Taxman's online auction campaign reaps rewards
Two hundred people registered with the taxman in the first two days of HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) advertising campaign designed to make online auctioneers aware of the law.
Around 68,000 people in the UK are thought to make all or a large part of their income from eBay. Many eBayers can be defined as self-employed but they're not paying the correct tax.
A spokesman for HMRC told the BBC:
"The overwhelming majority are selling off unwanted goods. We are concerned with the minority conducting a business."
The taxman acted after a number of tip-offs on the tax evasion hotline last year.
It's likely that people should be paying tax if:
- They buy goods then sell them online.
- They make items to sell for a profit.
- They sell goods for others on commission.
- They sell a service and are paid for it.
Read the guide on HMRC's website.
