Football Programmes Centre

bigdavethemaddog · Joined: 28 May 2013 Posts: 165

has anybody received a message from ebay asking for your NI number on your account?

se20blue · Joined: 21 Jul 2014 Posts: 889

Yes

Due to UK digital sales reporting legislation, eBay is required to collect and report seller tax identification information to HMRC, including National Insurance (NI) numbers, if sales exceed 30 items or £1,740 in a calendar year.
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ndg1860 · Joined: 27 Aug 2020 Posts: 198 Location: London

However...

Let's say that someone does not have a NI No. They are a foreigner who is a resident here and has never worked here, but is selling on eBay. Then eBay cannot pass on anything to HMRC, bar the simple personal details. I wonder what they (both HMRC and eBay) would do there? Could HMRC then force eBay to halt that person from selling on eBay or force the person to create a NI No.? I do understand this is somewhat rare, but it could happen, easily.

se20blue · Joined: 21 Jul 2014 Posts: 889

I would think Ebay would restrict the account until an NI number was forthcoming which would mean they would be unable to list anything. This is what happens when Ebay force private accounts to business accounts.
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Ipswich Town programmes required,please message me if you are able to help
9/2/46 Norwich City A
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Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 9:11 pm Post subject:

What happens if you tell them to get stuffed? Do they strike you off or send the boys round? Or would HMRC pay you a visit?

martino · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 9:24 pm Post subject:

bigdavethemaddog wrote:

has anybody received a message from ebay asking for your NI number on your account?

Yes but I have nothing to fear as everything I sell is already declared to HMRC

Tynie Topics · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 3573

I think the obvious point here is that HMRC don't in any way shape or form have the resources to do very much with this information. I'm going to bet that big numbers are perhaps glanced at, everything else will be filed.
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Posh1959 · Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Posts: 1227

Tynie Topics wrote:

I think the obvious point here is that HMRC don't in any way shape or form have the resources to do very much with this information. I'm going to bet that big numbers are perhaps glanced at, everything else will be filed.

Think you are correct, they do not have the resources, very much a scare tactic. They don’t have resources to check up on all but a small percentage of tax returns etc let alone eBay sales.

Regarding NINO’s, all HMRC would need is your name and address and their computer would show your NINO so there is no need for EBay to request it.

CodeXIII · Joined: 07 Oct 2010 Posts: 282 Location: St Helens

Waited 14 days for payments sent with no tracking (fair enough was under £50 but still 12 days longer than it used to be!)

sent three really expensive items tracked so already £45 down.
Previously, payment from buyers would be available with 48 hours so no issue usually.

Now, I've been waiting 8 days. The item was delivered yesterday and the buyer kindly left + feedback...it will be ANOTHER 2 days before the money becomes available. Basically, ebay earning 10 days interest on my / our money even when you send tracked and get positive feedback!

I really can't be arsed acting as a bank for them so will be closing my 15 year seller account once all payments received.
Sold almost all of my stuff before this dickhead change came in!

Ron Saunders 2 · Joined: 17 Mar 2022 Posts: 58

It's clear that the people at eBay who came up with this act of self harm had studied Alissa Heinerscheid and thought that she was brilliant.

derby1884 · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:32 pm Post subject:

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

What happens if you tell them to get stuffed? Do they strike you off or send the boys round? Or would HMRC pay you a visit?

Unlimited powers, Pete!
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Ron Saunders 2 · Joined: 17 Mar 2022 Posts: 58

derby1884 wrote:

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

What happens if you tell them to get stuffed? Do they strike you off or send the boys round? Or would HMRC pay you a visit?

Unlimited powers, Pete!

But not unlimited resources..

I've contacted HMRC and from what was said, they will only look at people who have sales over £7k as that is the chattels exemption that we all have.

colchestersid · Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 756

Starting from 15 April, Simple Delivery will be the only delivery method available for private sellers when listing most items. There’ll be a few exceptions, such as low-priced, bulky items, and local pick-up, which aren’t eligible for Simple Delivery.

As expected, eBay are forcing private sellers to use "Simple Delivery"

The email confirms you can at least choose which carrier to use (Evri and/or Royal Mail) but is vague on the exceptions for low value items. 90% of my sale proceeds come from programmes/tickets sold for £20 or more (these are all sent with Tracked 24 or Special Delivery) but for the lower value stuff which I send with a second class stamp and proof of postage (85p or £1.55 depending on size) it looks like I'll be forced to use Tracked 48 (£2.70)

Simple answer of course is to stop listing anything under £20

wbw · Joined: 16 Nov 2017 Posts: 3

In my experience, proof of postage is simply not worth the bit of paper the Post Office give you.

martino · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:09 pm Post subject:

wbw wrote:

In my experience, proof of postage is simply not worth the bit of paper the Post Office give you.

But that is a bit of paper that you need to submit if making a claim for loss / damage.

colchestersid · Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 756

I had a programme go missing in the post to one of my buyers - eBay processed a refund to the buyer and Royal Mail in turn refunded me based on my proof of posting.

It was only £6.49 but the system worked as it should

grantham · Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 1062

Just to echo colchestersid thoughts on the matter

The new BIGGER issue is the introduction of Simple Delivery, come the 15th April 2025, it really looks like a deliberate disaster waiting to happen to try and force private sellers into business accounts.

The weight tiers are simplified but they charge more for each tier, so rather than £3.39 for a 1kg tracked parcel, ebay will charge £3.74 for the exact same service. So that's a typical book weight or a small bundle of programmes, 35p increase just because they are forcing you to use Simple Delivery.

To make matters worse, RM currently charge the same £3.39 upto 2kg, however ebay have seen a nice way to make more profit, with a price tag of £4.27 for the same service. A nice 88p per order they cream off the top.

The only way to benefit from that is if the parcel is bigger and not heavy (a luxury we don't enjoy in sending paper based products) as the parcel size limit is that of a medium parcel, beyond 2kg you jump to 15kg and are charged a whopping £10.55 for a service you can currently buy directly with RM for just £6.65 for anything upto 10kg. So huge profits for ebay if you are sending anything over 2kg upto 10kg of £3.90

I can't see this as anything other than a money grab and to force private sellers to switch to business accounts, it's just not going to be viable to sell as a private seller
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