Frequently asked questions
Is swapping items on MySwapShop legal?
Yes. Exchanging goods, with or without a cash top-up, is a normal private transaction between two people. You're responsible for not listing stolen, counterfeit, or prohibited items, and for declaring income if your trading amounts to a business rather than occasional personal exchanges.
Do I have to pay tax on a swap?
Occasional swaps of personal items aren't typically treated as taxable income. If you're regularly trading for profit, HMRC's trading allowance and self-assessment rules may apply. MySwapShop can't give tax advice — check gov.uk or a qualified accountant if you're trading at volume.
How does payment work if a swap includes cash?
MySwapShop never processes or holds any payment. If a trade includes a cash top-up, you and the other user agree the amount and pay each other directly. You can share masked payment details securely through the platform once a trade is agreed.
What happens if the other person doesn't send the item or payment?
Report it through the trade's report option. We can suspend the other account and provide your message history as evidence, but because we don't hold any funds, we can't refund a cash payment ourselves — see our Dispute Resolution Policy.
Is it safe to share my bank details on MySwapShop?
Your bank details are stored encrypted and masked by default, and only become visible to a specific trade partner if you choose to reveal them after accepting an offer. Only share them once a trade is agreed, and never before you're satisfied with the item.
Does MySwapShop charge a fee?
MySwapShop is currently free to use while we grow, with no commission on any trade. See our pricing page for details on founding-member terms if that changes.