How will GST affect Australian sellers if it's introduced for any sale. anywhere?

[rowalkerau]

I already pay eBay and Paypal for every sale (and presumably they pay tax on that)  in Australa; I'm  perplexed as to why Joe Hockey wants to impose open slather GST n eBay transactions. I can see how he will enforce this on eBay, but how will he enforce it on the print only editiuon of the "Trading Post" - seems to me that some private sales will be hit by GST but others not. I can't see how that's good legislation.

I'm really befuddled because if some dude sells something through the classifieds of the local paper, then he gets the whole amount with no tax. If I sell the same thing on eBay then I get slugged by eBay and Paypal for the transaction and then I've also got Joe Hockey beathing down my neck for GST - I mean, is there any point in sellign stuff any more?

I think that there are many sellers like myself who rely on a small profit after postage, eBay charges and Paypal charges are deducted; if I had a whinge about those, then I'd whinge about them, but I don't. But if GST is going to be introduced (for ANYTHING according to Joe Hockey) then it's not going to be worth my while to sell on eBay.

[lyndal1838]

The same rules will apply as are already in force.  

If a seller is registered for GST they are already paying it (and charging it to their customers).

If you are not registered for GST then it will not worry you.

The problem is with goods being imported from overseas....how that is going to be implemented is the question that concerns Australians.

[clarry100]

If you sell under $AUD75K per year you are not required to register for GST. You therefore neither need to collect it from your buyers nor pay it to Hockey. No problem there.
However, you are still subject to normal income tax rules.

[jensmanchester-australia]

I think that there are many sellers like myself who rely on a small profit after postage, eBay charges and Paypal charges are deducted; if I had a whinge about those, then I'd whinge about them, but I don't. But if GST is going to be introduced (for ANYTHING according to Joe Hockey) then it's not going to be worth my while to sell on eBay.

The changes being talked about are when a buyer purchases something from overseas - it is nothing to do with selling items within Australia. If you don't make purchases from overseas then nothing is going to change for you.

[misterforgetfulsbooks]

we have paid GST ever since it was introduced. Glad my competitors will now have to pay tax. Evens the playing field for me.

[lyndal1838]

GST and tax are two different things.

Even if the threshold is reduced to $0 there will still be a lot of sellers who are not registered for GST and required to be registered.

But every seller should be declaring their income and paying tax if applicable.

[joethenuts]

to rowal  listen to lyndel 

this new tax has nothing to do with you or any other australian as we pay gst already on most things we buy or do.

at the moment if you buy something from overseas over a $1000 you  pay gst tax when it arrives just like a duty tax .

now they want everything you buy from overseas nothing to do with ebay or trading post , over $20  gst to be added .

for instance if you buy a pen from australia that was $ 10  it will still be $10,  but if you buy a pen from china that was $10 now will be $11. 

the only change will also be if some sellers who buy small amounts from overseas now will cost them 10% more   b ut so will chinese sellers goods sell for 10 % more because a gst will have to be paid.

if you are not registered for gst now ,you dont have to be registered when the new law comes inn.

[ayix80]

The govt is freaking about how much money is being spent on overseas items without looking at why.

If they didn't have a whopping tax on books raising the price people would buy here.

I wish the govt and stores would get the basic idea, if I can't buy what I want, I take my money and I WALK OUT.

This is all just a money grab by the govt which specialises in stealing from the poor to give to the rich.

[maranock]

Since most things I buy from overseas are cheaper by much more than 10% it will not affect my buying habits, they wiull still be cheaper.

[lyndal1838]

Agreed maranock.  I buy some marking pens from overseas and they are less than 50% of the price that Officeworks is asking for them.

The GST is not going to make much of an impression on those prices.