Sorting your reselling tax: what to do and when

If your reselling has passed the £1,000 allowance, you will usually need to sort out Self Assessment. It sounds daunting, but it breaks down into three simple steps: register, keep records, and file. This is the overview, with detailed guides below for each part and the common worries.

General information, not tax advice. Check with HMRC or a qualified accountant before you act on it.

Do you actually need to?

You only need to sort Self Assessment if you are trading and your sales passed £1,000 in a tax year. If you are under that, or only selling your own belongings, you usually have nothing to do.

Step 1: register by 5 October

Register as self-employed for Self Assessment on gov.uk. The deadline is 5 October in the tax year after you went over the allowance. HMRC sends you a Unique Taxpayer Reference you will need to file.

Step 2: keep simple records

Through the year, note your sales, fees, postage, packaging and stock costs. A spreadsheet is enough. Good records mean you claim every cost and pay no more than you owe. Keep them for at least five years.

Step 3: file and pay by 31 January

File your return and pay any tax due by 31 January after the tax year ends. If your allowances cover you, you still file, but there is nothing to pay. Miss the deadline and there is an automatic £100 penalty.

If you have had a report from HMRC

A message that eBay or Vinted shared your details is not a bill. It just means you passed the reporting threshold. Work out if you are trading and over £1,000, and if so, follow the steps above. If not, there is usually nothing to do.

If you think you missed a past year

If you realise you owed tax for a previous year and did not declare it, it is very fixable, and coming forward yourself is treated far more kindly than being found. There is a disclosure process on gov.uk.

Frequently asked questions

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.