Vinted, eBay and Etsy tax calculator: do you need to tell HMRC?
Use this guide to decide whether online selling looks like a casual clear-out or taxable trading income, then model any taxable profit with the side hustle tax calculator.
Tax year: 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27
Last verified against GOV.UK rates: 7 May 2026.
Methodology: this calculator uses the main Income Tax rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the standard Personal Allowance, and self-employed Class 4 National Insurance rates. It does not cover Scottish Income Tax bands, student loans, pension contributions, VAT, benefits, tailored reliefs, or personal tax advice.
Important: Income tax bands are different if you live in Scotland.
Tax Calculation Results
| Main Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Expenses: | £ |
| Side Hustle Profit: | £ |
| Estimated Additional Income Tax: | ~£ |
| Estimated National Insurance Contributions: | ~£ |
| Estimated Total Additional Tax (Income Tax + NI): | ~£ |
| Estimated Effective Tax Rate (Income Tax + NI): | % |
Based on this gross side hustle income, Making Tax Digital may apply from . Check HMRC guidance because digital records and quarterly updates may be required.
Previous Calculations
| Main Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Expenses: | £ |
| Side Hustle Profit: | £ |
| Estimated Additional Income Tax: | ~£ |
| Estimated National Insurance Contributions: | ~£ |
| Estimated Total Additional Tax (Income Tax + NI): | ~£ |
| Estimated Effective Tax Rate (Income Tax + NI): | % |
Quick answer for online sellers
Selling your own unwanted possessions on Vinted, eBay, Etsy, Depop or Facebook Marketplace is usually not the same as running a taxable trade. Clearing out clothes, furniture or old electronics you bought for personal use normally points away from side-hustle trading income.
Buying stock, making products, improving items, listing regularly, or selling with a clear profit motive can point towards taxable trading income. In that case, the side hustle tax calculator can help estimate the Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance impact alongside PAYE salary.
Marketplace reporting does not automatically make every platform sale taxable. HMRC still looks at what you are doing, why you are selling, and whether the activity is a trade. This page is general guidance, not personal tax advice.
Personal possessions vs trading
| Usually personal selling | More likely to be trading |
|---|---|
| Selling clothes from your own wardrobe after a clear-out. | Buying bundles of clothes to resell individually for profit. |
| Selling an old phone, games console or household item you used personally. | Sourcing electronics, refurbishing them, and repeatedly listing them for sale. |
| Occasionally selling unwanted craft supplies or hobby items. | Running an Etsy shop for handmade, digital or sourced products. |
If your situation is mixed, keep separate records for personal possession sales and trading stock. Where judgement is needed, check HMRC guidance on online platform income.
How the £1,000 trading allowance applies
The trading allowance is based on gross trading income before costs. If your taxable trading income from online selling is £1,000 or less in the tax year, the allowance may cover it, although you should still keep records and check whether you need to file a tax return for another reason.
If gross trading income is more than £1,000, you can usually compare two approaches: claim the £1,000 trading allowance, or deduct actual allowable expenses such as stock, materials, postage, packaging and platform fees. You cannot claim both for the same trade.
- Use Side Hustle Income for gross taxable trading income from platforms.
- Use Side Hustle Expenses for actual allowable costs, or enter £1,000 if you are modelling the trading allowance.
- Use Annual Salary for PAYE income so the estimate reflects your wider tax band.
When Self Assessment may be needed
You normally need to register for Self Assessment if your gross trading income is over £1,000 in a tax year. Tax due depends on taxable profit, other income, allowances and tax bands, so two sellers with the same platform sales may owe different amounts.
Use the calculator for a planning estimate only. For borderline cases, losses, capital gains, VAT, benefits or anything personal to your situation, use HMRC guidance or speak to a qualified adviser.
Platform-specific notes
Vinted tax: wardrobe clear-out vs resale activity
Vinted sellers are often clearing personal wardrobes. That is usually different from buying clothes, trainers or accessories specifically to resell. If you mix both, keep records showing which sales were personal possessions and which were trading stock.
eBay tax: occasional selling vs business-style trading
eBay can be used for both one-off personal sales and business-style trading. Regular sourcing, repeat listings, sales targets, stock records or a shop-like setup may point towards trading income that belongs in Self Assessment.
Etsy tax: handmade, digital and sourced products
Etsy activity is more often profit-seeking because sellers commonly make, design or source products to sell. If you sell handmade items, printables, digital downloads or craft products for profit, model taxable profit after allowable costs or after the trading allowance.
Depop and Facebook Marketplace
The same distinction applies on Depop, Facebook Marketplace and similar platforms. The platform name matters less than whether you are selling personal possessions or trading with a profit motive.
FAQs
How to avoid Vinted tax HMRC?
There is no special Vinted tax to avoid. Selling your own unwanted possessions is usually not taxable trading, but buying or making items to resell for profit can be. Keep records and check whether your activity is trading rather than trying to hide platform income.
How to avoid HMRC eBay tax?
Use the normal rules correctly: separate personal possession sales from business-style trading, keep evidence of costs, and check the £1,000 trading allowance. Platform reporting does not automatically mean tax is owed, but taxable trading income should be declared where required.
How much can you earn selling on eBay before paying tax in the UK?
If the eBay activity is taxable trading, the £1,000 trading allowance is based on gross trading income before costs. Above that, you may need Self Assessment and can usually compare claiming the allowance with deducting actual allowable expenses.
Do I pay tax when selling personal possessions online?
Usually not when you are simply selling possessions you bought for yourself, such as clearing a wardrobe or selling old household items. Tax is more likely if you buy stock, make items, or sell repeatedly with a profit motive.
Does Etsy income count as a side hustle?
Etsy income often looks more like trading if you make, design, source or sell products to make a profit. If it is trading income, use the calculator to estimate tax on profit after allowable costs or after the trading allowance.
Do Vinted, eBay and Etsy report income to HMRC?
Digital platforms can share seller information with tax authorities. That reporting does not create a new tax by itself; existing rules decide whether your sales are taxable trading, personal possessions, or another type of income.
Related platform selling calculators
Use these more specific pages if you already know which platform or side hustle best describes your income:
Official sources
- GOV.UK online platform income
- GOV.UK trading allowance
- GOV.UK Self Assessment registration
- GOV.UK self-employed expenses
Important: This calculator provides estimates based on current UK tax rates. For accurate advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified tax professional or HMRC.