Whatnot Seller Fees UK 2026
The Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about selling on Whatnot in the UK — from platform fees and VAT, to HMRC reporting and pricing for profit.

UK Fee Summary at a Glance

Fee Type	Rate	Notes
Platform Commission	8%	Whatnot’s cut on every sale
Payment Processing	2.9% + £0.30	Per-transaction card processing
VAT on Platform Fee	20%	Included in fee if not VAT registered; reclaimable if registered
Listing Fee	£0	No cost to list items — fees only apply on sales

Combined effective fee: approximately 11–12% of the sale price. See detailed breakdown with examples.

VAT and Whatnot — What UK Sellers Need to Know

If You’re NOT VAT Registered

The 8% platform commission includes VAT at 20%. This means the effective commission cost to you is higher because you can’t reclaim the VAT element. On a £100 sale, the £8 fee includes £1.33 of VAT that you’re absorbing as a cost.

If You ARE VAT Registered

You can reclaim the VAT portion of Whatnot’s platform fees as input tax on your VAT return. This effectively reduces your commission cost from 8% to 6.67% (the net-of-VAT amount). However, you’ll need to charge VAT on your sales if applicable.

The VAT Registration Threshold

You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period. This is based on your total revenue (not profit). If you’re streaming regularly, you might reach this sooner than you think.

Voluntary VAT Registration

Even if you’re under the £90,000 threshold, voluntarily registering for VAT can save money if your input VAT (on stock purchases, fees, and business expenses) exceeds the VAT you’d charge on sales. This is worth considering if you buy stock from VAT-registered wholesalers.

HMRC Reporting Requirements

Self Assessment

If your Whatnot income (plus any other self-employment income) exceeds £1,000 per tax year, you must register for Self Assessment and file a tax return. The deadline for online returns is 31 January following the end of the tax year (5 April).

Platform Reporting (DAC7 / OPE)

Since January 2024, digital platforms like Whatnot are required to report seller data to HMRC if you either make 30+ sales or earn €2,000+ in a calendar year. This means HMRC may already have information about your selling activity — making accurate self-reporting even more important.

What Records to Keep

All Whatnot sales CSVs (revenue, fees, shipping)
Stock purchase receipts and invoices
Packaging and shipping cost records
Bank statements showing Whatnot payouts
Mileage logs if you travel to source stock

Keep records for at least 5 years after the filing deadline. A tool like Whatnot Profits can import your sales CSVs and generate P&L reports that satisfy HMRC’s record-keeping requirements.

Allowable Business Expenses for Whatnot Sellers

These costs can be deducted from your taxable profit:

Cost of goods (stock purchases)

What you paid for items you sell

Whatnot platform fees

8% commission + payment processing

Packaging materials

Mailers, tape, bubble wrap, labels, cards

Shipping / postage

Royal Mail, Evri, DPD — whatever you use

Equipment

Camera, lighting, phone stand, display props

Software & subscriptions

P&L tools, accounting software, card grading subs

Home office (proportion)

A share of broadband, electricity, rent if you stream from home

Travel & mileage

45p/mile for sourcing stock, attending events

Learn how to calculate your net profit after all these deductions.

Pricing for Profit — Don’t Sell at a Loss

The biggest mistake new Whatnot sellers make is starting auctions too low without knowing their break-even price. After fees, cost of goods, packaging, and shipping, many items need to sell for significantly more than the purchase price to make any profit at all.

Before every stream, use a break-even calculator to work out the minimum price for each item. Set your auction start prices above break-even, not below it. Our free pricing tools make this quick and easy.

Key UK Tax Dates for Whatnot Sellers

Tax year ends5 April

Online tax return deadline31 January

Payment on account (1st)31 January

Payment on account (2nd)31 July

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register as self-employed to sell on Whatnot UK?▼

If you’re selling regularly with the intention of making a profit (not just clearing out personal items), HMRC considers you self-employed. You need to register for Self Assessment if your gross trading income exceeds £1,000 per tax year. Register at gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment.

When do I need to register for VAT as a Whatnot seller?▼

You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period, or you expect to exceed it in the next 30 days. Turnover means your total sales revenue (not profit). Many full-time Whatnot sellers approach this threshold.

Can I claim Whatnot fees as a business expense?▼

Yes. Both the platform commission and payment processing fees are legitimate business expenses that you can deduct from your taxable profit. Keep records of your Whatnot payouts and fee breakdowns.

What records do I need to keep for HMRC?▼

HMRC requires you to keep records of all sales and income, all expenses (with receipts where possible), bank statements showing Whatnot payouts, stock purchase invoices, and mileage/travel logs if you source stock in person. Keep records for at least 5 years after the 31 January deadline for the relevant tax year.

How does the Trading Allowance work for Whatnot sellers?▼

The Trading Allowance gives you £1,000 of tax-free trading income per year. If your total Whatnot revenue is under £1,000, you don’t need to report it. If it’s over £1,000, you can either deduct the £1,000 allowance from your revenue (simple method) or deduct your actual expenses (better if expenses exceed £1,000).

Do Whatnot report my earnings to HMRC?▼

From January 2024, UK digital platforms (including Whatnot) are required to report seller information to HMRC under the OECD’s Platform Transparency rules if you exceed 30 sales or €2,000 in a calendar year. This means HMRC may already know about your Whatnot income.

Stop Guessing, Start Tracking

Whatnot Profits automatically calculates your fees, margins, and real profit on every sale. Import your Whatnot CSV and see the numbers in seconds.

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Whatnot Seller Fees UK 2026The Complete Guide