Back Dating an Invoice. Legality?

blackfrancis75 on 29/06/2015 - 10:25

Broadly, my question is: Is it illegal (on a scale from 'dodgy' to 'federal prison') to back-date an invoice?

Specific, hypothetical scenario:
Say you have an item for sale on eBay, and your auction ends on July 2. Some bids have already come in, and someone asks you to add a 'buy it now' price, because they want to make a purchase before the end of the tax year (why didn't I think of that?). You can't add a 'buy it now' price to an item that already has bids. So, do you offer to back-date an invoice for this person if they win the auction? If you did this, would it be illegal? People have offered to back date receipts for me quite openly in the past - but that is not proof to me that it is legal ;)

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Comments

  • Bonsaichop on 29/06/2015 - 10:40
    +1

    Cancel the listing and re-list with the buy it now price. Then you're a-o-k.

    • blackfrancis75 on 29/06/2015 - 10:46

      I did consider that, but then you lose the existing bid(s), and followers might not find the new listing…

      • Bonsaichop on 29/06/2015 - 11:18
        +2

        There's always buyers. Especially if it is a popular item. i.e. laptop, phone etc. It'll go for what the average market rate is.

        I run an eBay store as a full time job, for listing auctions it's always better to have them end in the evening when people are at home. Pref not on a weekend night.

        Unless I have no clue to what the item is worth I generally run items as a buy it now with a best offer. Also have 'immediate payment required' so you don't have people muck you around with not paying.

        Auctions are a pain in the ass, every time I put an iPad or iPhone up it usually takes 2-3 times running the auction before I actually have someone that will pay. People get caught up in the action, realise they paid too much then just ignore payment reminders. Just because you have bids now does not mean that it will sell and the buyer will actually pay. That's the reality of eBay. We'll get everything from overseas bidders in some weird country that don't pay, people claiming their dog/cat/baby/toddler/far away nephew/niece/neighbour/burglar/post man/accountant has actually bid instead of them.. Going by the amount of toddlers that bid on items i'd have to hazard a guess that Australia is going to soon have an uprising of super smart genius eBay bidding babies!

        Heck, you see people on here every so often post 'I bought an item but don't want to pay on eBay'.

        • altomic on 29/06/2015 - 11:36

          Auctions are a pain in the ass, every time I put an iPad or iPhone up it usually takes 2-3 times running the auction before I actually have someone that will pay.

          this.

  • mr_alligator on 29/06/2015 - 11:10
    +1

    Don't yet cancel the existing listing. Email the prospective buyer that you will create a new listing with a buy it now price and ask him to 'buy it now' quickly.

    Then end the current listing with bids.

    Alternatively you can message him to contact you on your phone. Then complete the transaction off ebay if he is ok with that. This would also mean saving on ebay/paypal fees.

    Edit: Reading your above comment, its not very clear whether you have a prospective buyer ready to buy your item?

  • whooah1979 on 29/06/2015 - 11:45
    +2

    op, you can issue your client an invoice with today's or tomorrow's date. they can then pay after the 1 july and still file it under 14/15 fiscal.

    • Pigey on 29/06/2015 - 15:18

      Depends if they operate on a cash or accruals basis.

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