SELLING ON VINTED, EBAY OR AIRBNB: DO YOU NEED A TAX RETURN?
Online platforms now send HMRC details of some sellers, but that doesn't mean you owe tax. If you only sell your own unwanted things, you usually don't. If you're buying to resell, making things to sell or letting property, and you earn over £1,000 in a tax year, you need to file a Self Assessment tax return. DTax Filer is HMRC-recognised software that files it online, from £14.50.
What platforms tell HMRC
Since 1 January 2024, platforms such as Vinted, eBay, Etsy, Airbnb and Uber collect sellers' details and report their income to HMRC each January for the year before. The first reports, for 2024, went to HMRC by 31 January 2025.
| What you do on the platform | Reported to HMRC? |
|---|---|
| Sell goods: fewer than 30 sales and €2,000 (about £1,700) or less in the year | No |
| Sell goods: 30 or more sales, or more than €2,000 | Yes |
| Provide services, or let property or transport | Yes, whatever the amount |
Thresholds from HMRC's reporting rules for digital platforms. Your platform tells you when it has shared your details.
Are you trading or just selling your own things?
Selling personal possessions, like the contents of a loft or wardrobe, isn't trading, and you usually don't need to tell HMRC. You're likely to be trading if you:
- buy things to sell them on for a profit
- make things to sell
- sell regularly to make a profit
- provide a service through a platform, such as deliveries, driving or lettings
Selling a single personal item for £6,000 or more can bring Capital Gains Tax into play, even when you're not trading. Your car is exempt unless you used it for business.
The £1,000 allowances
| Allowance | Covers | Tax-free up to |
|---|---|---|
| Trading allowance | Selling, making or services | £1,000 a year |
| Property allowance | Letting property, for example a driveway or a whole home | £1,000 a year |
| Rent a Room | A furnished room in your own main home | £7,500 a year (£3,750 if shared) |
If your gross income under the trading or property allowance is £1,000 or less, you don't need to tell HMRC. Above £1,000 you register for Self Assessment and file a return, and you can deduct either the £1,000 allowance or your actual expenses, not both. Rent a Room works the same way at £7,500.
If HMRC has written to you
First check the letter is genuine. Then work out whether you were trading, using the points above. If you were and your income was over £1,000, file a return for that year, or amend one you've already sent. For older years, HMRC's disclosure service is the way to tell it about tax you didn't pay.
How to file your selling income with DTax Filer
- Create a free account and start the return for the tax year you need.
- Add the right pages: self-employment (SA103) for trading income, UK property (SA105) for lettings.
- Enter your income and either your expenses or the £1,000 allowance. DTax Filer shows your tax as you go.
- Submit to HMRC online. It costs £14.50 per tax return, and you can prepare it free first.
Questions
Is there a new tax on selling on Vinted or eBay?
No. HMRC says no tax rules have changed. Since 1 January 2024 platforms send HMRC details of some sellers, but if you only sell your own unwanted items now and then, there is usually no tax to pay.
When does a platform report me to HMRC?
For goods, a platform reports you if you make 30 or more sales, or earn more than €2,000 (about £1,700), in a year. Sellers of services and people letting property, such as Airbnb hosts, can be reported whatever the amount.
Do I owe tax if I have been reported?
Not automatically. You owe Income Tax if you are trading, for example buying things to resell or making things to sell, and your trading income before expenses is over £1,000 in a tax year. Selling your own possessions is not trading.
What is the £1,000 trading allowance?
If your gross trading income is £1,000 or less in a tax year, you do not need to tell HMRC about it. If it is more, you can deduct £1,000 instead of your actual expenses, but you cannot claim both.
Do I need a tax return for Airbnb income?
If you let property, a separate £1,000 property allowance applies. Renting a furnished room in your own home can be tax-free up to £7,500 a year under Rent a Room. Above these amounts you register for Self Assessment and report the income.
Can I file my selling income online with DTax Filer?
Yes. Trading income goes on the self-employment pages (SA103) and letting income on the UK property pages (SA105). DTax Filer files both with your SA100, from £14.50 per tax return.