Demystifying 1099-K Reporting Thresholds for eBay sellers

Updated November 2023

If you sell items online, you’ve probably heard about new IRS reporting thresholds that were supposed to go into effect first in 2022, and then in tax year 2023. These threshold changes understandably caused much confusion for sellers on eBay and other online marketplaces. As a result, the 1099-K threshold change has been postponed by the IRS once again, and the agency has announced a new threshold change set to go into effect in 2024.

To help keep sellers informed in the meantime, TaxAct and eBay have partnered to help you understand these tax changes and what they will mean for the tax returns you’ll file for the coming tax years.

Recap of the IRS reporting changes

For tax year 2023, eBay and other online payment platforms are only required to report transactions to the IRS once you hit an annual threshold of $20,000 in gross payments and at least 200 transactions. The IRS recently confirmed these thresholds will remain in place for 2023.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, these thresholds will drop significantly. With the change, platforms like eBay must report payments totaling $5,000 or more in a calendar year, with no transaction minimum. This is part of a phase-in process by the IRS to eventually implement the $600 threshold originally brought about by the American Rescue Plan. As it stands, the threshold is expected to drop again to $600 for tax year 2025, unless the IRS makes more changes.

What eBay is doing to help online sellers

Though you may receive your Form 1099-K from eBay, it’s crucial to remember that eBay and other online platforms are not responsible for these new thresholds.

In fact, the Form 1099-K threshold changes imposed by the IRS prompted eBay and similar companies to form The Coalition for 1099-K Fairness, an alliance pledging to advocate for “an accessible and fair online sales market for entrepreneurs, microbusinesses, and casual sellers selling used and pre-owned goods” online.

The Coalition maintains the changes are unnecessarily confusing for millions of Americans who use online marketplaces for casual selling and burdensome for many small businesses that are just starting out. To help promote change, eBay has set up a page where you can share your story or easily send a letter to Congress expressing your concerns.

How eBay sellers can prepare for income tax filing

TaxAct and eBay have put together three key steps to help you accurately file your income tax return for the coming tax years. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Practice good bookkeeping.

It doesn’t matter if you are a casual seller or operating as a small business — keeping detailed records is essential for tax purposes.

The best thing you can do is save your receipts and keep organized documents of your transactions, even if those happened outside of eBay. Some of the most important records to keep track of include your cost of goods sold (usually what you originally paid for the item you are selling), shipping costs, fees paid to eBay, and any expenses for packing and shipping supplies. Be sure to keep track of any refunds paid to customers as well.

Tracking this information will help you determine your taxable income and prevent you from overreporting income which can result in an overpayment of income tax. Expenses like shipping and supply costs are generally deductible business expenses, so keep track of each item’s cost basis and the final sale price to determine the cost of goods sold. It’s also a good idea to take photos of the items you sold and place them with your records.

Organized, detailed records will help streamline your income tax return whether you file on paper or use an online tax filing software like TaxAct.

Tax Tip: How long should you hold onto receipts? The IRS can typically audit tax returns filed within the last three years, so long as there is not a substantial error. Because of this, it is recommended that you keep receipts and other supporting documents for at least three years after filing your return, or until the statute of limitations expires. This can vary depending on when you filed (or didn’t file) — if you’re unsure, it’s probably best to hold onto the receipts and consult a tax professional.

2. Make sure eBay has your TIN (SSN, EIN, or ITIN) on file.

When you registered for your eBay account, you may not have provided your full tax identification number (TIN), which can be a Social Security number (SSN), employer identification number (EIN), or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Once you reach the sale threshold — $20,000 and over 200 transactions for 2023 or $5,000 in 2024 — eBay will ask you to provide your TIN to comply with IRS reporting requirements.

MAke sure to confirm that the information you provide to eBay is accurate and matches what the IRS has on file for you or your business. This can be found in the Personal Information section under Account Settings on eBay. If the TIN you provide does not match IRS records, eBay will require that you upload a W-9 to correct your TIN. In the absence of a valid TIN, the IRS requires eBay to withhold 24% of your gross proceeds.

For more information on this topic, check out eBay’s helpful page of answers to seller FAQs.

3. Know how to use your Form 1099-K.

The Form 1099-K you’ll receive from eBay is an informational document designed to help you file your income tax return.

When filing, it is best practice to compare Form 1099-K against your detailed eBay transaction report and personal records to ensure all your transactions are accounted for. The amounts reported on your Form 1099-K are gross proceeds, not necessarily income. To determine the income associated with each transaction, you will need to determine the cost basis of the item(s) sold.

It’s also important to note that transactions included on your Form 1099-K are based on the transaction settlement date, not the sale date. For example, if you sold an item on Dec. 31, 2023, but the funds did not settle to eBay until Jan. 2, 2024, that transaction would show up on your Form 1099-K for 2024 instead.

How you report your eBay income depends on what you sell and whether you run a business. If you are a self-employed sole proprietor, you will report your business profits using Schedule C. If you are a consumer selling capital assets or selling as a hobby, you will report any profits and losses using either Schedule D or Schedule 1.

If this is starting to sound like a lot, don’t panic. Reporting income from eBay as a first-timer is not nearly as daunting as it sounds. If you choose to file with TaxAct, our intuitive tax prep software will ask questions about items you sold and pull all the necessary tax forms for you to file.

For more detailed information on this topic, read TaxAct’s answers to common eBay seller FAQs or some unique scenarios you may run into when selling certain types of items.

The bottom line

There’s no need for eBay sellers to stress about their upcoming taxes. To learn more about what eBay is currently doing to advocate for sellers, head over to eBay Main Street.

Think of the Form 1099-K you receive as a guide designed to help you determine your taxable income. Keep good records, understand that only profits are taxable, and verify that eBay has your TIN to prevent delays or complications with your online sales.

By following these essential steps, you’ll be setting yourself up to file your federal income tax return with confidence.

Legal disclaimers:

eBay and its affiliates do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as, and should not be relied upon for, legal, tax, accounting, or other professional advice. Please consult your own legal, tax, and accounting advisors for advice specific to your situation

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IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE: Any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication is not intended to be used for the purpose of either (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed, and (ii) supporting the promotion of any matters addressed.