ebay UK sending sales data to HMRC

[OldTom]

Hello all, time to accept the inevitable.
Clearly I can’t ask this on the ebay forum, but what are those with high selling private accounts in someone eses name going to do when ebay UK start sending sales data to HMRC next year?
Converting to a business isn’t an option and I’m getting increasingly nervous about simply chancing my arm and ignoring it.
I’ve left it as long as I can, time to formulate a plan before the year end and any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

[Ebayorbust]

Are the people who's information you are using know what you are doing? If so then they should have thought about the tax implications before giving you permission.

[rsot]

Welcome to the forum OP - all the best as you master stealth

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[agent006140]

Originally Posted by Ebayorbust

Are the people who's information you are using know what you are doing? If so then they should have thought about the tax implications before giving you permission.

if these people owe money,$$ from her Ebay linked bank account could be seized.

You should be able to find information from Ebay UK

IRS can also ask for seller sales history from AMZN,EBAY.ETSY.Paypal.
So can FBI,DEA,US customs office and your local police

Back to the original question if my understanding is correct. I'm seriously thinking of simply ditching my bogus ebay accounts and going 100% legit unless anyone has an angle I've not seen.
------------
Good idea.

[ebabe]

So the HMRC will be targeting every eBay seller? There are about 18 million eBay sellers on ebay UK. Or will they be only looking at large volume sellers? And if so, what would be that volume threshold?

''UK plans to force tech companies to report sellers’ income to HMRC
Proposals requiring digital platforms to hand over data to taxman will affect up to 5m British businesses ''

[murdered_by_ebay]

ebay and amazon have been sending data to HMRC for years , it is more about other less mainstream platforms

[degsey69]

If your turnover on eBay UK is low on a personal account you have nothing to worry about.

[rsot]

OP, what are your total sale amounts (degsey69 alluded to this)

[degsey69]

There are limits that eBay requires you to make a personal account into a business one, these are the ones that HMRC are more interested in and data passed on, eBay can show their due diligence in making high sales account into business ones.

[murdered_by_ebay]

Originally Posted by degsey69

There are limits that eBay requires you to make a personal account into a business one, these are the ones that HMRC are more interested in and data passed on, eBay can show their due diligence in making high sales account into business ones.

you don't know what you are talking about , HMRC have had access to ebay data for many years , at least since 2000's

they can investigate anyone they want for any amount but it is obvious that only some sellers would be it , who it is no one knows and there are certainly no fixed limits

[ebabe]

Originally Posted by degsey69

There are limits that eBay requires you to make a personal account into a business one, these are the ones that HMRC are more interested in and data passed on, eBay can show their due diligence in making high sales account into business ones.

I did read on eBay policy that they can force you to open a business account once you reach a certain limit

[degsey69]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

you don't know what you are talking about , HMRC have had access to ebay data for many years , at least since 2000's

they can investigate anyone they want for any amount but it is obvious that only some sellers would be it , who it is no one knows and there are certainly no fixed limits

The only person who does not know what he is talking about is you. The amount of misinformation that you have given out has been tremendous Hank is always calling you out as you do not know what you are talking about.

Yes they can investigate anybody t.hey like, but it’s the circumstances that lead them to start an investigation that counts. If you are a low number sales on a personal account the likelihood of being investigated is low. EBay has limits they do not make public, which they will ask a seller to go to a business account if the turnover gets high. Read all the threads on here stating that eBay has asked them to convert to a business account and withhold payment.

Next time you write something make sure you know the facts because it looks like you make stuff up.

[murdered_by_ebay]

personal accounts do not have a low number of sales by default , you are the one spreading false info here , even more false than hank

the limits for private accounts are very high before they get asked to upgrade to business , it is tens of thousands of pounds at least

how do I know that? because I have such accounts myself

you better go and write about the IRS , maybe you will have more luck there then with the HMRC

[degsey69]

I am not talking about selling limits, you do not read the threads, it’s about when your sales has reached a certain level which makes you a target for taking your account from personal to business, also I am have a registered company in the UK and I have dual nationality and with considerable experience with HMRC going back over 30 years.

I am an old dog like Hank who has forgotten more than you will ever know.

[murdered_by_ebay]

if you are so experienced do not spread false info here as the limits for account upgrade are not related to the HMRC at all

[OldTom]

Sorry for the late response and thank you to those who replied.

I have googled and googled for hours on end over the years trying to find any evidence of ebay sending sales data to HMRC and cannot find any and why I have continued on regardless. The impending law change is the first and most meaningful proof it will happen and why it has attracted so much attention.

All I can find is HMRC asking for info on specific sellers in order to send out Online Marketplace Status check letters but I do not think they are currently simply handing over sales info of all sellers. Surely it would be common knowledge and the question of Data Protection would have been discussed.

Can the poster above who said it's been happening for 10-20 years give some links, I can't find anything.

If true then it could be argued that I should carry on regardless because all my account info been going to HMRC anyway! (pretty certain it hasn't).

Back to the original question if my understanding is correct. I'm seriously thinking of simply ditching my bogus ebay accounts and going 100% legit unless anyone has an angle I've not seen.

[murdered_by_ebay]

all major marketplaces were pressured into providing access to seller details many years ago , this does not apply just to HMRC

the story with letters is exactly it , they were coming in waves and this started years ago as the letters had been sent due to direct access to ebay data

[rsot]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

all major marketplaces were pressured into providing access to seller details many years ago ,

seems dubious - source?

[degsey69]

Originally Posted by rsot

seems dubious - source?

Yes it would be nice to get the source of the claim?

[murdered_by_ebay]

it needs to be searched in older news , back in late 2000's and early 2010's ebay and amazon were forced by the EU to provide access , they had initially refused but had to give in eventually in order not to be liable for tax evasion , they were even describing a software which was specifically made for tax authorities to search these marketplaces , in germany it was called XPIDER that I can still remember

[rsot]

Nothing found about Xpider for early 00s and 10s

[OldTom]

Still not convinced that ebay have been legally obliged to send all sales figures to HMRC, I can find absolutely nothing. Isn't that why the changes are happening?
I hope not now they have a link to my real identity via the bank accounts I've added.

How would it work if I buy an account as I'm getting nervous about next years changes. Am I jumping out of the frying pan into the fire?