Sold 30 items on Vinted? Here is what the NI number request actually means
If you have sold clothes on Vinted and received a pop-up asking for your National Insurance number, you are not alone.
Over the past few weeks thousands of people have been hit with the same message and many have panicked that HMRC is preparing a tax bill.
The good news is that for most people this is nothing to worry about.
It is not a new tax.
It is not a bill.
It is not a sign that you owe anything.
This blog explains the rules in plain English and clears up the confusion so you can keep selling with confidence.
Why Vinted is asking for your NI number
Platforms like Vinted, eBay, Etsy, Depop and Airbnb now have to follow new reporting rules.
Once you hit either of these in a calendar year:
• 30 items sold
• £1,700 total sales
they must collect your basic details and send them to HMRC.
This is about data sharing, not tax charges.
HMRC wants visibility on people who are running profitable buying and selling businesses through online platforms. The rules help them spot professional resellers who are earning more than the tax-free limit.
Does hitting the 30-item or £1,700 threshold mean you owe tax?
No. The reporting threshold is not a tax threshold.
You only owe tax on online selling if you are:
Buying stock specifically to resell for profit, or
Making more than £1,000 profit per year, or
Selling an individual item for over £6,000, which may fall under Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
If you are decluttering your wardrobe and selling items for less than you originally paid, you are not trading and you owe nothing.
Example:
You bought a pair of shoes for £60 and sold them on Vinted for £20.
There is no tax because you have made a loss, not a profit.
Why HMRC cares about resellers
HMRC has said it wants to reduce the hidden economy. Research shows roughly one in ten UK adults earns money that is not reported for tax.
The new data sharing rules help HMRC identify people who are running small businesses through online platforms but have not registered their income.
But most casual sellers do not fall into this group.
How HMRC decides whether you are trading
HMRC looks at the overall pattern of activity.
These signs may indicate a business:
• Buying in bulk
• Selling the same item repeatedly
• Regularly selling new items with tags
• Buying low and selling high
• Operating with the intention to profit
Signs you are not trading include:
• Clearing out old clothes and household items
• Selling things for less than you paid
• Irregular sales
• No intention to make a profit
A simple way to check if you owe tax
HMRC provides a free online tool to check whether you need to report your income.
If you are only selling old personal items, you will almost certainly fall outside tax.
So what should you do next?
• Enter your details if Vinted asks
• Keep selling your old clothes without worrying
• Only think about tax if you are buying items to resell
• If your reselling becomes a proper income stream, you may need to register as self employed
If you ever move from casual selling to running a side hustle, it is better to get the rules right early.
That is where Hustle Mate makes life easier.
Final word
Being asked for your NI number can feel intimidating, but the majority of Vinted users will not owe a penny.
The request is simply a reporting requirement.
If you want ongoing tax clarity without paying for an accountant, join our Hustle Mate community. It costs £5 a month, no contract, cancel any time.
