Sold some laptops and buyer wants to treat as business expense

JohnFenwick

Hi there,
Firstly, I'm sure this is the wrong thread so apologies in advance. Not sure which one to post this on.

I sold a couple of old broken laptops on ebay to one buyer. There were a few so he probably bought about £2K-£3K's worth.

He has asked for my name and address so he can write up an invoice for business expenses.

I don't run any sort of business. I don't really want to give my name and address for this. What should I do? Do I need to do this and how does this impact me if my name and address are on his expenses?

spadoosh

You dont need to do anything. Youre not legally required to provide an address.

They should just print out the ebay/paypal receipt for their records.

How does it impact you, in all likelihood not at all. Theyll probably print off the receipt with your details on, put it in a file until year end where the accountant will clarify the type of expense it will be allocated to. From there it will be kept in archives in case HMRC want to investigate their accounts. Eventually itll be destroyed with the chances being that no one ever sees it beyond the person printing it off and the accountant.

General_Grant

JohnFenwick wrote: »

Hi there,
Firstly, I'm sure this is the wrong thread so apologies in advance. Not sure which one to post this on.

I sold a couple of old broken laptops on ebay to one buyer. There were a few so he probably bought about £2K-£3K's worth.

He has asked for my name and address so he can write up an invoice for business expenses.

I don't run any sort of business. I don't really want to give my name and address for this. What should I do? Do I need to do this and how does this impact me if my name and address are on his expenses?

If they were broken and only a couple - how did that become a few and up to £3K in value in the next sentence?

Are you worried about HMRC deciding you are running a business?

soolin

Buyer is going to have your address one way or another though , you surely don't intend posting them out without a return address in case courier can't deliver.

JohnFenwick

General_Grant wrote: »

If they were broken and only a couple - how did that become a few and up to £3K in value in the next sentence?

Are you worried about HMRC deciding you are running a business?

yes, these are faulty Macbooks which hold value.

I had about 8 of them over the years and sold them on. So yes more than a couple ... I should be more specific.

And yes, I am concerned HMRC will think I'm running a business. Which I am not.

I'm not sure who it works when folks claim business expenses.

JohnFenwick

soolin wrote: »

Buyer is going to have your address one way or another though , you surely don't intend posting them out without a return address in case courier can't deliver.

Yep, they have this but I guess my main question was regarding him writing my name and address on his business expense and how that might impact me. I don't run a business so not sure what to expect. It was more a hobby.

spadoosh

HMRC will not think you are a business because youve sold a small number of faulty laptops through ebay.

However they could consider it a business if what you describe as a hobby is actually considered by HMRC to be business activity.

Ie if youve sold 8 damaged laptops that youve accumulated for personal use over a number of years then they will not consider you a business.

If you bought damaged laptops with the intention of repairing and selling on or even just selling on then it could be considered a business activity. This doesnt include anything that you might not have mentioned.

vegasvisitor

If you have brought in more then £1k on ebay you not need to do a tax return?

mrsyardbroom

If you're selling your own goods and not buying and selling for profit then it's not a business. Lots of people declutter and sell things they've had for several years and it's not considered to be a business. If you earn money from things like affiliate marketing and surveys then it is a business and if you buy things and sell them on it's a business, then you need to be registered with HMRC. I'm considered to be self employed and have to send in a tax return even though I only make a small profit from surveys and affiliate marketing. I never include goods that I've owned and used and then sold on.
I should add that if you sell assets worth more than £12000 then you need to pay capital gains tax.

custardy

vegasvisitor wrote: »

If you have brought in more then £1k on ebay you not need to do a tax return?

Why?
You dont need to file a tax return for selling your own 2nd hand goods.

bengalknights

As others have stated the buyer can use there pp/ebay receipt as there expense, for you as its used goods that you owned it wont be treated as a business.