Selling as a sole trader on Amazon

byjimini

Hi everyone, just looking some advice whilst I sit on the phone to HMRC.

I've inherited my grandad's vinyl collection and have been selling them on Amazon marketplace for about 3 years. From April this year it's made £2600. Amazon got in contact in November asking for me to register a sole trader as my sales were quite high. I've done this, got the UTR number and supplied this to Amazon.

Where I'm a little confused is that I don't buy to re-sell - I have a full time job and am using Amazon to clear this stuff out. As such I don't have any receipts, because I've inherited it all.

Has anyone else been in a similar position, and what kind of records would I need to show to HMRC? They take bloody ages to answer.

Flyonthewall

You're not a business/sole trader. You're selling personal items and therefore do not need to be registered as a business or inform HMRC about what you're making.

Amazon assumed due to sales being high that you were trading. You shouldn't have registered as a sole trader just because they told you to, you should have told Amazon you're not trading. While it's good Amazon are trying to make sure its marketplace sellers follow the law they're not always right.

RFW

byjimini wrote: »

Hi everyone, just looking some advice whilst I sit on the phone to HMRC.

Hopefully they answered you by now!
See what they tell you. As above you are selling personal products so shouldn't be classed as a business.
It may be safer to inform HMRC of the position and see if they think it will be ok to leave the status on Amazon. It may also be an idea to consult an accountant, it may well be that choosing to be a business would save you some money. You may be able to claim for supplies and other expenses.
Someone on here may have better advice but speaking face to face with a professional is a better idea.