But if the seller is using the GPS the GST is collected by Pitney Bowes and they charge a fee for collecting it and GST is also payable on the collection fee.....so the total is for Import Charges (including GST), the same as the charges for items over $1000.

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@loosepocket wrote:
@k1000-sir-sales

Then it should be listed as GST payable, not Import Fees. It's confusing and inaccurate.
Anything under $1000.00AUD while being charged GST, is not charged Import Fees or Taxes.

eBay needs to change the coding of their sites to recognise purchases entering Australian addresses, under $1000.00AUD need to show the GST cost, and purchases =>$1000.00AUD need to show Import Fees/Taxes* (*which also incorporates the GST).

Pretty simple change and it would resolve all the issues regarding the confusion of the current situation.

I wanted to buy something from a seller in the US and I'm in Australia. All up the cost to me in AUD was to be around $112.05 for the item and postage.

These are the actual figures in USD as shown if purchased:

Item (1) US $59.95 ($82.25 AUD approx.)
Postage US $21.72 ($29.80 AUD approx.)
Import charges US $12.75 ($0.00 AUD)
Order total US $94.42 ($112.05 AUD approx.)

GST on this purchase is a total of $12.05 AUD ($8.17 USD, not $12.75 USD)

If we are to accept the import fees area listed in the sale is meant to be GST due on the item, then it is clearly being overcharged, as well as being mislabeled.

It's simply not good enough.

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as stated by lyndal, when the GSP is the shipping method then Pitney Bowes collects the GST as the freight forwarder.

The reason for this is that the eBay collection of GST is based on the item being sent to an Australian address.  When the GSP is involved for USA items the item is sent to a USA address, meaning that it is PB that is addressing the item to an Aussie address.

While it is illegal for Australian businesses to charge for collecting GST, the same does not apply for overseas businesses.  The import charge that PB charges includes the GST component for the item+postage, a ‘fee’ for collecting GST and processing documentation, and most frustrating of all (for me) they have to charge GST on their ‘fee’ for charging GST/documentation.

Wrong....the GST is being collected on the item and shipping cost to remit to the ATO.

The company that collects that amount is providing a service and therefore is liable to pay GST on that transaction too.

So no double dipping.

Irrespective of the differing opnions here, the elephant in the room is the verifiable illegitimacy of the legal entity commonly known as "Australian Government".
All roads lead to Rome!

??????????   Please explain?

Obviously because the legally elected government legislated to charge GST on all imports, that make them illegitimate.

I don't like them and I will express my dissatisfaction in 2022, but that doesn't make the last election illegal, just immoral.

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@phatlipbean wrote:

 I don’t understand why it’s separate from the postage, or why we’d pay that tax at all for something under $1000

 

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It's been in force for nearly 2 1/2 tears.

https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/in-detail/rules-for-specific-transactions/international-transact...