If you sell on Vinted, eBay, Etsy, Depop or rent a room on Airbnb, the rules about what you owe haven't changed — but what HMRC can see has. Online platforms now report seller data directly to the tax office, and the first big wave of that data lands with HMRC by 31 January 2027. Here's what actually matters, minus the scare stories.
The number that decides everything: £1,000
The trading allowance means your first £1,000 of gross income from casual selling or services in a tax year is tax-free — and if you stay under it, you usually don't even need to tell HMRC. Over £1,000, you need to register for Self Assessment and declare it, even if the profit after costs is small.
Clearing out your wardrobe is not a business
Selling your own used belongings for less than you paid is not taxable trading — that's true no matter how much you sell. Tax enters the picture when you buy or make things to sell at a profit, sell repeatedly and deliberately, or provide services for money. The test is whether you're trading, not which app you use.
What platforms now tell HMRC
- Platforms report sellers with more than 30 sales or roughly £1,735 (€2,000) of income in a year.
- Reports cover a calendar year and reach HMRC by the following 31 January.
- HMRC matches this against Self Assessment records — silence on your side is now visible.
- A letter from HMRC is not a fine — but ignoring it can become one.
If you've had the letter (or expect one)
Don't panic and don't guess. The right response depends on whether you were actually trading, how many years are involved, and what records exist. We deal with HMRC on your behalf: registering you properly, declaring what's genuinely owed, and pushing back where nothing is.