Selling tender plants on eBay

e501

My husband has been growing tender house plants as a hobby over the last 3 years in the house. 

As the plants have started to multiply and now lack of space in the house, he has decided to sell some on eBay this year. He is a pensioner and pay tax on his pension.

Is he liable to pay tax on his hobby? Bearing in mind over the last 3 years there is a cost of heating, lighting, compost, pots and the original cost of the plants.

Thank you

pramsay13

As long as the income doesn't exceed £1000 he doesn't need to declare it or pay tax.
If it goes above that he would need to register as self employed and complete a tax return. 

YBR

pramsay13 said:

As long as the income doesn't exceed £1000 he doesn't need to declare it or pay tax.
If it goes above that he would need to register as self employed and complete a tax return. 

Is that income or profit?

Spoonie_Turtle

pramsay13 said:

As long as the income doesn't exceed £1000 he doesn't need to declare it or pay tax.
If it goes above that he would need to register as self employed and complete a tax return. 

Only if he's classed as trading.  At this point it sounds like he could just be selling unwanted extras.
If he later started growing them *in order to sell*, then yes he'd be classed as trading.  

soolin

YBR said:

pramsay13 said:

As long as the income doesn't exceed £1000 he doesn't need to declare it or pay tax.
If it goes above that he would need to register as self employed and complete a tax return. 

Is that income or profit?

It’s total income including any postage received so I assume it won’t be anywhere near that. However do your calculations carefully before starting to sell on eBay, so many people forget to calculate all costs and end up making a loss. You need to check postage carefully, which couriers will carry live plants for instance, what guarantees about handling and delivery times can they give and what packaging do they need ? Remember eBay take fees on postage, so add that in as well.

You might also try selling locally via Facebook local groups or such like, take cash on collection . 

e501

Thank you very much Pramsay13 and YBR for your advice.

silvercar

facebook marketplace is a far better place to sell plants. People will collect, saving you the hassle of posting live plants and reducing the likelihood of complaints. You are also more likely to get repeat business if you are selling locally

Alfrescodave

If he does decide to start selling plants then he should concentrate on the more "unusual" variety in order to acheive sales. There are many people who sell "standard" plants and have to sell at low prices because of the competition.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

You should also check whether you require a plant passport. 

Last post on this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6137409/hobby-sellers-plant-passports

and gov info here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/issuing-plant-passports-to-trade-plants-in-great-britain#:~:text=A UK plant passport is,some seeds

Professional operators in Great Britain no longer issue EU plant passports. UK plant passports are issued in place of EU plant passports.

A UK plant passport is an official document you need to move plants and certain regulated wood within Great Britain, to the Isle of Man or to the Channel Islands. This includes:

all plants for planting

some seeds

seed potatoes

wood

wood products - this includes chips, particles, shavings, sawdust, wood waste or scrap and some other types of wood product where there could still be a phytosanitary risk, even after processing

isolated bark

You can issue UK plant passports yourself, but you must be authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), or the Forestry Commission depending on the goods.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-plants-plant-products-and-objects-which-need-a-plant-passport-for-movement-within-gb/plants-plant-products-and-other-objects-which-need-a-plant-passport-for-movement-within-great-britain

1. All plants for planting:

   • plants that have been planted and the intention is for them to remain planted
   • whole plants or living parts of plants (for example, cuttings) that are not planted and the intention is for them to be planted
   • plants that have been lifted and the intention is to replant them