If you sell on Vinted, eBay, Etsy or Depop, you've probably seen headlines about platforms "reporting sellers to HMRC". Two separate sets of rules get mixed up here:
- what the platform has to report
- whether you have anything to tell HMRC or pay
This guide sets out what GOV.UK says about each, in GOV.UK's own words where it matters.
What platforms report
GOV.UK's guidance for digital platform operators tells them: "You need to report sellers who actively supply or are paid for goods or services on your digital platform", where the seller lives in the UK or another country that follows the same rules (or manages property rentals there).
So the starting point is that sellers are reported. The well-known figure is an exception to that:
"You do not need to report sellers getting a total of 2,000 euros or less (approximately £1,700) for fewer than 30 sales of goods in a year."
Read it carefully. A seller is left out only if both are true: fewer than 30 sales of goods and €2,000 or less in total. So:
| Your year on one platform | Can the platform leave you out? |
|---|---|
| 12 sales, £400 | Yes: fewer than 30 sales and under the amount |
| 45 sales, £600 | No: 30 sales or more |
| 10 sales, £2,500 | No: over the amount |
The exception is for goods. GOV.UK says it doesn't cover services, transport rentals or property rentals. The platform may also ask you to confirm your details.
Being reported is not the same as owing tax
The reporting rules are about what platforms send. Whether you need to tell HMRC about income, or pay tax, is covered by other guidance. GOV.UK's check if you need to tell HMRC about your income from online platforms says:
"If you're selling personal possessions you probably do not have to pay Income Tax on these."
"If you sell an item for more than £6,000, you may need to pay Capital Gains Tax."
It also says you're probably trading if you sell goods that you bought to resell, or goods you made, including from a hobby. And if your total income from trading is more than the £1,000 trading allowance for the tax year, you need to tell HMRC.
It adds: "In some cases, you may still need to tell us about your income, even if you do not have to pay any tax on it."
Which of these describes your selling is for you to work out from GOV.UK's guidance. HMRC has an online checker for income outside PAYE that asks the questions.
Why your own totals matter
If a platform reports you, HMRC sees its figures: your sales and amounts for the year. It's sensible to know your own numbers, across every platform you use, in case HMRC asks. That's true whether you conclude you owe anything or not.
The platforms' years and the tax year are different. Platform reporting runs on calendar years. Self Assessment runs 6 April to 5 April.
Worked example (round numbers)
Priya cleared out wardrobes in 2026 and sold on two apps:
| Platform | Sales | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Vinted | 38 | £620 |
| eBay | 6 | £240 |
| Total | 44 | £860 |
On Vinted, Priya made 30 or more sales, so she isn't within the exception there and Vinted may report her. On eBay she's under both limits. Whether Priya has anything to tell HMRC depends on the rules above, not on being reported. Either way she now has her figures per platform and in total.
FAQ
Is the £1,700 per platform or in total? The reporting rule applies to each platform's own sellers, so each platform looks at your sales with them. The £1,000 trading allowance is about your total trading income.
Will Vinted tell me if it reports me? GOV.UK's guidance for sellers says: "Platform operators have to give you a copy of the information they have reported to HMRC." Platforms may also ask you to confirm your details, so look out for requests in the app.
Does this apply to selling services, like tutoring or dog walking, through an app? GOV.UK says the 30-sale exception is for goods only, so it doesn't apply to services.
Adding up your sales
sellertotals adds up your sales across Vinted, eBay, Etsy, Depop and others, per platform for each calendar year (the years platforms report on) and in total for each tax year. CSV exports are read in your browser for free. Screenshots or PDFs of your sales history use AI, and your first one is free. It doesn't decide whether you're trading or what you owe.
This isn't tax advice. Check GOV.UK's guidance on income from online platforms or an accountant for your situation, and check the figures before you submit anything.