What is the cheapest way to sell on eBay?

The cheapest way to sell on eBay involves leveraging your monthly free listings, avoiding optional upgrades, using competitive pricing, offering free/low-cost shipping, and focusing on common categories to minimize fees, as private sellers get a good number of free insertions and only pay final value fees (around 10-13% + VAT depending on category/location). For ultra-low costs, stick to your free listings, sell items with high buyer interest, price right (research sold listings), offer minimal shipping costs, and avoid promoted listings until you're established.

What is the 5000 rule on eBay?

The Reporting Threshold for eBay Sales

As a platform, eBay is required to issue Form 1099-K to sellers who generated more than a certain threshold. Under updated IRS rules, this threshold has a lowering trend. The mentioned threshold is $5000 for 2024 and $2500 for 2025. It is planned to be reduced to $600 for 2026.

How do eBay sellers post so cheaply?

eBay Delivery is able to offer cheap rates thanks to the strong partnership it has with leading UK carriers. eBay Delivery is powered by Packlink, which is an online shipping service offering merchants a fast and easy way of booking parcel deliveries with the world's top carriers.

Is it totally free to sell on eBay UK?

It's free, easy and safe to sell on eBay for UK-based private sellers. You get 300 free listings every month, and you only pay fees for optional listing upgrades or if you deliver to an overseas address. Fees are different for business sellers and for selling vehicles.

Do I need to tell HMRC if I sell on eBay?

Yes, you must declare eBay sales to HMRC if you're "trading" (buying to resell or making items for profit) and your income exceeds the £1,000 Trading Allowance in a tax year; selling personal, used items you owned usually doesn't count, but selling for a profit does, and HMRC now receives data from platforms like eBay, so accurate record-keeping is crucial to avoid penalties.

Selling Stuff Online, 10 Things To Know: Ebay Business for Beginners

What happens if I sell more than 30 items on eBay?

As a UK resident, when you sell over £1,707 or more or complete 30 or more sales transactions within a calendar year, eBay is obliged to report certain personal or business information to HMRC in accordance with the UK digital sales reporting legislation. eBay will notify you when you have crossed these thresholds.

What are the new rules for eBay sellers 2025?

What's Changing. Starting August 27, 2025, items valued at US$500 or above (including shipping fee) for shipping to the United States will require additional seller enablement on eBay. Note: This updates our prior threshold of US$2,500; all other terms remain the same.

Does eBay usually side with buyers or sellers?

eBay generally favors the buyer due to its strong Buyer Protection Policy, prioritizing buyer satisfaction to keep the marketplace vibrant, meaning sellers often lose disputes unless they have undeniable proof, like tracking showing delivery, making it crucial for sellers to be meticulous with descriptions and records. While some sellers feel feedback removal favors them, the default for "Not As Described" or missing items leans heavily toward the buyer because eBay can't verify the item's condition or shipment, relying on buyer accounts.

How to minimise eBay fees?

How to reduce eBay selling fees?

1. Choose your categories wisely. Make sure you're using the correct category when listing an item. ...
2. Use good 'Til canceled listings. ...
3. 3 . ...
4. Take advantage of your zero insertion fee credits. ...
5. Become a top-rated seller. ...
6. Limit international sales. ...
7. Apply for credit.

How to avoid simple postage on eBay?

This is from ebay itself: You can opt out of Simple Delivery when you're creating your listing by selecting Custom Postage from the delivery options. If you'd prefer not to use Simple Delivery at all in the future, you'll need to opt out each time this programme is recommended when you're creating listings.

How to sell on eBay for free?

No, its not entirely free. While you get a certain number of “zero insertion fee” listings each month (250 for casual sellers), eBay charges a Final Value Fee once your item sells. This fee is a percentage of the total sale price, including the item, shipping, and sales tax.

Does relisting on eBay count as a new listing?

The 'sell as similar' option treats it as a new listing, so it will appear at the top of the search results when buyers sort by 'newly listed'. The 'relist' option retains the start date of the original listing, so it will not move up in search results.

Why is it so hard to sell on eBay now?

Between confusing fee changes, delayed payments, and strict listing rules, it's becoming harder and harder to sell without feeling squeezed out.

How to avoid eBay tax?

If you're selling unwanted personal possessions, such as used clothes, an old mobile phone or unwanted furniture, it's very unlikely you will have to pay income tax.

Is eBay still worth it in 2025?

The verdict: is it worth it? While sellers must navigate fierce competition and manage their own fulfillment, the access to millions of buyers, the relatively low startup costs, and the explosive growth in key verticals like automotive and recommerce make selling on eBay absolutely worth it in 2025.

Does eBay inform HMRC?

eBay provides seller details including gross income, number of transactions, and account information. This data allows HMRC to match sales with tax returns and spot undeclared income.

Why can I only sell 10 items a month on eBay?

We review your account every month and adjust the limits automatically based on your volume of sales and the Feedback you've received from buyers. We may end any listings that you have created over your existing limit.

Can you sell items as a hobby?

This is a very popular misconception - the reality is that any online or offline selling activity in which the main motive is to make a profit is deemed by the IRS to be a business - this applies no matter how much you are making in revenue.

What is the new side hustle tax?

What is the online selling law? While it's been nicknamed the “side hustle tax”, there isn't a different tax for selling things online. It's just the same income tax you'd pay on any other job. But, since 2025, online selling platforms have to share information about your earnings with HMRC.