eBay profit?

[Hairybaker]

If you sell stuff on eBay (not as a business but just as a collector of something that no longer want) do you have to pay tax on any earnings?!

No and you can earn £1k a year additional income without paying tax

It can depend on what the collection is. Is this something you have made large gains in - for example art, or antiques? Are the items wasting (I.e have they an exoected life of less than 50 years?)

It is trainers/shoes. Many unworn and will have gone up in value.

@Hairybaker

It is trainers/shoes. Many unworn and will have gone up in value.

If you are just selling your personal items as second hand then there’s generally no issue.

There is a ‘trading allowance’ of £1000 per year. If your profit is below that then you do not need to notify HMRC or register with them, but if you are making money then it may be worthwhile registering - in itself it doesn’t mean you will be taxed.

Keep records of when you buy and sell, that way you have the evidence that you did or did not get to the £1000 threshold

I buy and sell, but have not hit the threshold in any year and I have not registered.
But I do keep records, and I sell via eBay (which will provide all my details to HMRC if required) and in a shop which keeps all records of their traders sales (and does their own accounting with HMRC)

The key test is your "intention" when you bought them. Did you buy with the intention of selling or did you buy with the intention of wearing/using them?

HMRC could well argue that if you bought dozens of pairs and never worn them, then your intention was always to sell them. They do data analysis on Ebay listings/Ebays to look out for "traders", i.e. number of transactions from a seller, and type of sale, i.e. selling a few pairs of used trainers doesn't raise any flags, but if you sell a few pairs of new size 5 trainers and a few pairs of new size 6 trainers, then it may well flag up for enquiry as selling new and selling multiple sizes gives the impression of buying to sell rather than buying to use!

@Tommika There is a ‘trading allowance’ of £1000 per year. If your profit is below that then you do not need to notify HMRC or register with them

Not quite right. It's turnover under £1,000 not profit. The trading allowance is a deduction in lieu of expenses, so if your turnover is £1,500, you can deduct the £1,000 trading allowance, leaving a £500 profit. (Or you can deduct actual expenses if more than £1,000!).