Tax on an eligible margin
A margin scheme can apply to qualifying second-hand goods and certain other items. Eligibility depends on the transaction and purchase evidence. For a standard-rate illustration, tax is one sixth of the positive difference between selling and purchase prices.
Keep margin and profit separate
Buy for £240 and sell for £360: the difference is £120 and the illustrative VAT is £20. The £100 remaining before other costs is not necessarily your business profit. Repairs and selling expenses do not automatically change the purchase price used for the scheme calculation.
Review each item
Keep a traceable reference linking purchase and sale records. Confirm the purchase is eligible rather than assuming any used item qualifies. Specialist rules apply to some transactions, including vehicles and auctioneers, and a single-item calculator does not implement those rules.
If you sell below cost
A £300 purchase sold for £270 has a £30 negative margin. The single-item tool shows no VAT on that sale, not a tax credit. Do not use it for global accounting or loss offsets across stock. Follow the HMRC scheme record requirements.
Keep learning
Official sources
Sources checked: 2026-09-26. Check the official guidance for later changes.
Educational information and estimates. These tools do not submit VAT returns or determine the treatment of a specific transaction.