Tax implications of upping income

I-W

Hi,
I've been looks at the many tips on MSE and the forum for boosting income, and was planning on trying some but first wanted to understand the tax implications.

I'm currently employed and have never had to fill in my own tax return, and although if worth while will do so, not sure if we are talking minimum sums (potentially less than £100 in first year) if it's worth the effort.

Looking at HMRC website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/selling/income.htm it seems fairly clear cut that you don't have to pay tax if you aren't trading and are mearly selling unwanted items you've had for some time that you had no intention of selling when bought. So using the HMRC definition of trading ebaying old unwanted goods and recycling mobiles would seem to not require additional tax or informing HMRC.

However what wasn't clear to me was if selling photos online (not originally taken with profit in mind) would be considered trading?
Or what about market research, getting paid to; click, enter shops or receive junk mail.

And how about cashback shopping surely this can't be taxed as only getting back percentage of money spending so can't be argued make a profit, surely just treated as a discount.

Be interested to hear from anyone who actually understands the tax system or who has got clearer info from HMRC.

fluffig

I will be interested in any replies to your question.

I've done a few surveys and used Quidco for the past 2 tax years, not much earned, altogether less than £200 each year.

At the end of each of the 2 tax years I wrote to HMRC and gave them the detail. Their reply letter for 09/10 was that I owed them tax on the whole lot (i.e. including Quidco cashback), £40 ish tax due if I recall correctly. I sent them a cheque for that.

Their reply letter for 10/11 said no tax was due at all on any of it ...

I'll be interested to see what they say in their reply letter this year !

Sixer

Selling your own unwanted goods on eBay isn't taxable.

Buying old goods (eg at car boots) and reselling them on eBay is taxable.

Surveys, mystery shopping, opinion sites - these are all taxable.

Cashback is not taxable (these are discounted purchases, not income).

Whether or not you actually owe any tax on the taxable activities above will obviously depend on your other - especially employed - income.