Year-End Tax Check-In for Resellers
Now that the calendar has turned, it’s a good moment for a simple year-end check-in — especially if you sold items last year on platforms like eBay, Etsy, Whatnot, Facebook Marketplace, or similar channels.
This is basic reseller housekeeping: small steps now that can save time, stress, and confusion later.
Why a year-end check-in matters
Reselling often starts casually. A few listings here, a local sale there. Over time, those transactions add up — sometimes faster than expected. A quick review before the calendar resets helps you understand what actually happened during the year, rather than trying to reconstruct it months later.
You don’t need final numbers or perfectly organized spreadsheets yet. The goal is simply to know where things stand.
1. Review your total sales
Most selling platforms report gross sales, not profit. That number reflects total money collected before expenses like inventory costs, fees, shipping, or supplies.
Looking at gross sales now helps set expectations and avoids surprises later. It also gives context for platform-issued forms and year-end summaries, which can look alarming if you’re not prepared for the difference between revenue and income.
2. Gather expense records
Many resellers track expenses throughout the year, but even if you didn’t, this is a good time to make sure records exist.
Common reseller expenses include:
Inventory purchases
Shipping and packaging materials
Platform and payment processing fees
Basic supplies related to selling
You don’t need totals yet. The goal is simply to confirm that receipts, notes, or transaction histories are accessible and not scattered across emails, apps, or forgotten folders.
3. Download platform summaries
Most selling platforms offer downloadable reports by month or year. Pulling these now — while the year is fresh — can save significant time later.
Even if you don’t review them immediately, having the files saved locally gives you a reliable snapshot of activity that won’t change. It also makes it easier to answer questions if you work with a tax preparer.
4. Note any growth or shifts
If reselling changed this year — becoming more consistent, more frequent, or more intentional — that’s worth noting.
Maybe you listed regularly for the first time. Maybe you added new platforms. Maybe your volume increased beyond what you expected. These shifts don’t require action today, but flagging them now helps provide context later when reviewing the year as a whole.
5. Save receipts in one place
Digital receipts, screenshots, confirmation emails, and online order histories all count as records. What matters most is accessibility.
Creating a single folder — digital or physical — can make future organization far easier. You’re not aiming for perfection, just efficiency.
A reminder on scope
Secondhand Market Report focuses on resale trends, platforms, and market behavior — not tax advice.
Every seller’s situation is different. For guidance specific to your circumstances, a qualified tax professional is always the best resource.
A short year-end check-in won’t solve everything, but it can make the start of the new year calmer, clearer, and far more manageable.