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Earning a Living
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 17/05/2006, 0:22
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Ron Avery
Joined on 29/11/2004
Aveyron 12
Posts 3,393
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Clair said that "The person mentioned in the article was not a professional vendor"
But he was a professional vendor in the eyes of the authorities Clair, and that is what matters. It says that there is a fluid and fine line between professional traders and individuals and they decided that as he had bought the articles and then resold them he was a "professional"
If you are selling such volumes of items or if you are acquiring items for resale and profit, to bring you to the notice of the authorities, then it is likely that it not a hobby and a means of getting rid of unwanted items, but is in fact a business. There are plenty of sellers on eBay who would be treated as professional by the criteria used by the French authorities. Look at some of the sellers of children's clothes for example, many buy them cheaply at boot fairs and on Ebay from others and sell them on, that is making it a business, which should be considered for registration and taxation, but as many of these sellers in the UK are "housewives" they would have to make a lot of profit to be of interest to the tax people, however, it seems that in France they may be taking a different view or this is a case of a test case as eBay and such sites are taking off. It does say that he is considering an appeal, but his defense of "I was ignorant of the law" but " I asked eBay what the limit was for an individual and they said there was no limit" needs a bit of strengthening, perhaps he should have asked his accountant, because as the French saw it, he was not an individual, he was operating a business. Its also possible that they did not believe his wife told him to get rid of the junk story!!
Why not post a sensible answer, people will appreciate it more
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17/05/2006, 7:12
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andyh4
Joined on 15/06/2005
Frankfurt and Ardèche
Posts 959
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But Ron, that is exactly the nub of Cathy's question. At what stage does selling a few personal items become a business in the eyes of the Franch (or UK) taxman?
The fact that the individual bought the items seems to be a key point. What the **** did the authorities expect, that he should have stole them!!!!! That would have been OK then I take it.
So OK seriously it sounds as if he might have been OK if he had inherited them, but it still leaves open the key question.
I have a collection which I have amassed over 20 years. Most items have been bought second hand and I have no receipts for anything, although many of the boxes do have prices marked on them - not necessarily what I paid (which I do keep a record of purely for insurance purposes). So if through failing eyesight, or maybe due to hard times, I decide to sell, what is the position? Am I liable for tax or not? If I sell privately to a trader as a job lot, is that different from offering the items individually on E-Bay?
I think this is a can of worms and my best advice to Cathy would be to sell say 25 items and then change your identity on e-bay. You could still be traced, but it makes it much more unlikely.
Andy
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17/05/2006, 7:21
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LyndaandRichard
 
Joined on 01/05/2005
Posts 1,025
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What's the difference to selling your second hand items on ebay to selling your second hand items at a car boot sale?
Your Property in France
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17/05/2006, 8:07
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Jc
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 752
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You don't have to stand out in the rain!
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17/05/2006, 8:10
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zeb
Joined on 23/08/2004
31
Posts 1,308
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In France, you are only allowed to have a stall at two vide-greniers a year unless you are a registered trader.
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17/05/2006, 8:37
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Athene
Joined on 10/09/2004
Dept 17
Posts 351
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![Woot! [:-))]](/cs/images/emotions/w00t.gif)
Re: Ebay in France?
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You will need to be able to write in French fluently to list articles on E-Bay France remember! I have bought a solid fuel fire on E-Bay France and paid for its shipment 400km to where we are with UPS.(pronounced OOPS hope this will not be an oops for you!)
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17/05/2006, 8:39
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tj
Joined on 23/08/2004
Charente Maritime
Posts 400
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Hi
If you sell on Ebay, as our unfortunate friend found to his cost, items which you have purchased for resale, then the tax people want to know.
In his case an average of 235 sales per year, I think to any reasonable person constitutes trading!
On the other hand he was caught by default, an item recognised as stolen was his downfall. What are the chances of that? who knows!
I don't know what would prompt the authorities to investigate a person with this regard, unless as in this case a stolen item is reported!
However, if they wanted to investigate you for illegal trading, it would be very easy to track you down.
Broadband connections have static IP addresses, that means your internet log on address relates to your home address and when you post your package you generally are asked for ID and always have to complete a customs declaration. Just two simple ways they could catch you !
Nice try, but frequently changing your ebay user name doesnt help:)
www.renovatingfrance.com
Life is what "you" make it, don't let "it" make you!
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17/05/2006, 9:00
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George
Joined on 17/05/2006
Posts 1
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Every eBay seller has to give their name, address, cc details at time of registration.
Every eBay transaction (sale) is available for scrutiny by the tax authorities (English/French/US etc.)
During a rather expensive run-in with a not very friendly UK tax inspector I was told the following :-
"Sir, you sell an item on eBay - aquired 20 years ago, bought last week, inherited or found at the roadside - if I (tax inspector) think you placed that item on eBay to make a profit.......then I shall treat that profit as taxable income"
Forget about capital gains etc. they class it as TRADING!
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France Forum » Living » Earning a Livin... » Re: Ebay in France?
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