Another great Idea Ebay and GST

[jwmcd55]

"Federal Treasury wants Australia's online shoppers to pay 10% on goods under $1000.GLOBAL "e-tailers" such as Amazon and eBay would have to slug Australian customers with GST under advice being considered by the Federal Government."

The Federal govenment love banging those nails into their political coffin,I would think this idea would go down like the proverbial lead balloon....

[digital*ghost]

The Federal govenment love banging those nails into their political coffin,I would think this idea would go down like the proverbial lead balloon....

Depends on whether or not you only ever buy, or sell as well.

This would actually get quite a bit of support from a number of Australian sellers.

[bsal6160]

And exactly what goods or service would be supplied from an australian company to warrant the buyers being forced to pay this GST? I think you may find it would be almost illegal to enforce this GST. Of course Australian sellers want this, they are being greedy and want as much money out of the buyers pocket as possible. We are already overcharged for EVERYTHING we buy as it is.

Why do you think it is that Australian buyers actually buy from overseas? Instead of adding another tax, (simply to bolster up Australian sellers), how about making things CHEAPER to buy in Australia, that way people may actually buy in Australia rather than spend their money overseas.

[digital*ghost]

how about making things CHEAPER to buy in Australia, that way people may actually buy in Australia rather than spend their money overseas.

Sure... As soon as I can find some Aussie residents to work for 50c an hour with no holidays, sick pay, superannuation etc, prices will be comparable to those OS.

[flotsam-jetsom]

exactly digital  - we always complain about overseas suppliers selling cheaper, when any fool knows it is simply because of the work conditions and pay rates. Would any one out there right now agree to take a 50% pay cut to help Aus economy - I know my hand would not fly up in a hurry, and doubt yours would either bsal

[davewil1964]

Treasury recommends a lot of things to the Government that never see the light of day. I suspect this will be one, though as a seller I wouldn't mind.

It always amazes me that people will automatically buy from OS rather than pay a few bucks more to buy Australian. How do they think economies work? They need money circulating inside, not bleeding out.

And, yeah, those same people would never agree to compromise their standard of living.

[Anonymous]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/federal-treasury-wants-australias-online-shoppers-to-pay-1...

The tax would be charged at the cyber checkout, adding 10 per cent to the cost of imported merchandise that is now GST-free.

Isn't the article about GST being added to imported purchases from OS websites ?

[missionsellit]

I agree termalert, the way the media article reported it (and they never get it wrong ! Right? if you know what I mean.)

It appears OVERSEAS online retilers will have to collect an australian tax.......(I hear crickets on a dead calm night )

ALSO retailers in Australia turning over less than 75000aud are exempt from paying or collecting GST (I am one of 'em)

So how does a small seller on ebay overseas prove they are trading under that and suddenly because they are on a large domain (Venue) as ebay have to pay a tax they were not factoring into their sale price until someone in OZ bought it.

Or will ebay have to add 10% to the invoice for local residents purchasing from OZ domicile.  Since most buyers log into UK or USA, as the search shows more items, how will large regulated online domains based overseas feel about collecting a tax for oz gov't? How many OZ buyers will want to cancel their purchase when the invoice jumps 10%  Suddenly a lot of ebay sellers o'seas would not deliver to OZ I think.

Mind you that $9 postal surcharge over 500gm to USA stopped my sales to USA in their tracks, so that helped fix their Balance of trade defecit a bit I would think, maybe that would be the ultimate aim of that GST legisltion on o'seas retailers, stop money leaving the country plus bolster local purchases keeping retail alive in OZ.

Just a few of my quick thoughts

[Anonymous]

There seems to be an obvious contender for 'tax collector'.

An organisation that has records of the source and destination of the sold item(s). Assuming of course that ebay enforces the item location rule.

PayPal, although I doubt they will want to play a game that will reduce sales from the USA or ( most certainly ) China.

[bsal6160]

As too those saying that the workers take a pay cut...what i am saying is why dont the retailers drop there 300-400% mark up on goods and make it a more realistic 20-40%.?????