How can I cheaply and effectively promote my new eBay shop?

Paying Taxes While Having An Ebay Shop? BEST ANSWER WILL BE PICKED 10POINTS!?

• I' am thinking about starting my own ebay shop. I currently have been selling my own personal items from my private account but seem to always go over the 110 selling item limit a month as I own so much stuff. So I have just upgraded to a business account and would like to start buying stock and selling it on intending to make a profit. Even though I sell a LOT of things my profit only ends up at £50 - £100 extra a month after I've paid for my stock and all my ebay fee's so I wouldn't count it as self employed ? I enjoy this as more of a hobbie then a profit making skeme. My question is do I need to start paying my taxes if I start my own ebay shop? My partner already pays a whooping nearly £300 a month taxes. And also Me and my partner currently get child tax credits whitch is £60 a week as he is on a low income for work. If I'am going to be classed as self emplyed just for making an extra £50 to £100 extra month will this be removed? Because the child tax credit is a big top up on our wage so it would hardly be worth my while if I was to start an ebay shop. I already think the VAT on ebay, final selling fee's and paypal VAT are a big enough chunk of my profit without even having to worry about paying taxes. I really appreicate any answers or anything you can find to help what the right thing is I should be doing. Thankyou for your time

• Answer:

  I think if you're receiving Tax Credits whilst buying and selling stock online it's perhaps best to calculate how much you predict to earn in a year out of it. From an Income Tax side, the tax year 2012/2013 starting on April 6th your tax code will be 810L (probably) which means you can earn up to £8105 before you need to start paying tax. If you don't think you'll make this in a year then you might be best not applying to be self employed as you won't earn enough to be taxed anyway. If it is then I'd definitely phone the tax office and get some advice on how to apply. Also, if you DO become self employed, work out how many hours per week on average you'd be working too and let Tax Credits know as it might have an effect on that.