Short answer: You do not pay tax on Vinted for selling your own used belongings, even a wardrobe full of them, because that is decluttering, not trading. You only owe tax if you are trading (buying or making items to resell for profit) and your trading income tops the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year. Since 2024, Vinted reports seller data to HMRC, but being reported is not the same as owing tax.
The “Vinted tax” panic has scared a lot of people who have done nothing wrong. Let me clear it up in plain English. This is general information for the UK, not personal tax advice.
Do you have to pay tax on Vinted sales?
Only if you are trading. Selling your own second-hand clothes, books or household items is not taxable, no matter how much you sell, because you are selling personal property, usually for less than you paid. HMRC has been clear that casually selling your own belongings does not create a tax bill. Tax only enters the picture when you cross from clearing out your wardrobe into running a business.
What counts as trading versus selling your own things?
Trading means buying or making items specifically to sell them at a profit, or doing it regularly and systematically like a business. Selling your own used items is not trading. A few examples:
- Not trading: selling your old clothes, your kids’ outgrown things, unwanted gifts.
- Trading: buying clothes at car boots to flip on Vinted, making items to sell, bulk-buying to resell.
If you are trading, the next question is how much you make.
What is the £1,000 trading allowance?
If you are trading, you can earn up to £1,000 of gross trading income in a tax year tax-free under the trading allowance, per GOV.UK. Go over £1,000 and you must register for Self Assessment and report it. Our full UK side hustle tax guide walks through the deadlines.
Why did Vinted ask for my details or send an HMRC message?
Since January 2024, under international DAC7 rules, platforms like Vinted must collect and report seller information to HMRC once an account passes 30 sales or about £1,735 (€2,000) a year. That is a reporting threshold, not a tax threshold. If you only sold your own things, you have nothing to declare even if you are reported. Provide the verification details Vinted asks for through the app, and keep a simple record of what you sold. For more, see the HMRC 30-item rule explained.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay tax if I sell more than 30 items on Vinted?
Not automatically. Passing 30 items just means Vinted reports your data to HMRC. You only owe tax if you are trading and your profit tops the £1,000 trading allowance.
Is selling my old clothes on Vinted taxable?
No. Selling your own used belongings is not taxable, regardless of the amount, because it is not trading.
What if I buy clothes to resell on Vinted?
That is trading. If your gross trading income tops £1,000 in the tax year, register for Self Assessment and declare it.
General information, not tax advice. Check your situation with GOV.UK or an accountant. See also how much you can earn before paying tax.