Do students pay tax on a reselling side hustle?
Reselling is a popular way for students to make some money, and it raises the same tax question as for everyone else, plus a few student-specific worries. The short version: being a student does not change the tax rules, and most student resellers owe nothing.
General information, not tax advice. Check with HMRC or a qualified accountant before you act on it.
Student status does not change the tax rules
There is no special exemption for students. You are taxed under the same rules as anyone else. The good news is that those rules are generous enough that most students, who tend to have low overall incomes, owe nothing.
The two allowances that usually cover you
First, the £1,000 trading allowance means you can earn up to £1,000 in trading sales a year without reporting or paying. Second, the £12,570 personal allowance means you can earn that much in total income before any income tax. Most students stay well under both.
Selling your own things is not taxable
If you are just selling your own old clothes, textbooks or gadgets, that is not trading and not taxable, however much it adds up to. Only buying or making things to sell for a profit counts as trading.
Does it affect student finance or loans?
Reselling income does not affect your student loan or most student finance, which are based on household income, not your own side earnings. And you only start repaying a student loan once your income passes the repayment threshold, which is well above what most student side hustles bring in.
When a student would need to act
If you are genuinely trading, buying to resell, and your sales pass £1,000 in a tax year, you would need to register for Self Assessment and report it, the same as anyone. Even then, with a low overall income, you often owe no actual tax.
Frequently asked questions
Do students pay tax on reselling?
Under the same rules as everyone. Most students owe nothing thanks to the £1,000 trading allowance and the £12,570 personal allowance, especially if they are selling their own things.
Does reselling affect my student loan?
No. Student finance is based on household income, and you only repay a loan once your income passes the threshold, which most student side hustles stay under.
Do I need to tell HMRC about my student side hustle?
Only if you are trading (buying to resell) and your sales pass £1,000 in a tax year. Selling your own things, or staying under £1,000, means there is usually nothing to do.
See where you actually stand
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Related guides
This guide is general information, not tax advice, and reflects the UK rules for the current tax year. Always check with a qualified accountant before you file. FlipTally is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to eBay, Vinted, Depop or HMRC. Last updated 2026-08-04.