How long ebay will hold back funds for not giving NI number on Blackmail.

[k3vyn.w]

Used to sell on ebay but no more as refuse to give ebay my details.

ebay is not my employer but just a selling platform, HMRC are not my employer but deal with my yearly earnings where i pay no tax what so ever after calculating my way.

so now i cut off my nose as i dont sell on fleabay anymore unless collected and cash.

Not always sold on fleabay and feedback is mostly purchases but 24 years down the drain as i fear i no longer want to be a part of ebay, i even set up another account to purchase.

So, i am putting to test small funds to see how long they hold this for, they have £12 and on hold, as far as i am concerned they can stick it where the sun dont shine as i have no issues in loosing this but just curious on how long they will actually hold, steal my money. Its Blackmail from ebay.

i have not looked to any contract but guess they have dropped it in there somewhere.

So even when you look after your yearly tax return and never paid tax as never earn enough, these clowns still ask for NI no..Blackmail.. 

Hopefully some big concern, collective will fight them in court over this, but we have no chance.

i now purchase a lot more from amazon ..

[justbetterpackaging]

It's not just selling funds. I have a £65 refund for a purchase that they won't let me either withdraw or spend.

[f1fuzzball]

I feel the same and did not want to give Ebay my NI number. After reaching sale number 33 for the first time ever in October this year after clearing out the garage, my funds have been frozen. My sales are only half of the £1700 limit for funds. Three more sales and my funds not available until I give my NI number. So...

Having been through Ebay T&C, Ebay are able to hold funds for non compliance of their policies. These changes have been notified to us and form part of our 'Agreement' to use their platform. However, I cannot find any mention for how long they can/will hold them or what further action they will take if the number is not provided. 

Ebay's policy on payment holds changed with their requirement to comply with:

The law that changed HMRC to require marketplace sellers to register for National Insurance (NI) which is the OECD Model Reporting Rules for Digital Platforms. These rules came into effect on 1 January 2024.

Ebay (and other Marketplace platforms) will be required to report to HMRC for the first time in January 2026, those sellers that reached HMRC thresholds. Details of what is reported to HMRC must be notified to each seller, these include name, address, bank account details, NI number and sales number and amount.  If no NI number is provided, my assumption is that HMRC may request information or a self assessment from persons of interest  based on sales. And HMRC can also look up your NI number using your name and address and even bank details!

Ebay have to demonstrate that they have implimented changes and taken steps to comply with HMRC requirements in order to avoid any penalty themselves. Hence they used the 'penalty' method because how many of us would have put in our NI number if we were just 'asked'?

Details are clearly set out by HMRC on Gov.uk: Selling goods or services on a digital platform - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/selling-goods-or-services-on-a-digital-platform#full-publication-update-... 

Whilst I might not like Ebay holding my NI number on their system, they already hold details of my bank and address for which they have legal responsibility to keep secure. Ebay have used the method of payment holds to demonstrate to HMRC, they are doing what they can to obtain the information and to comply with the law. Yes, you could say using blackmail!

So it is HMRC trying to find buisness sellers that trade and pay no tax, not those reselling posessions no longer wanted, usually at a loss. Unless your selling avtivity looks suspicious to HMRC I can't see an issue, but would not providing a NIN give HMRC cause to a investigate a seller further??