AliExpress Dispute and GST Process?

Lhjwilson on 13/09/2018 - 15:55
Last edited 17/09/2018 - 12:58

Hi Ozbarginers

Thought I'll ask the Ozbargin community if anyone has put a dispute in to Aliexpress since the GST began being collected by Aliexpress. I have to do one and I asked their support first what the process was and got the following answer which I hope isn't the process.

I was told to do the dispute as per normal and I will be refunded the purchase amount (not the gst) and will need an ABN number that is registered for GST and then got to https://survey.aliexpress.com/survey/40QMUkjL6 and submit a request with my details, order number and ABN number. Not sure about the full process yet as I don't have a ABN number. I know in the past from a friend who had one registered for GST that he had to do BAS statements and other such things because he had the ABN number.

Is the above the case and is that the same process for all items order from other Online stores that charge GST that a refund is required. Seems a little extreme, the amount I paid in gst was only a few dollars for this item in question, other orders have been a larger amount paid.

I'm not a business, just purchasing items online for my self. Any info on the process or experiences would he helpful. Thanks

Wonder if I can claim the time spent going through this process on my tax return :P.

UPDATE: I have done the dispute and can confirm their support is full of shit. I did get the full amount back with the gst. Shows the amount requested and in Brackets the tax payed on that amount when I put the dispute in. I now have a payment from Alliexpress for the amount with GST.

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2018 - 16:13

    That doesn't sound right at all

  • HighAndDry on 13/09/2018 - 16:15
    +1

    That shouldn't be the process unless you're a business to business purchaser. Of course, I don't really expect AliExpress to know the intricacies of our convoluted tax system so….. I'd just take the hit of a few cents or dollars of GST rather than trying to teach them how GST works.

    • hjwilson on 13/09/2018 - 16:53

      I was thinking the same after I clicked the link they provided and it says "GST Refund Application for Australian Business". I was going to asked their support if the link was right for an individual from Australia and not a Business. But their support is like bashing your head against a brick wall, same result.

  • pjetson on 13/09/2018 - 16:20
    +1

    AliExpress are probably just sending the ATO one eleventh of all of their sales to Australia - I doubt they are itemising individual purchases.

    It'd likely be a huge hassle for AliExpress to try to claim back from the ATO the GST for a single sale, so they're only offering to refund the sale price less the GST.

    Perhaps it's the ATO who are asking for an ABN?

  • watwatwat on 13/09/2018 - 16:29
    +2

    Aliexpress is shit at this stuff. I will be personally doing a credit card chargeback against them shortly.

    • hjwilson on 13/09/2018 - 16:50
      +1

      Very, I had to do the same thing on an item I did not get. Even with all the proof Aliexpress requested (letter from post office with package weight, photo's ect) I lost the dispute. the cc company had 0 issues refunding the money with the same information.

  • Ocker on 13/09/2018 - 16:58

    If you provide an ABN that is registered for GST (they can easily check this point), then they do/should not need to add GST in the first place.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/09/2018 - 20:46
      +1

      Not sure how it works internationally, but that's not how it works locally. Businesses 'pay' the GST but then can claim credit on purchases, so they don't have to send as much GST to the ATO when they collect it on their sales.

      So if you as a business buy a hammer for $10 + $1 GST, but then sell it for $20 + $2 GST. You only need to send $1 of GST to the ATO, because they've already got the first $1. It doesn't have to be the same item either. Eg, if you sell construction services you deduct the cost of the GST on the hammer from what you owe the ATO.

      I imagine if you're a business and you still effectively paid the GST then you could get that back from the ATO anyway, even if not refunded.

      If you're not a GST registered business there's no way I know of getting any GST back from anyone but the person who sold you the item. Locally the retailer just wouldn't include it in their quarterly BAS.

  • MeesusEff on 14/09/2018 - 01:22

    Recently raised a dispute with AliExpress as I got sent a broken item, they refunded me what I was charged for it, so inc GST. It was only a $13 item though 😊

  • hawkeye on 14/09/2018 - 11:00

    Ring the ATO and let them know they're scamming the GST if more people ring up with complaints like this they might say "F IT to time consuming bring back the 1K rule".

  • robf300 on 16/09/2018 - 12:24

    I have had this same issue with Amazon AU - Returned $150 worth of LED lights back to the states, only refunded $135. Yes this was after Amazon AU went live with GST on international purchases

    • davo_4 on 09/04/2019 - 15:15

      Similar situation; bought a Dyson (USA version) and returned it to Amazon AU but they did pay back the GST - how can this be?

      • petry on 10/04/2019 - 13:30

        because amazon are as shonky as hell like virtually every retailer in au these days. what do you expect in a country without consumer protections?

  • Tiffany57 on 26/09/2018 - 14:59

    I am having this same issue with AliExpress and I am an Australian business registered for GST. I've been sent the same link to the form to submit order numbers which have had GST included since July 1st 2018.
    The first time, the form had to be printed out, filled in and then scanned back. I duly did all that and then heard nothing from them.
    I contacted customer service chat and they insisted I re-submit the order numbers again, this time the form had updated to the online one OP's link opens. Chat assured me GST refunds would be escalated to High Level (scoff!)
    Fast forward 2 weeks and I still have heard nothing and the GST has not been refunded to my credit card, despite customer service saying it takes 3-5 business days to process.
    Today, I'm once again told to resubmit the order numbers on the same form…I now have over 30 order numbers to do!and this time they ask for a screenshot of the completed form. Can one do a screenshot on a laptop?
    I suggested they change the system to enable Australian businesses registered for GST to register their ABN details just once so that orders can automatically exclude GST.
    With BAS time looming, I guess I should just include those purchases from AliExpress for GST deductions?

  • petry on 10/04/2019 - 13:29

    ali express are a joke currently. They do not refund even when the wrong item is sent to you despite what they claim as a term and condition - pay by credit card and recharge it for breach of t and c's.

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