Ebay "Trader" Status

Flyonthewall

ballisticbrian wrote: »

It's not quite thast clear cut is it? The page you quote fromalso says a load of other stuff:

"What counts as trading?

You’re likely to be trading if you:
##sell regularly to make a profit"

I am also speaking as someone who had our private account selling unwanted clothes etc turned into a business account at the instruction of HMRC and there was no recoursee for appeal. (Had to open a new eBay account)

I know, but they don't apply either or it's things like you can choose when you work and while he can choose when he sells that alone doesn't mean much. I can choose when I sell too, I'm still selling personal items.

He's not trying to make a profit, just selling for what he can. He just happens to be making a profit because it's a bit hard not to on something you got free.

He's selling (fairly) regular at the moment by the sounds of it, but because he has a number of items he wants to sell. It'll stop once he's sold the items from the boxes he has.

Just because that happened in your situation doesn't mean he is in the same situation.

Do you believe you should be a business? I assume you're claiming you sold personal unwanted clothes and you just buy a lot and have a sort of fairly often and get rid of stuff, giving the impression that you're a business? You don't buy with the intention to sell, correct?

martindow

ballisticbrian wrote: »

I am also speaking as someone who had our private account selling unwanted clothes etc turned into a business account at the instruction of HMRC and there was no recoursee for appeal. (Had to open a new eBay account)

Are you sure this was at HMRC's request? Ebay ask people who sell a fair volume of things to change to a business account. They do not use the same criteria as HMRC and it doesn't necessarily mean that you are a business in their eyes.

verybigchris

If he's got £10k+ of stuff from his employer then he's liable for income tax and national insurance on it (and the employer should pay employer's NI too).

RFW

There are various scenarios that could make you argue one way or another. I've done loads of shop/warehouse clearances in the past and occasionally given things to staff or casual labour. Some I knew would be resold and others were simple gifts to use themselves.

I don't think it's as clear cut one way or another so the best thing to do is contact HMRC or an accountant who can say one way or another.