Ebay Power Sellers & Revenue & Customs

[Matt Quinn]

Do I worry about them (NO) but I do find it offensive that ebayers and market traders are spoken about in a derogatory way, I not sure what make everybody think they are superior because they are neither or only one of them. The one thing I am sure of that nobody is whiter than white over tax. ( he who is with out sin, cast the first stone)

Who's speaking about Market Traders and Ebayers in a derogatary way?

Facts need to be faced... Ebay is a shark tank. Likewise many of the markets. - And in both cases they are that way because the proprietors turn a blind eye to the 'dodgy' traders at the expense of the legit ones. Personally I wish it weren't so... But...

Does that make all Ebayers or market traders sharks? Nope! But if you either buy or sell in either of those waters then you need to be aware of what you're swimming with. I'm neither averse to sourcing material from Ebay (or the flea markets) or selling off personal items on it. I simply proceed with caution.

As suggested HMRC don't have the staff or really the interest in tackling the odd missing petrol receipt or cash sale that didn't make it through the receipt book... NOR are they interested in the wee granny that sells the odd knitted doll once or twice a month...

In this case they'll be targetting powersellers, multiple accounts etc... People that ARE making a living on a scale and simply not playing with the same goal posts as most of the rest of us.

Some of my clients are Trading Standards and Police Forces. Contacts there tell me some of these Ebayers they're after are thought to be turning over £100K, £200K a year... Declaring incomes of £20K-£30K

Whiter than white? NOT much choice as my business is a Limited Company and my lecturing is as an employee... Can't get away from regulation regulation regulation... I don't believe myself to be any different from the guy that runs the Post Office or the Chinese take-away or the local Window Cleaner... All ground down by officialdom, rules, regulations...

[mrs maggot]

i trade at festivals and markets all year round, i have the tax man regularly telling me what i can and cant claim, and what taxes i pay, i love being self employed, its taken a while, and we have lost a lot in the process, but i have gone from being a 30k plus a year rep to being a self employed trader, we have managed to keep hold of our house, despite problems with me not being able to work after 2 knee operations went wrong - holidays - what holidays lol

ebay has grown and grown over the years, and its plain to see that a lot of sellers on there cars, toys, mugs, whatever are selling vast quantities whilst not a registered business. we have a guy locally "cant work due to ill health" never without a car on the drive being stripped, or rebuilt and sold on, he never sends off the green slip, so by the time he sells it, its never been in his name, local council are sorting him out at the moment, a neighbour has kept a record of all the cars that have been there over the past 3 years - and its 100's

[jennywren]

Lots of remarks on this thread about ebays and market traders that are obvious just plain bias and rude, not all Limited Company are whiter than white, you must see your self as a flagship. Shame your clients do not care about the confidentiality, it would hard to expect us to believe that do not mention names places ect. if HMRC had the staff these people would have been dealt with long time ago, power sellers etc have been around for a long time and will continue to be so.

[JSR]

The one thing I am sure of that nobody is whiter than white over tax.

It seems a little odd that you berate those who inadvertently paint "all ebayers" or "all market traders" with the same derogatory brush, yet you're quick to declare that *everyone* is a bit dodgy over tax.

[jennywren]

It seems a little odd that you berate those who inadvertently paint "all ebayers" or "all market traders" with the same derogatory brush, yet you're quick to declare that *everyone* is a bit dodgy over tax.

never said dodgy, I was trying to say that at times without realizing it or thinking I did not stick strictly to the letter of the law, I did not want be hypocrite and say that I did, although I do pay taxes, etc. I was trying to be fair and honest, we might as well have a section that says inadvertently put your remarks about ebayers and market traders and don't let anybody take offense at this, or we'll nit pick at your post

[Matt Quinn]

you must see your self as a flagship. Shame your clients do not care about the confidentiality, it would hard to expect us to believe that do not mention names places ect.

Must I? Interesting piece of psychoanalysis there...

As I said... My business is no different from that of the likes of local Window Cleaner in terms of how compliant it is, and has to be, to survive. Nothing special or unusual.

As for confidentiality? The clients that seek confidentiality get it. Others seek publicity; which is why they get videos made! - If you don't believe me do a little legwork to discover who produced the 'Doorstoppers' programmes for Stirling Council, and more recently the Lanarkshire Trading Standards/Strathclyde Police doorstep crime DVD featuring the well-known Scottish comedian Ford Kiernan... And others!

- As I own the copyright to these I can even send you a copy if you like! - The TSO's, Police and community safety partnerships are only too keen to get the safety message out!

[JSR]

never said dodgy, I was trying to say that at times without realizing it or thinking I did not stick strictly to the letter of the law, I did not want be hypocrite and say that I did, although I do pay taxes, etc. I was trying to be fair and honest, we might as well have a section that says inadvertently put your remarks about ebayers and market traders and don't let anybody take offense at this, or we'll nit pick at your post

With respect, you specifically said "The one thing I am sure of that nobody is whiter than white over tax."

That statement has nothing to do with what you specifically do in your own business. With those words, you've accused everyone of being less than legal when it comes to tax. If there's a different interpretation to your words, I'd be interested to hear it.

I'm not here to "nit-pick" but your words accuse me and everyone else of bending the rules when it comes to tax. To not query it would be to agree with you, and I certainly do not agree with you.

[jennywren]

We could go back and forth all night with what you think I meant, this is like being back at school with the teacher interpretation your English lesson and they have the last word because they are always right, even if you concede some points they want it all their own way. I give up.

[JSR]

We could go back and forth all night with what you think I meant, this is like being back at school with the teacher interpretation your English lesson and they have the last word because they are always right, even if you concede some points they want it all their own way. I give up.

So you didn't mean to accuse everyone of being dishonest with their taxes, then? Okay.

[jennywren]

JSR is rght, nobody is dishonest with their taxes.