Platform income
Does Fiverr, Etsy or eBay Report My Income to HMRC?
Written by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT · Chartered Accountant · Last reviewed 22 October 2026
| Rules started | 1 January 2024 |
|---|---|
| First reports | January 2025 |
| Goods exemption | Under 30 sales and about €2,000 |
How it works
Platforms send HMRC your name, address, tax reference and total earnings.
Sellers of goods with fewer than 30 sales and €2,000 or less may be excluded from reports. That is a reporting rule, not a tax-free limit.
HMRC compares reports with tax returns and may write to people whose numbers do not match.
If HMRC writes to you
HMRC may send a letter asking you to check your return. Read it carefully, then compare your records with what the platform reported.
If you owe nothing, you may still need to reply explaining why — for example, that you were selling personal items.
If you were trading and did not declare it, correct it promptly. Penalties are lower when you put things right quickly.
According to Waqas Sagar, Chartered Accountant at influencers.accountants, keep a note of what you paid for personal items you sell — it proves they were not trading stock.
Example
Hana sells 50 old clothes on Vinted. She is reported, but they are personal items sold for less than she paid, so no tax is due. Her friend who buys stock to resell is trading and must declare profit.
Illustrative figures only, based on 2026/27 rules.
What you need to do
- Check what each platform holds about you.
- Decide whether you are trading.
- Declare trading income on your return.
- Keep evidence for personal sales.
Want us to handle this for you? Our Self Employed Starter package covers registration, your Self Assessment return and expense review. See also our HMRC platform reporting help and our page for online resellers.
Common mistakes
- 1Assuming reporting means tax.
- 2Ignoring a nudge letter.
- 3Not keeping purchase records.
From our client work: We often see sellers worried by platform emails when they owe nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Related questions
Official sources
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This is general guidance for UK tax residents for the 2026/27 tax year, not personal advice. Speak to us about your situation.
