that you will owe tax if you're a private seller.

Whilst eBay will report sales of 30+ from 1st January 2024 to HMRC in January 2025, if you're a private seller listing your own personal items there'd be no tax to pay.

You can check your status with HMRC's checker here:

https://www.gov.uk/check-additional-income-tax

[papso22]

---

@nwillmott wrote:

i 100% saw that the 2024 year is for new accounts.

---

You may have done, but that was Ebay's misunderstanding of how the new law works,

Ask yourself why an international law aimed at online sellers would grant an amnesty to 'old' ebay accounts.  It's quite clearly nonsense. 

[vynaldirect2u]

I think eBay are not being clear or fair.  I first heard about the 31 or more

tems when a member of eBay management mentioned it on 30/01/2025 

in a TV news piece.....not mentioned before.  I was very worried as I'm a 

personal seller that sells mostly minute profits on small items and the 

occasional item my son's want me to sell.   I am well under the £1000

so know I won't hit the £1600 limit.  I went onto the tax website and there

was no mention of the number of items.  So as far as I can ascertain eBay 

will send my name to HMRC but they won't be interested.  So the only

thing I can think of is that eBay are using this new rule to get rid of the tiny

item sellers that earn very little to eBay (and the seller).  It seems like

eBay are causing extra concern.  My plan is probably to take everything

off eBay until it's clearer.

[a45heaven]

Were ebay going to show members what information of the members activity  they were submitting to HMRC prior to submitting it  so a quick check can be made of ebays figures? 

[the-layer-laboratory]

To access the Digital Sales Report data submitted to HMRC, you should use the following link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/mes/transaction-reports?q=tax

If you do not see a report for 2024 listed, then ebay has not submitted one to HMRC for your specific account.

[game_raid]

It's not about eBay being fair, they are doing what the HMRC have requested, if they don't comply they can be hit with huge fines.

There are many articles on this from eBay, online and from many news outlets, Martin Lewis has been on about this for months and months on TV and Radio.

You have absolutely nothing to worry about you are under the £1000 trading allowance for a start on the items you have profited from and you are also selling unwanted items from around the the home, you can can on as normal worry free.

[vintique*violet]

If you are not trading the £1000 trading allowance does not affect you. 

It appears you are only selling on your unwanted personal possessions  and this is not classed as trading. 

Even if you go over the 30/£1750 as long as you are NOT trading ( i.e buying stock to sell )  there should not be any tax implications as they are not included in the trading allowance or the miscellaneous income. 

@vynaldirect2u 

[moldosgifts]

For those actually trading. in HMRC eyes. They don't just collect data from ebay but from every single platform out there. So will add your figures together come up with a final total of sales.

If you selling your own stuff not  a problem just need t prove it to them, IF they come asking.

But they are not just reporting 2024 opened accounts eventually all figures will be reported for everyone over the limit set.

[equinox-electronics]

There was an update on the hmrc digital reporting a few weeks ago.

Accounts created July 2024 onwards would have the data submitted by today.

For the rest of us they need to do due diligence on all accounts  created before July 2024 by the end of 2025. So if you have crossed one of the thresholds this year or last last you will be asked for tax information by the end of the year 

[a45heaven]

They don't just collect data from ebay but from every single platform out there. So will add your figures together come up with a final total of sales.

Ive asked about this quite a few times before, NO other site has mentioned submitting information to HMRC apart from ebay, so HMRC will only ever have a partial picture.

Was this one of the Regulatory Fees which ebay take from sellers to provide this obligation to HMRC ?

[jow1995]

Thanks for posting, i expect very few sellers have seen or knew this was in place.

[*vyolla*]

---

@a45heaven wrote:

They don't just collect data from ebay but from every single platform out there. So will add your figures together come up with a final total of sales.

Ive asked about this quite a few times before, NO other site has mentioned submitting information to HMRC apart from ebay, so HMRC will only ever have a partial picture.

---

Of course the other sites have to report too:

Vinted:

https://www.vinted.co.uk/help/4/1149-hmrc-requirements-what-you-need-to-know

Etsy:

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-gb/articles/25255653500951-What-Information-Does-Etsy-Report-for-UK-Sell...

[moldosgifts]

They may not mention it but there are doing it , etsy depopop amazon ebid and so on all have to do it by law.

Also the like of etoro, trading 121 so on will have to report any earning on there that is why they collect you NIN on opening an account.

[a45heaven]

Overseas based platforms too have to oblige ?

Seems a little difficult to coordinate.

[moldosgifts]

See *vyolla* post yes overseas platforms have to report as well.

[crg_music]

I think discogs do although I think they started in the US but are now registered in Netherlands maybe, the only other site I have sold on is bandcamp and I had to do an American tax return a couple of years ago which was very scary, obviously no tax. I'd be surprised if they  didnt have to go by the same rules although I dont even know if they are set up for ioss yet despite all the European users. Maybe hmrc will get around to the more obscure markets.