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Selling plants from home

astuart17svastuart17sv Posts: 3
in Plants
Hello. My hobby is growing plants, mainly vegetable, from seed or cuttings, from home. The wife says the garden looks like an allotment! I then sell them, from home and the occasional boot fair and plough the money back into the growing or one of my other hobbies. I have read somewhere that I need to get some authorisation from a government body to do this. Is this correct? Also, are there any tax implications to what I do? After paying out for compost (though I do make a lot of my own), the seeds, racking and extra equipment I probably don’t make much but I do make some money. Thanks.
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  • astuart17svastuart17sv Posts: 3
    Thank you for that. And do you know anything about my other query? 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    If the project is seasonal, then I wouldn't
     think you have to register with anyone. As for tax, as long as what you make from plant selling, less expenses, plus your pensions/benefits etc doesn't exceed the personal tax allowance (circa 12k-13K I think this year) there would be no tax to pay. If your total income is more than the tax allowance, then you might have to register as self-employed for your plant selling income and pay tax on the extra income.
    I would suggest you look at the HMRC rules on self-employment online and work out if you qualify

    I could be wrong of course.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • astuart17svastuart17sv Posts: 3
    Thank you Lizzie. I will look into this tax thing a little further just to be certain. 👍
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Please check that your insurance covers you in the event that someone purchasing from you suffers an accident.
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,104
    edited April 2021

    Your overthinking it. Your selling a few plants at a car boot sale along with thousands of people every week selling all sorts of stuff. Unless your running a registered business don't worry about it and enjoy your pastime.

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think the only other thing you might have to worry about is anything with Plant Breeder's Rights.
    https://www.udl.co.uk/insights/what-are-plant-variety-rights.
    Having said that, l haven't heard of anyone being prosecuted. I stand to be corrected. 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I have an easy way of getting round PBR - I give my spare plants away. It must explain why I am always skint.
    Rutland, England
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Your taste in pots and garden features probably explains that, Ben 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited April 2021
    @BenCotto, is it okay to do that ? I have been giving away plants but wasn't sure if the PBR ones could go.
    I thought you could only propagate for your own personal use, that is for your own garden ?
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Don't worry about the tax man or the government. Just carry on doing what your doing. It's essentially only pocket money from a hobby in the grand scheme of things. Plus, nobody in reality polices this kind of stuff.
    I sell succulents occasionally and nobody from HMRC has knocked on my door yet. Most people on Ebay are doing the same as you.
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