Hi all … If I purchase an overseas item over $300 from ebay.com.au,
can I print off the invoice from ebay and present it (along with the item) - at the airport
TRS office for a GST refund ??
I understand that an Australian ABN number is required. In this case, I'm assuming it will be ebay
Australia's ABN.
Thanks for that !! … I guess that means that TRS will not refund GST from an ebay overseas seller.
Overseas sellers cannot provide you with a tax invoice as they do not have an ABN that they can quote for refunding GST. The ABN will not be eBay’s ABN but will be the ABN of the seller so long as they have registered for an ABN and for GST.
Local sellers you will need to check whether they are GST registered and have an ABN. The ABN on a tax invoice you receive if the seller is registered will not be eBay’s ABN but the ABN of the seller.
In many cases many businesses on eBay that sell a lot will exceed the $75,000 a year in sales threshold and will have to register for GST. In this case you can also request in the comments when making a purchase that they send you a tax invoice. Some sellers with less tham $75,000 will also be registered.
If you’re not sure you can always message them first and ask if they can provide you with a tax invoice. Make sure the tax invoice is fully compliant. The minimum details includes their ABN, their address, cost of goods, description, and amount of GST. If the amount is more than $1,000 your address must also be on the invoice.
Thanks for that information - very useful.
ebay australia & new zealand pty ltd is the entity that collects gst from australian buyers when they purchase items located overseas. they're registered for gst.
check your email for an tax invoice from them.
I'm a bit confused - are you saying that ebay Australia can provide a tax invoice that can be used to get a TRS refund on GST ??
EBay cannot provide a tax invoice. They are not the seller. Only the seller can provide the tax invoice.
I don't think this is right.
eBay provide services by being a market place in the transaction (just like Westfield). eBay make profit by charging seller fee and eBay pass the GST to the seller
Buyer will need invoice from the seller to claim TRS.
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/ente/tour/are-you-a-trav…
Under "What can’t be claimed?"
"goods purchased over the Internet and imported into Australia"
You nailed it !! …. Thankyou.
Speaking of which, is there and damn way in ebay of filtering searches to exclude foreign sellers? The located in australia filter does nothing. You get results, and look and the seller shows based in china.
no; ebay is a facilitating platform. TRS will offer you a refund on items sold by Australian retailers, so if an item was from an Australian Retailer with aus stock, simply request a proper TAX invoice from them.