Email From Ebay Asking If Private Or Business Seller

moneysavingchicken

The eBay business class category requires you to prominently list your business address, and if this is your home address then isn't it the case that not only will everyone know where you are even before the transaction takes place (and local thieves will be likely to assume that you have stock on the premises and know where to search for open windows) but also local councils will be able to assign business rates instead of council tax to your address?

Is the change in eBay policy an indication that the Tax Man is planning to purge eBay records to weed out people that it wants to scrutinize more intensely? Is anyone aware of a similar change in registration requirement elsewhere in Europe or the world where Bay has sites? If not, seems like something secret in regard to policy awaits.

mah_jong

I wonder if it will help in the concert-ticket sales market. Where fans are unable to get tickets as lines are engaged , but next day there are lots available on ebay at huge prices!

Now I do realize that some folk do buy and then find they cant go BUT there are a LOT of touts out there.

soolin

I suppose if addresses need to be real it will also stop the far East drop shippers pretending they are in the UK.

RFW

moneysavingchicken wrote: »

Is the change in eBay policy an indication that the Tax Man is planning to purge eBay records to weed out people that it wants to scrutinize more intensely?

Its not in Ebay's hands as such, its the law.

The 'Tax Man' has been scrutinizing Ebay for some time now, they've got a special Ebay department.

soolin

According to the Mail on Sunday today HMRC have niow been given the same powers as the police to bug phones and to search homes for evidence of trading. They are also allowed to intercept emails.

Previously they had to have police to do this for them, but now they are allowed to act as though they are the police, civil liberties anyone?

Here's a link to part of the new powers:

http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2209831/hmrc-intercept-powers-begin

RFW

ally67 wrote: »

under the new rules on ebay where would i stand i buy books from charity shops and read them then put them on e bay ? if i become a business i wouldnt make any money as i only sell 2 books a week at £1.00 EACH .maybe its time for a change

I doubt it would be a problem, if it was taxable, the amount involved would be minimal any way. As I mentioned earlier, if unsure the best people to ask are HMRC.

The 'new' rules on Ebay, aren't really new, they are just making it clearer who is a business and who isn't by offering a financial incentive to business registered sellers. It has been some time since sellers have been required to be registered as a personal or business seller.

As for listing an address (which can be on your 'About Me' page) that too is the law in the UK (and rest of Europe too, not sure how it affects the rest of the World sellers). As long as it isn't a PO Box, any address where you can be contacted at is/will be allowed.

moneysavingchicken

RFW wrote: »

Its not in Ebay's hands as such, its the law.

The 'Tax Man' has been scrutinizing Ebay for some time now, they've got a special Ebay department.

So hoorah for Alistair Darling; but one wonders whether the Tax Many equally or similarly scrutinizes the big conglomerate retail chains that are losing money to eBay and whose knighted chairmen have close ties with the Government.

Time2Go_25

moneysavingchicken wrote: »

(and local thieves will be likely to assume that you have stock on the premises and know where to search for open windows)

You only need to put your address in Ebay, not which windows you leave open.:rotfl:

moneysavingchicken wrote: »

but also local councils will be able to assign business rates instead of council tax to your address?

I'm not sure I see the problem with this if you are running a business from home.

I imagine that most of the people complaining about the requirement to provide their address haven't:

1) Told the Tax people they are running a business from home
2) Told their insurance company they are running a business from home
3) Told their mortgage company they are running a business from home.

If you are going to run a business whatever it might be you need to make sure you comply with all the regulations and requirements before you start, or you will run into problems at some stage.

amcluesent

If Ebay/HMRC are really tightening up on traders, perhaps there's an opportunity to sell so-called 'brass plaque' business addresses? Then traders won't have to risk using their home address; you'd just have ensure that all the letters were sent on. Accountant have been providing such a service for ages.

The other option is to see if the local sorting office will accept a business name and always deliver to your house number. So if you are at 23, Acacia Avenue, you could register as Globex Trading, Acacia Avenue and the PO will know that's you.

RFW

amcluesent wrote: »

If Ebay/HMRC are really tightening up on traders, perhaps there's an opportunity to sell so-called 'brass plaque' business addresses? Then traders won't have to risk using their home address; you'd just have ensure that all the letters were sent on. Accountant have been providing such a service for ages.

Its what some Ebay employees have been hinting at on the message boards.

moneysavingchicken wrote:

So hoorah for Alistair Darling; but one wonders whether the Tax Many equally or similarly scrutinizes the big conglomerate retail chains that are losing money to eBay and whose knighted chairmen have close ties with the Government.

The 'TaxMan' tends to take more of an interest in companies earning money, not losing it;)

Public companies have their income on display (and as such further scrutinized), it's the so-called grey and black markets that the 'tax man' goes after.