Is it true that selling your own stuff and getting money from friends will be taxed?

No such rule exists. Fact-checkers CORRECTIV and Mimikama found neither such a law nor any prison threat. Selling everyday items (clothes, toys, dishes) is not subject to income tax at all: German income tax law says so directly in section 23.^[1][2][4]

Platforms do report sellers to the tax office, under EU rules in force since 2023 (known as DAC7). In Germany this applies to people who made 30 or more sales on one platform in a year or received €2,000 or more. But a report is not a tax. Tax is due only if a person made a profit (for example, resold something for more than they paid within a year) or is effectively running a business.^[3][1][2][4]

Different videos give different dates, and none is confirmed. CORRECTIV found no changes to the platform reporting law. A real reform against undeclared work does exist, but it contains no rule about a fourth sale or prison.^[1][2]

Today, money given as a gift by anyone, including by card transfer, is not taxed — Russia's tax service and Finance Ministry have confirmed this. There is no law on taxing transfers. Repaying a debt, paying for a purchase, splitting a restaurant bill or a mistaken transfer is not a gift or income at all.^[6][7][8]

Partly. The government submitted bill No. 617-9 on 30 September 2026; the State Duma passed it in first reading on 29 October, with amendments accepted until 12 November. According to lawyers and media, it keeps the tax exemption for gifted "property rights" only for close relatives. Some authors think money on a card could fall under this; others think not, because for tax law non-cash money counts as property. The Finance Ministry and tax service have not explained it yet; the bill is not law and may change.^{[11][9][10][7][6]}

No. What's being discussed is data sharing between the tax service and the Bank of Russia to spot hidden businesses — regular payments from many people. In April 2026 the tax service called estimates of "10 million under control" premature: the criteria are not yet approved. Even such monitoring is not a tax on each transfer.^[12]

A law takes effect requiring platforms to report sellers to the tax office (from 30 sales or €2,000 a year). It is Germany's version of the EU rules.^[3][2]

A similar wave in the UK about a "side hustle tax" on Vinted and eBay. Full Fact explains: platforms only share data, there is no new tax.^[5]

The tax service reminds people: card transfers to friends, relatives and acquaintances are not subject to income tax.^[8]

The tax service calls premature the estimates that 10 million Russians will come under monitoring because of transfers.^[12]

First videos: "3 sales a month, otherwise tax, a fine or prison". According to CORRECTIV, about 150,000–160,000 views by late October.^[1]

The government submits large tax bill No. 617-9 for 2027.^[11]

Media report that under the bill, card gifts from non-relatives could be subject to income tax.^[9]

A post spreads: "from 1 January 2027, 13% of transfers will have to go to the tax office". 360.ru calls it fake.^[6]

The State Duma passes bill No. 617-9 in first reading. The same day, CORRECTIV debunks the German rumor.^[11][1]

Austrian fact-checker Mimikama: there is no "three items rule" and no prison.^[2]

An analysis for accountants: in the author's view, card-to-card transfers will stay tax-free even after the amendment.^[7]

False: there is no tax on private sales of used items; a platform report is not a tax.^[1]

False: there is no "three items a month" rule and no prison; the reporting threshold is 30 sales or €2,000 a year.^[2]

Fake: cash gifts are not taxed today, the bill hasn't passed, and there are no official explanations of it.^[6]

In the author's view, the amendment won't affect non-cash transfers, although the opposite view dominates online.^[7]

Summary of the bill: card gifts from non-relatives could be subject to income tax if the amendment passes as written.^[9]

In 2024: platforms sharing data with the tax office is not a new tax.^[5]

Videos about a "three sales a month rule" with threats of fines or prison.^[1]

2026-09-12 · about 150,000–160,000 views as of 2026-10-29 (according to CORRECTIV)

Vinted sellers discuss whether it's true and share the screenshot.^[2]

Posts saying "from 1 January 2027, 13% of transfers will have to go to the tax office".^[6]

2026-10

Outcome: No new tax appeared; platforms only started sharing data, and the tax authority confirmed that selling your own personal items is not taxed.^[5]

Outcome: The tax service reminded people that transfers to friends, relatives and acquaintances are not subject to income tax.^[8]

Outcome: The tax service called the estimate premature: the criteria aren't approved and the agreement with the central bank isn't signed.^[12]