Selling on Ebay - is it Lawful?

[Rimms]

My Sister in Law runs a training company, one of the courses she runs is how to set up a business on Ebay. So her question is:

Can you live in Turkey and conduct sales over ebay or will that be classed as working and breaking the law?

[Scunner]

I guess if you imagine it as a business rather than flogging a few old possessions it would be classed as working and technically illegal. I know quite a few people who do it and as long as it is done quietly, who is to know or care  

[Julesp]

I think it would be classed as illegal Some Uk people were reported in Turk news last week that they were being prosecuted for running an online real estate and rental company and avoiding Turk taxes

[stoop]

It's illegal in the UK if you buy stuff to sell on and do not register with the Inland Revenue as a business - so I guess Turkey will be no different.

[KKOB]

I think it depends on where the product / service is being delivered and paid for.

According to the advise given to us previously by a Turkish solicitor specialising in employment law in Turkey, if she's living in Turkey, but the training is being delivered and paid for into a UK bank account, she can legitimately claim that she isn't breaking any Turkish employment laws.

[karaokemark]

quote:Originally posted by Julesp

I think it would be classed as illegal Some Uk people were reported in Turk news last week that they were being prosecuted for running an online real estate and rental company and avoiding Turk taxes

There is an article in this weeks Oludenizpost where 3 British people were deported for selling houses, they were advertising on the internet. It says there are new regulations for computer crimes in Turkey. I can not find the article on line.
Mark

[Rimms]

Thanks all, after reading the replies I also think she is on a looser here, for instance, she thought that people could buy ceramics from the markets over there (was going to say T shirts but lets stick with the ceramic example) and then sell them over ebay with funds going into a UK bank account. Also,even if that sounds legal, the post might be another big problem from Turkey.

[Gorgeous_bird]

I remember talking to KKOB about his wife selling over ebay and never really having a problem with the post. Also Nicola sells Turkish stuff all over the world through her website - maybe she can help regarding posting.

[kizkucuk]

I think the answer is don't buy to sell and don't sell regularly.  I was interested to see if parcels that look like they are from ebayers would arrive safely in Turkey so posted myself 7 parcels from the UK 3 weeks ago - different weights, different contents and within a few days - all have arrived safely but the ones with clothes in had been opened and were delivered in the original packaging inside a clear plastic bag - I'm assuming customs had a look.

[stoop]

At the end of the day if you are running a business you have to declare that you are doing so. If you don't then expect a visit and a fine.

That goes for the UK as well as Turkey.