Seller cannot claim GST on Postage Charges as deemed "non-taxable amount" on eBay Tax Invoice?

[pano_solutions]

I have a query relating to claiming GST for local shipping charges when shipping is booked via eBay.

When I sell an item and book the shipping via eBay (using AusPost or Sendle), the cost appears as a non-taxable amount on my monthly Tax Invoice.  When I book shipping directly with either AusPost or Sendle, I am able to claim the GST on this expense.

This means that if I am unable to claim GST on the shipping labels booked via eBay, that these labels are actually more expensive compared to booking direct in most cases, especially if one takes bulk discounts offered by AusPost or Sendle into account.    

eBay fees are shown as a taxable amount, so I can claim the GST on that.

Am I missing something somewhere?  I have spent hours on the phone with eBay thus far trying to get an answer but am just being passed around with no proper answer being provided, as to why a local supplier provides eBay with a taxable supply, and eBay Australia resells that service to the buyer at a markup and also make it a non-taxable supply.

[pano_solutions]

I just had a look at the Seller Centre - https://www.ebay.com.au/sellercentre/postage-labels

Here it shows the following table:

Sendle – 250g Tracked Service Rates

We have partnered with Sendle to create a tracked postage label service for smaller items under 250g in weight. This is a pickup service with a minimum threshold of 150 parcels/satchels monthly per pickup location and includes Sendle transit cover up to $100 for no extra cost.

If your dispatch address is in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth metro areas and your volumes hit the minimum threshold, you will be eligible for the 250g service.

Max Weight	Max Volume	Same City	Different City	Remote
250g	No limit	$4.18	$5.28	$8.58

A reasonable person would thus assume that the $4.18 per the table includes GST.

As such, one would assume that the Standard Rates per the table below also includes GST, yet the Tax Invoice produced at month end does not reflect this:

Sendle

 - Standard Rates

Sellers can purchase their Sendle labels on eBay, and choose to drop-off their parcels at a convenient location for book parcel pickup for no extra cost. Sendle labels over 500g also come with signature on delivery and transit cover up to $300 for no extra cost.

All Sendle deliveries require a physical street address (Sendle can't deliver to post offices, PO boxes, locked bags, parcel lockers or parcel collect locations). Prices include a free pick-up option, transit cover up to $300 and free Signature on Delivery. Bear in mind, Sendle does not offer signature on delivery for parcels that weigh below 500g. Under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee policy, where a buyer claims that an item has not been received, one of the things sellers are required to provide in order to prove successful delivery for items valued at $750+ is  signature confirmation. 

Max Weight	Max Volume	Same City	Different City	Remote
500g	2L	$6.20	$7.65	$17.64

[davewil1964]

What is your question?

Apart from the fact that we are not eBay, just members similar to yourself, why are you banging on about this?

I wouldn't use Sendle in a fit, and if you are using them to save money that you don't pass on to your buyers, then I am even less sympathetic. If that's possible.

[pano_solutions]

If you do not have a meaningful contribution to make, please don't respond to this thread.

It is an accounting principle, so if I want to get resolution from eBay or members who would like to account for the shipping charges accurately, I guess it is up to me to pursue it.  eBay is treating the accounting incorrectly, or they are classifying the charges incorrectly per the ATO's guidelines - either way they are in contradiction with either accounting or taxation regulations, which affect all users who are registered for GST in their business. 

[davewil1964]

Please don't try to get free financial advice from other members.

It is generally worth what you pay for it.

No amount of posting slabs of text will in any way come to eBay's notice.

Check with your accountant if you want financial advice. Or don't use eBay postage, which you previously agreed was no longer viable.

[pano_solutions]

I include these images for future reference.

The first is an extract from a Tax Invoice

The second is a screen capture from the Orders page.