Providing UK national insurance number?

[Mark138]

Dear UK hosts, 

I keep receiving reminders from Airbnb to provide my national insurance number. 

I have never needed to give this in almost 15 years of hosting. And I don't want to give it now. 

I never earn above the annual UK rent a room allowance threshold. As many of you will know, it is permissible to earn up to £7,500 in a tax year by renting out a room in your main home in which you live, as I do. You do not need to declare or report earnings under that amount. 

So why is Airbnb asking for an NI number and threatening to cease payments for reservations if it is not provided? They have no right to this information and we should not have to provide it. 

How is everybody else dealing with this? I am concerned that, once that data is given over, intrusive and stressful investigations of hosts just trying to make a little extra money in the midst of a cost of living crisis will start. 

Help and thoughts from other UK hosts please. 

[Helen3]

You need to provide your NI number or Airbnb will suspend your listing @Mark138 

Under new digital distance selling regulations introduced by our government this year companies like Airbnb need to share NI numbers of those using its platform to help ensure taxes are paid on income generated online.

obviously if you are a homeshare host under the rent a room scheme your tax position won't be affected as HMRC will see you're not earning over the 7.5 K limit .

As a homeshare host in your situation, I provided the information when first asked for it months ago. 

I don't really understand your concerns about the income you are earning from your STR business . It's easy enough for the HMRC to see income has been generated under the rent a room

 scheme.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen3 According to his profile @Mark138 is a lawyer so you may be accused of teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mark138 You are absolutely within your rights to refuse to supply this information. However Airbnb is actually required to know exactly who they are dealing with so they can ask for your NI number. Without being able to prove who they are dealing with Airbnb is required by law not to deal with you so failure to provide your NI number will, most likely, get you removed from the platform. Far better than one host is removed than Airbnb is shut down in the UK.

I really fail to see the problem given that you would also need to give this info if you wanted to open a new bank account etc. If you are operating legally with the rent-a-room allowance there will be zero consequences of so doing other than maybe being asked by HMRC to fill in a tax return.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mark138 I have just read your profile and see that you are a lawyer. As such you must surely know about all the anti money laundering legislation and other legislation that Airbnb must comply with. Perhaps there is a branch of the law that doesn't need to know about these things but do feel free to enlighten me if there is.

[Mark138]

Thank you for your input. Yes I am a lawyer. This is nothing to do with AML legislation.

Tax law provides for £7.5k of tax free earnings from the rent a room allowance per year without the need to declare it, or fill in a tax return. I have made use of this benefit for nearly 15 years without ever needing to supply an NI number before, so why now? I also do not currently do a tax return as I'm not legally required to and have no wish to start. 

I do not trust the government over this I'm afraid. Once armed with this info, they will investigate, start calling for detailed extraneous income info etc even if you are under the rent a room threshold. Because Airbnb hosts are an easier target than the super- rich tax evaders and there are hefty public sector handouts to be made.

To my mind, this is simply the UK government, already taxing and shafting us to the hilt, once again targeting decent, law abiding people to try to squeeze more money out of them. 

Does that satisfy you? I hope there are other hosts taking a more cautious, cynical attitude to this request - I was not expecting such cheery, unconcerned compliance!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mark138 Oh dear - I guess you don't like the UK government. Shame really as you will have to put up with them for a good few years yet. I think the NI number requirement came in on Airbnb under the last government and, as we have a 2 party state I guess you will never be happy.

Perhaps move to Scotland and see if life is better under the SNP.

why doesn't money laundering and other (sanctions) legislation not come in to this? How can you be identified properly without a NI or tax ID? I needed an NI number to open 14 bank accounts recently and didn't bat an eyelid in giving this info to companies as diverse as Ford or Renault.

Anyway I won't waste anymore time here as your hosting days on Airbnb will be numbered if you don't give them your NI number. 

[Mark138]

Because Airbnb has happily identified all hosts since its inception until now without feeling the need to request a tax identification.

You don't really believe this is an entirely benign policy change with no consequences for hosts do you?  

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mark138 Absolutely not. There will be significant host consequences of the Airbnb policy change. Thankfully the principles of Darwinism will prevail and only the more intelligent hosts who supply their information to Airbnb will survive.

[Mark138]

Goodness me you are rather smug aren't you. Darwinism? Intelligent hosts? Who on earth do you think you are? We are hugely over-taxed already in the UK. Airbnb guests bring tourist income and more tax revenue into the thieving coffers of Rachel from Accounts as it is. Why do you think it's acceptable, even seemingly laudable if your tone is anything to go by, for yet more tax to be squeezed out of hard-pressed people?!  If you think they will leave alone those who earn £7.5k or less, you are naive - you can be sure these regulations are a precursor to that threshold being lowered or scrapped altogether. 

[Helen3]

I have already answered your question around why @Mark138 - i am not sure what part of the new 'digital distance selling regulations' was unclear for you. 

anyway it's Christmas Eve so much more positive happy things to be thinking of.

if you don't want to comply and want to stop hosting through STR platforms absolutely that's your choice. 

[Mark138]

Are there any UK hosts out there reading this thread, other than Helen, who are concerned by this issue? If so, please get in touch. I know I cannot be alone in this. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Mark138 There was another chap ranting about this a few months ago. Perhaps use the search function to find his thread. He may not reply to you though as he may well have been removed from the platform by now.

[Aqsa4]

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