Selling on Vinted, eBay or Etsy?Find out if you owe HMRC in 60 seconds.
Most casual sellers owe nothing. But since January 2024, platforms report your sales to HMRC automatically. Know where you stand — before they contact you first.
This is not a course. Not a subscription trap. Not a guru selling you something. A free tool built by someone who got fed up watching normal people — Vinted sellers, eBay resellers, Deliveroo drivers — panic about letters they didn't need to receive. Every answer links directly to official HMRC guidance — so you can check our work.
⚠️ LIVE SINCE JANUARY 2024
From January 2024, eBay, Vinted, Etsy, Depop and Airbnb are legally required to send HMRC a report of your sales, your name, and your National Insurance number. The first reports landed with HMRC in January 2025. If you completed 30+ transactions or earned over £1,700, they already have a file on you. The good news: most casual sellers owe nothing at all — but you need to KNOW that, not just hope for the best.
Most people who check find out they owe nothing — and finally stop worrying. 🟢
Jan 2024Platforms started reporting to HMRC
£1,000HMRC tax-free threshold
60 secTo get your result
gov.ukEvery result sourced here
The Real Reason This Exists
You sell a few things online. You're not Amazon. You just need to know if HMRC cares.
HMRC's guidance is accurate — but it wasn't written for someone clearing out their wardrobe between the school run and the food shop, or selling a few bits online because the bills don't quite stretch to the end of the month.
We built this because a friend spent an entire weekend terrified after a letter dropped through her door from HMRC — about her Vinted account. She'd been clearing out her wardrobe. Kids' clothes. Old coats. Nothing that felt like a business. Three days of Googling got her nowhere. An accountant quoted her £200 just for a consultation. She needed one answer. In the end, she owed nothing. But she spent three days not knowing that. This tool is the answer she needed on day one — and it's free.
— Why Trading Allowance exists. For normal people. Not businesses.
No catch. No upgrade required to see your result. We give you the answer for free because that's the tool we wish existed.
A courseA subscription trapA guru selling somethingLegal or tax adviceA free educational toolLinked to official HMRC guidanceBuilt for normal people
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Plain English answers
No jargon. No forms. No confusion. Whether you're skint or comfortable, the rules are the same — and we explain them the same way. Every answer links to the real HMRC source.
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60 seconds flat
Three simple questions. One clear result. Fast enough to do between the school run and the food shop.
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No personal data needed
We don't need your name, address or NI number. Nothing that links you to HMRC. Just your answers — and your result.
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Key deadline reminders
5 October — Self Assessment registration. 31 January — filing deadline. We'll tell you what applies to you.
Your Possible Results
Green, Amber or Red. You'll know in 60 seconds what it means and exactly what to do next.
Before you start, here's what your result could look like — so there are no surprises. Most people land on green.
🟢 You can relax
Your income is within the £1,000 Trading Allowance. You owe nothing. You don't need to register. You don't need to declare. Keep a simple record — and breathe.
🟡 Worth a closer look
You're close to the £1,000 line, or your situation has a wrinkle. We show you exactly what to double-check — with the gov.uk source for every step.
🔴 Action needed — but you're ahead
You've exceeded the allowance and need to register. Don't panic — you're already doing the right thing by checking. We walk you through every step.
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⚠️ This result is educational only — not tax advice. Tax obligations vary by individual circumstance. Always verify at gov.uk or consult a qualified accountant.
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We'll send you a reminder before 5 October and 31 January. Check your inbox for a confirmation email.
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How We Check Our Information
We don't write the tax rules. We translate them. Then show you the source.
We don't guess tax rules. Every piece of guidance on this site has been verified against official HMRC publications, reviewed by a Chartered Accountant, and cross-checked with the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group. If we're not certain, we say so.
🏛️ HMRC gov.uk — Primary source
📋 CIOT — Verified guidance
🔍 LITRG — Cross-referenced
✅ Chartered Accountant (ACA) — Content reviewed
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
All tax guidance on this site has been reviewed by a qualified UK Chartered Accountant (ACA) against current HMRC publications. We are in the process of crediting them by name — email hello@tradingallowance.co.uk if you'd like to verify our professional review. Every factual claim links to its HMRC source so you can check without relying on our word.
Content last reviewed: April 2026. This tool is educational only and does not constitute tax advice. Always verify your situation at gov.uk or consult a qualified professional.
What Your Result Looks Like
Most people get green. Here's what that feels like.
You answer three questions. We run the check. Here's what happens next.
🟢 GREEN RESULT
"You're in the clear."
Your income falls within the £1,000 Trading Allowance. You don't need to register. You don't need to declare. You can keep doing what you're doing — and stop worrying about it.
The most common result for casual sellers.
🟡 AMBER RESULT
"Worth double-checking your exact figures."
You're close to the £1,000 line. We show you exactly what to look at — and the gov.uk guidance for your specific situation. You'll have a clear answer within minutes.
For sellers earning between £800–£1,200 gross.
🔴 RED RESULT
"Action needed — but you're ahead of most people."
You've exceeded the allowance and need to register for Self Assessment. Don't panic — we walk you through every step with direct links to HMRC. Knowing now is always better than receiving a letter later.
Coming forward voluntarily always results in lower penalties.
Real answers to the questions your accountant would charge £150 to answer
Plain English. No waffle. Every answer links to the official HMRC source — so you can verify without trusting us.
Do I need to pay tax on my Vinted sales?
If you're selling your own used possessions, generally no. If you buy things specifically to resell for profit, HMRC considers that trading — and the £1,000 Trading Allowance applies. Official HMRC guidance →
Is the £1,000 allowance on profit or total sales?
Total sales (gross income) — not profit. This is the most common misunderstanding. If you sold £1,200 of items but spent £900 buying stock, your gross is still £1,200 and you've exceeded the allowance. Source: gov.uk →
I use eBay AND Vinted — does the allowance cover both?
The £1,000 Trading Allowance covers all your trading income combined, not per platform. £600 on Vinted + £500 on eBay = £1,100 total — you've exceeded it. Source: gov.uk →
Will Vinted / eBay tell HMRC about my sales?
Yes — from January 2024, all major selling platforms are legally required to report seller data to HMRC if you complete 30+ transactions or earn over approximately £1,700 in a year. Source: gov.uk →
I make crafts at home and sell on Etsy — does the allowance apply to me?
Yes. If you make items specifically to sell (candles, jewellery, artwork, clothing, baked goods etc.), HMRC considers that trading income. The £1,000 Trading Allowance applies to your total gross Etsy income. Under £1,000 across all platforms and you're likely fine. Over £1,000 and you can deduct either the allowance or your actual material costs, postage, packaging and Etsy fees — whichever gives you the lower tax bill. Official HMRC guidance →
I only sell my own old possessions — not things I bought to resell. Do I still need to worry?
Generally no. Selling your own used personal possessions is not classed as trading by HMRC. The key test: did you buy these items specifically to sell them for profit? If yes — that's trading. If no — you're clearing out your wardrobe — you're likely fine. But if platforms report you under DAC7 rules (30+ transactions or £1,700+ in a year), HMRC may ask questions. Knowing your position means you can answer with confidence. gov.uk guidance →
I've been selling for years and never declared it. What now?
HMRC's Voluntary Disclosure process exists for exactly this. Coming forward yourself typically results in significantly lower penalties than being contacted first. We strongly recommend speaking to a qualified accountant before making contact. HMRC Voluntary Disclosure →
What about the new £3,000 threshold I've seen in the news?
The government announced plans to raise the threshold to £3,000 — but this is not yet law. The current legal threshold is still £1,000. The earliest this could take effect is April 2027, with 2028–2029 more likely. For now, the current law is still £1,000. Current rules at gov.uk →
HMRC received reports of 2023–24 sales in January 2025. Your 2024–25 data follows in January 2026.
If you've earned more than £1,700 from selling online, HMRC already has your name, your NI number, and your total sales. If that income wasn't declared — and you come forward yourself before they contact you — penalties are significantly lower. That window doesn't stay open forever.
No account · No email required · Linked to official HMRC guidance
TRANSPARENCY
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The calculator is free and always will be. We never sell your data. We never take advertising from companies that could influence our guidance.
We earn revenue from: Pro subscriptions (our income tracker tool), and referral fees when we recommend accountants or tools you choose to use. These referrals are always clearly labelled and never affect our guidance — we only recommend what we'd use ourselves.
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BEFORE YOU GO
Your result takes 60 seconds. The worry takes much longer.
Most people who check find out they owe nothing. Wouldn't you rather know for certain?