07-05-2026 2:34 PM
Excluding those who do this to make money on eBay (businesses) from these new rules, I want to know:
As a private seller (that sell own goods)
- I have already paid taxes (VAT - income tax etc.) on my earnings and paid the seller for all the items I purchased (like everyone else).
- How logical is it to pay a recurring tax on all these assets I have purchased (and for which all taxes have already been paid)?
- Now they're saying you're earning income from selling your own goods, and we're going to tax you again?
Is there anyone who understands the logic behind this and would like to explain it? I'm not a tax expert, but it doesn't sound very logical.
07-05-2026 2:43 PM
Sorry - who has told you this? What are the new rules?
07-05-2026 3:29 PM
Without further details, I’m assuming you’ve recently hit the yearly threshold for eBay being required to pass your info onto HMRC.
This is an automatic thing and has no implications for most people.
If you are just selling your own items that you no longer want then it does not matter.
Unless you are selling huge quantities, high value amounts of £6000+ per item (set), or have had issues with tax in the past, then HMRC are never going to contact you over your personal eBay sales.
Based on your sales in the past 3 months, you will be at the bottom of HMRC’s pile, and not raise any flags.
However, the fruit items you are currently selling could pose an issue. I don’t know about health related issues - although there could be some - but it possibly does cross over to selling for profit, which would complicate everything.
07-05-2026 3:35 PM
fairly certain they'd need to be registered with their local authority as a food business.
Would suggest the best approach given their first post is to stop selling the dried fruit.
07-05-2026 4:10 PM
Yes better to stop dried food. My wife does for our home (but produces too much)
Thanks
07-05-2026 4:12 PM
I am just selling some staff unused at home. Never exceeded £1500 (not selling just listing price) whole time.
Thank you for a very good information.