MummaB

I have already read all of the links in this thread which did not simplify the situation at all for my circumstances which is why I asked the questions after reading that had made it as clear as mud for me. is there someone on here that can answer my particular questions so that I know what I'm doing as I don't want to end up doing something wrong in the eyes of either the benefits agency or the HMRC. I do not consider selling my own items for considerably less than they was brought for and making less that £1,000 in any one tax yr braking any rules. nor do I consider selling them online and leaving them online till their selling even if it takes a few maths and during that time adding a few more items to be trading as I consider someone trading to be selling new or used items for more money than they cost and for them to be doing so every wk or mth throughout the yr as trading. But none of the links confirm what the HMRC consider as trading, it merely says trading to be regular but doesn't give an indication as to what "regularly" actually counts! for instance, if someone sold their own items for much less than they was purchased for at a boot sale 5 times in the entire season bearing in mind the season is roughly 7 to 8 maths long , would that be classed as trading or not. the rules seem to be very sketchy and not at all defined as set in stone like say that of being over the limit for driving under the influence of alcohol so there are not variations but this unless you are trading every wk and making a profit is subject to many variables which is why people are getting so confused and what is on the HMRC's web pages are not making it any clearer. People just want to know exactly if these new rules are definitely going to effect them or not so they are not hit with a big bill or fine or find someone on their doorstep because they have unknowingly broken these new rules .

can I also point out that the items that was left by my nan and my husband's mum was 15yrs and 11yrs ago so have been in our garage and loft ever since so do they count as being our belongings . they are not Antiques worth thousands or even hundreds of £ by any means. Also what would b classed as selling on a regular basis, for instance if we was to do the odd boot sale during the summer season to get rid of all the stuff we have until it's all gone is that classed as trading or a one off as it's all the same clear out stuff we are trying to get rid of! And if I post something on vinted and it's there for wks or maths without selling at first is that classed as trading? I don't consider myself to be a trader or to be working I simply want to get rid of stuff I don't want or need, none of the items are new, none of the items would be sold for the same or more than they cost so already had tax on them when I purchased them so I really don't understand why tax needs to be paid on the same item twice. even if I buy second hand items at a boot sale the items are for me not for resale so do I have to keep a note of what they cost me should one day I sell them in the futcher so I don't accidently charge someone £1 more than I brought it for as I don't want to be fined. sorry to ask so many questions but the information given in the guidelines doesn't really cover all situations and I like others want to know exactly where I stand on this to protect myself as I don't want to inadvertently make a mistake and get into trouble . thanks

Hi also can I clarify something. I brought a little runaround just before Christmas for £600 and was hoping to sell it on as only driven it a few times as I hate it but needed a car over Christmas to ferry family about that are unable to fit in my husband's van. I haven't sold it on yet and it will be for only about 4/5 hundred anyway so definitely under the 1,000 if I don't sell anything else and this would also be a one off sale but what I wanted to know is are the rules the same for vehicles if it's your own car and your not a dealer!? MummaB

Hi I am really confused as I really know nothing about tax. this is my situation. I to am having a clear out of things I no longer want, 90% of them are all mine and have been for yrs so I have no receipts for any of them , but after my nan and my husband's mum passed away we have a load of stuff we have no room for and don't want to keep so was going to sell on vinted. however now this new law has come in it seems pointless selling anything if we are now being forced to pay tax as we will be no better off than sending it all to landfill. we won't be making more than £1,000 and was going to pay bills and buy things for our grandkids but are now very disheartened to do so . we have not brought anything to resell and it is all our own stuff so if we made under the 1,000 mark would we have to declare it? Also I am disabled and claim a benefit so can't go out to work but would selling my own possessions online be classed as being self employed and therefore working as I wouldn't class it as so but where do I stand! I haven't actually sold anything as yet other than a sunlamps I no longer used last yr and there was definitely no profit made as I sold it for much less than I brought it but it was brought as used so had no receipt anyway. You can see my delember as I want to be sure I'm not going to get in trouble with HMRC or end up having to pay tax on my own belongings so will head to the dump if needs be. so can you tell me where id stand on both questions. 1, am I ok selling my own stuff online if I stay under £1,000? 2, would selling my own stuff online be classed as working and affect my benefit? 3, am I ok to sell things that I have got from inheriting them like ornaments china and glass or would it be better to just dump everything at the landfill?! MummaB