eBay seller makes me hard with GST issue

I bought a camera recently on the eBay. They put the description "inclusive-GST" so I believed it and made a purchase. After the order shipped, they sent an invoice to me without a tax record. I asked them to make a correction but they refused the request because the product shipped outside of Australia so there is no reason to say GST included on the invoice.

What they provide is included ABN so it definitely Australia company. I can see they are GST registered. ATO web page shows GST should charge because this product meets "connected from Australia" section. I don't know why they do this.

I asked about this issue on eBay customer service. They don't care what the seller did, just said "make a return request if the description is incorrect." repeatedly. For the records, they don't know what GST is and what "GST inclusive" means in Australia. GST policy page on eBay is nothing useful in this conversation.

I'm very stressful and actually don't know what can I do next. eBay seems to be no way to solve this right now. Do I need to contact ACCC to claim? Or to contact ATO and for asking about GST? I purchased through PayPal, Is is okay to make a resolution on PayPal?

I shouldn't make this big purchase on eBay…

If you can give me any tips or idea, please let me know. Thanks for your time to reading this post.

Comments

  • +73

    I love the post title.

    • +10

      Only reason I clicked

    • +1

      Me too. English is a contextual language, as well. We know what he said, but we knew what he meant.

    • +5

      I was so excited when I saw the title, then utterly disappointed when I saw such a soft discussion of the topic

    • Maybe he should be barred ;)

    • Im getting so excited reading this post and these comments. So hard for me.

  • +6

    That's what he said.

    • +4

      Very catchy right? haha

  • +2

    If the seller quote GST inclusive in listing and quite his abn, you can issue yourself a RCTI http://www.ofs.mq.edu.au/gst_macquarie/gst_issues/RCTI.htm

    • +2
      • This looks like a good idea, but I suspect the OP wants to claim TRS, not GST inputs, and I think the TRS people would resist this approach.
        I also note the OP might not make the requirements to be eligible to create a RCTI.

      • +1

        RCTI requires both side of ABN. It seems like not a company purchase…

  • +6

    Surely the free arousal is compensation enough.

  • +10

    I hope there is a happy ending.

  • Can't you just tell them you will neg them if they don't supply a tax invoice?

    • Feedback extortion is not allowed on eBay.

      • How is it extortionate? They didn't ship goods as described. Surely that is grounds for a negative? And giving a seller a chance to avoid it by correcting the error isn't a bad thing.

  • +2

    Nice title. Looked to the left of the title and almost misread your username as "homo"! haha.

  • Ask for 10% back.

    • +2

      is that like…"pulling out"…of the deal?

      • If you dont get the gst recipt id darn well be asking for my gst back.

        Explain you intended to claim the purchase and if no gst recipt is supplied you would like the gst portion back. Should prompt a responce anyway.

  • +1

    they refused the request because the product shipped outside of Australia so there is no reason to say GST included on the invoice.
    What they provide is included ABN so it definitely Australia company. I can see they are GST registered. ATO web page shows GST should charge because this product meets "connected from Australia" section. I don't know why they do this.

    is this kogan by any chance?

    kogan au and kogan hk are two different entities. kogan au may at time ship from a local location, which means that they'll provide a tax invoice. kogan hk on the other hand is not required to provide a tax invoice when they ship from overseas. they're free to provide an invoice when shipping the item. the pp transaction receipt can also be used as proof of purchase.

    • OP can you please confirm if this is the case?

      • No, It's not Kogan. They said "Please note that GST are only applicable for items that are based in Australia and direct shipping items doesn't include any GST." Do they some similar thing like Kogan? The name of company is shoppi%%squa%%.

        • Yea I wouldn't be surprised. I'm sure there are many companies out there that have dual business models. One to sell Australian models and the other is to sell grey import goods. Unfortunately you won't be able to claim GST from the grey import goods as it wasn't paid for in the first place.

        • @ronnknee: Oh my, it's happened under the same ABN? I just quickly looked ABN Kogan and Kogan HK, at least they are totally different companies. I shouldn't buy this at the first place. :(

        • Ask where the 10% gst they factored in went. Ask em to refund it lol.

        • @hmo0e3: Maybe better to give us the link to the item and we'll see.

  • +1

    You obviously want GST shown to claim back on Tourist Refund Scheme? I don't even bother trying to look for cheap deals especially from eBay or Kogan etc if I want to claim my 10% GST back on tax or TRS for the exact reason you are presenting here

    • I thought TRS during the time. But the other thing just occurred. They sent the product from outside of Australia, so it gonna be going through the border. The border will charge GST and duty charges.

      I'm not sure I can request GST amount refunding on eBay. I called eBay yesterday. eBay buyer protection is about not arrival, and the product is not as described. eBay didn't understand GST inclusive mean at all.

      • I may be mistaken, but I believe the border will only charge GST on products over $1,000 as long as it isn't tobacco or alcohol. So GST inclusive might just mean you don't have to pay GST.

        • Yes, It's over $1k. the border will check tax invoice and the GST record is 0 on the invoice. If it's inclusive, it should be on the invoice right?

        • But they may well have evaded the border checks if invoice wasn't looked at. There really is no advantage for them in telling you that no GST was paid if it actually was paid since the GST doesn't stay in their pockets but actually goes to the ATO. If GST was paid they would want to declare this on the invoice so that it reduces the bottom line in their books so they don't have to pay as much tax in whatever country they are in. I suspect the case here is that GST wasn't paid for the item…so you simply got the item GST free.

  • +2

    My feeling is they worded it incorrectly, they should have said all APPLICABLE gst is paid. I agree with the comment above asking for 10% back

  • always a hard :) one. I always buy stuff I want a TRS refund on from a bricks and mortar store and try to get them to price match as close as possible.

  • +1

    Firstly you won't need to pay any tax if your ordered item is sent from oversea and under A$1000.
    Secondly as the suggestion from Ebay, you can return the item, either not accepting the parcel from post office and asking post office to return back to the sender or return the item if you already accepted by yourself and you can always get your postage refund from Paypal (maximum claim to A$45). Then the seller must refund the full amount to you if they receive the item. If you don't get any reply or ignore from your seller then easily dispute the case via Paypal and they will forcely get back your money from the seller's banking account. It might take a month for the whole process but I'm sure you will get back your full refund.

  • +1

    Come on guys.

    • Leave your homo-erotic fantasies out of this…

    • Im cummin

  • Im sorry but I dont see the point here. Why does the poster need a Tax Invoice anyway? If only he wants to claim the GST back against goods or services he is on-selling. But thats not what he said. He has the invoice from ebay/paypal and if any doubt keep a copy of the advert.
    Very hard for me too. Should I be concerned or excited?

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