Side Hustle Tax Check

Do you owe tax on your platform income?

Selling on eBay, Vinted, Airbnb or doing gig work? Check the £1,000 trading allowance, whether a platform reports you to HMRC, whether you need Self Assessment, and an estimate of the tax — in seconds.

Estimated tax on your side income£300Taxable profit £1,500 after a £1,000 deduction
Does a platform report you to HMRC?Likely yes
Must you register for Self Assessment?Yes
Trading allowance£1,000

Platforms (eBay, Vinted, Airbnb, Etsy…) report sellers with 30+ sales or £1,700+ a year to HMRC (since Jan 2024). You must register for Self Assessment if trading income tops £1,000 — a threshold expected to rise to £3,000 by ~2029, with a simpler online service in between. Not tax advice.

Ad — visible after AdSense approval

Selling your own stuff vs trading

Clearing out your own used items is normally tax-free, whatever the total — you are not trading. Buying or making things to sell for profit is trading, and profit over the £1,000 allowance is taxable. Platforms report high-volume sellers to HMRC, but being reported is not the same as owing tax.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay tax on selling my own used items?

Normally no. Selling your own personal possessions — clothes, furniture, old gadgets — is not trading and is not taxable, however much you sell in total. The exception is a single item sold for more than £6,000, which can attract Capital Gains Tax.

What is the £1,000 trading allowance?

You can earn up to £1,000 a year (gross) from self-employment or a side hustle tax-free, and you do not need to tell HMRC. Above £1,000 you must register for Self Assessment and can deduct either the £1,000 allowance or your actual expenses — whichever is higher.

Does HMRC see my eBay, Vinted or Airbnb income?

Since January 2024, digital platforms report sellers to HMRC. Platforms typically flag anyone with 30 or more sales or £1,700 or more in a calendar year. Being reported is not the same as owing tax — it depends on whether you are trading and how much you make.

When must I register for Self Assessment?

If your trading income exceeds £1,000 gross in a tax year. You must register by 5 October following the end of that tax year. The reporting threshold is expected to rise to £3,000 by around 2029, with a simpler online service for amounts between £1,000 and £3,000 — but tax is still due on profit over £1,000.

How much tax will I pay?

Tax is charged on your profit (income minus the £1,000 allowance or your expenses) at your Income Tax band — 20%, 40% or 45% — because side income sits on top of your other income. You may also owe Class 4 National Insurance on larger profits.

Does this replace professional advice?

No. This is a free, independent educational estimate. Your exact position depends on your total income, expenses and whether you are trading. Check GOV.UK or speak to an accountant.

A free, independent educational tool for UK side-hustle and platform income (2026/27). It gives a simplified estimate and does not model National Insurance, other income, or the trading-vs-personal test in full. Not tax advice — check GOV.UK or an accountant.

Sources: GOV.UK — Tax-free allowances (trading & property) · GOV.UK — Selling online and paying taxes · GOV.UK — Check if you need to send a Self Assessment