eBay now asking for NI numbers

[btr.style]

I set up a new private account not long back for selling off genuinely unwanted goods (as I said before, better off selling them on a private account than paying full fees or watering down the clothing business selling nans old china stuff). 

30 sales made and it came up saying I have to update my account and provide NI number. Fine, I've nothing to hide so I did. 

So it seems the rollout has started. Probably just new accounts when they hit 30 sales and won't be for established accounts for some time maybe. 

It first popped up on the app and that page was where I got to. I also had an email about it. 

So it seems now, anyone wanting to open a private account to sell stuff as a side hustle had best be prepared to have to give their NI numbers once they reach 30 sales. 

Probably will be for all sellers to have to provide it soon surely?

[4_bathrooms]

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@punzel9072 wrote:

what is to stop HMRC charging tax on the eBay earnings of private sellers who are only clearing out items from the loft, their late granny's effects, and thinning out DVDs and old clothes that no longer required? 

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The Income Tax Acts. They define what income is subject to income tax.

[rigilchrist]

The revenue from such sales is not taxable income, if you are selling items which you bought with taxed income and you are not selling them at a profit.

Bob Gilchrist

[vintique*violet]

Selling  Personal unwanted items does not make you a trader and usually they are not included for tax purposes

 

 only if you sell an item for £6000 + you may be subjected to Capital Gains Tax...if applicable as not all " assets" are. 

I think it is to double down on " benefit" fraud, amongst other " tax avoidance" situations whilst monitoring everything you do,  possibly.

[wizzywizzy100]

I clicked on your link to see if Ebay have permission - this was the information once I had opened the arrow against Ebay

Some activities by this firm may not be protected

This firm is shown on the Register because it is an Appointed Representative.

If something goes wrong, you can complain to this AR or to this AR's principal firm. You may also be able to then complain against the principal to the Financial Ombudsman Serviceopens in a new window  (FOS), or claim from the Financial Services Compensation Schemeopens in a new window  (FSCS) if the principal firm has gone out of business owing you money. Alternatively, FSCS can sometimes consider claims against failed ARs if they did something the principal didn't allow them to do. Please refer to the section below on ‘How are customers protected’ for more detail.

[Anonymous]

The GOV web-site tells you not to divulge your Nat Ins No. except where you are employed or to your accountant if you are self employed.

To have a trading company like Ebay holding thousands of NI numbers is asking for a BIG problem in the future. This is a trading company with employees, most overseas, I do not trust you. So I am off ,.., no more ebay.

[Anonymous]

Yes witholding money outside the contract we were on up until two days ago and now applying for information They Are Not Entitiled to, is getting to the point of a posible blackmail situation.

[ett1954]

"The GOV web-site tells you not to divulge your Nat Ins No. except where you are employed or to your accountant if you are self employed." - From HMRC's website (updated 30 December 2024):

Selling goods or services on a digital platform - GOV.UK

Information you must give

Digital platform operators will ask you for certain details.

If you’re an individual seller, they’ll ask for your:

• full name
• address where you normally live
• date of birth
• tax identification number (National Insurance number if you live in the UK)

As an entity seller (such as a company), they’ll ask for your:

• legal business name
• main business address
• tax identification number (company registration number for a UK company)

[bestbargainsuk]

Hi There

You are correct and after contacting the HMRC directly they advise me not to give eBay my NI number.  Everyone selling on eBay must have a Bank Account and the Bank will have a record or your NI number anyway so eBay do not need to request it.  More worryingly is that eBay are now illegally restricting payments on account holders that fail to provide a NI number.

[papso22]

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@bestbargainsuk wrote:

Hi There

You are correct and after contacting the HMRC directly they advise me not to give eBay my NI number.  Everyone selling on eBay must have a Bank Account and the Bank will have a record or your NI number anyway so eBay do not need to request it.  More worryingly is that eBay are now illegally restricting payments on account holders that fail to provide a NI number.

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Sorry but why would an HMRC employee advise you not to do something that their guidance says is required?  See the post above yours for the guidance.

I think you have got hold of the wrong end of the stick.

However, as with ebay, you need to take published guidance over anything a customer service person tells you.

[lucy_farmer]

'.....must have a Bank Account and the Bank will have a record or your NI number anyway.....'

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Really?? I don't remember my NINO havimg anything to do with setting up a bank account (last time I set one up was in 2022)

[ett1954]

I have had to give it for ISA savings accounts but otherwise none of my other accounts have required me to divulge it.

[rinofs]

Same. I've got nothing to hide, I went over the threshold selling used amplifiers.

Thankfully I had taken most of the funds out, they are holding on to a few pounds now. 

I've cancelled all my listings and I will never be purchasing anything on eBay from now on. 

You got to make some choices in life. 

[*devils.advocate*]

If there is a breach/hack of any site (not just eBay), but of any similar site, how long will that site likely be in existence in any form?

So, is it not in the interest of any site (not just eBay) to make sure their protection is up to speed?

Is it not now down to survival or a death knell for them?

[edwardian-dreams]

Maybe people shouldn’t be angry at eBay for this but annoyed with the authorities that decided your selling 30 pieces of used personal possessions  should be reported to the taxman

A bit draconian and a bit intrusive  

[dch2112011]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I can't see why ebay can't just pass on my name (they have my full name because of it matching bank account), address and dob to HMRC. I'm sure they would find my NI number in seconds.

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Just a thought what if an individual was using a address not registered to them, not on electoral roll whose income was derived from the black economy - How would ebay giving a name and ebay account registered address help identify the individual for tax ?  - The only sure way is with a NINO that confirms the individuals identity - the ebay activity can then be linked to the Nino information.

[rinofs]

I totally agree, I'm angry with the system not eBay. 

Unfortunately Ebay is the one paying the consequences.