Centelink reporting. is it better to buy things to sell or just sell what you have around the house?

[lizzy6107]

Hi Guys

i am unable to work at the moment due to illness and have applied for some government assistance while I get better. I have been selling a few things here and there on ebay, and was hoping to keep this up while recuperating. Is anyone recieving centrelink benefits, and should I buy things to sell, or just sell stuff around the house.. is one better than the other when it comes to declaring income? can I do both? I haven't had to report yet, but want to understand before I do!

thanks in advance

Eliza

[davewil1964]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

If you are dealing with Centrelink then there are income thresholds involved

which can affect the level of government benefit.

Best see an accountant or tax agent or you might just get a nasty surprise and

end up owing Centrelink.

---

Who will sic robocop onto them. Even if they don't owe a debt, as Centrelink has decided to divide income by 26 to work out whether somebody was entitled to benefits. Notwithstanding the fact that that is not how the social security system works.

Not that you can blame them - they have to fund their giveaways to the big end of town somehow.

[Anonymous]

To me, government in general is composed of oxygen thieves.

This is not to say, unfortunately, that they are ignorant of the income

that OP derives if it is transferred electronically.

I believe she should declare any 'profit' to big brother.

We could once visit graveyards and apply for 20 separate government benefits.

Not any more. Data matching has put pay to that.

On the ebay level OP will come unstuck once her name and address are reported.

Not a problem if she uses a dodgy name and address but if her linked

PayPal account is data mined...

I miss the good old days of B & M when you could stuff cash into your back pocket.

I haven't played it straight for the last 10 years through choice. ALL my income is now

electronic and traceable...lol

[daydreams_12]

You jest surely!

[sydneybristowwine]

Hello! You have to report to centrelink if you sell above $10,000 per annum. If items are used, second hand, nothing to be concerned about.

Just keep an eye on how much you seel per month and if it is below 10,000 per annum, then don't stress, especially if the items are second hand, used.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

[davewil1964]

Wrong. That is the threshold at which eBay automatically report to the Tax Office.

All income must be reported to Centrelink. All taxable income must be reported to the ATO.

Please don't post erroneous information like this. Some people might take your advice and end up in all sorts of trouble.

[lizzy6107]

I have been selling for 15 years and I sell for family and friends. The stuff in my store has been going round in relisting circles for years. I have been lucky to sell a handful of items each week for years, I need to work out if I am better off just sitting on this stuff, or putting in the effort to buy things people want! 

[collect247]

So far you have sold nearly $400 worth of items just this month and last month you sold around $600 so if you intend on going onto benefits then you will need to declare every $ earned on ebay so centerlink can determine what and if to pay you any benefits you're entitled to.

[sydneybristowwine]

I contacted Centrelink about this....if it is second hand goods, like a used pram for instance, used personal items, not new or bought to sell items... and below the threshold of $10,000 per annum, you don't need to report.

This is what I was told on the phone.

Please don't make assumptions on what I post, thank you.

[lyndal1838]

I think you have misunderstood what you were told.

You have to report all income to Centrelink even if it does not have any effect on your entitlements.

I agree with Dave on this one.

[imastawka]

---

@sydneybristowwine wrote:

Hello! You have to report to centrelink if you sell above $10,000 per annum. If items are used, second hand, nothing to be concerned about.

Just keep an eye on how much you seel per month and if it is below 10,000 per annum, then don't stress, especially if the items are second hand, used.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

---

Where in this post do you state that the items are personal property being sold?

It's already been stated that items from around the house don't need to be

reported to Centrelink.

Please don't make assumptions on what I post, thank you.