What if Business Won't Give You Tax Invoice?

• 

  MS Paint on 18/12/2024 - 22:29

  +3

  Just wondering what can I do here?

  What would mintee do?

  Say you lost the tax invoice and just make your own. Too easy.

  • 

    DashCam AKA Rolts on 18/12/2024 - 23:10

    +4

    Here we go:
    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/313113/118510/invoice.…

  • 

    brendanm on 18/12/2024 - 23:10

    +3

    What would mintee do?

    Unfortunately the same thing as OP, post on ozbargain.

  • 

    El cheepo on 19/12/2024 - 01:48

    If it was a legit purchase and they have the ABN/ACN should be a walk in the park to make their own invoice as per Dashcam aka Rolts example.

• 

  sumyungguy on 18/12/2024 - 22:40

  +2

  Ask your finance team, there are ways around this. Many expenses are substantiated without tax invoices.

• 

  AngoraFish on 18/12/2024 - 22:44

  +6

  The ATO will generally accept a variety of documents where it is not possible to get a receipt. See for example

  https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deduc…

• 

  lovesabargain77 on 18/12/2024 - 22:44

  Which website is it?

  Did you pay for it by credit card or bank account?
  Would your work accept a printout from the website showing the item and price and a copy of your statement?

  I have to ask but if you were always going to claim reimbursement from work, why didn't you buy it from a more reputable company (unless of course it's some kind of hard to find item).

• 

  hasher22 on 18/12/2024 - 23:07

  +2

  Do you have an e-mail confirmation and/or a card statement? That should work.

• 

  SmiTTy on 19/12/2024 - 00:40

  +1

  If they aren't gst registered, then they won't give you a tax invoice (you should be able to obtain a receipt though!)

  • 

    JimmyF on 19/12/2024 - 08:56

    -2

    Still have to provide a tax invoice when requested. Just shows zero tax paid.

    • 

      OzzyBrak on 19/12/2024 - 10:11

      That isn't correct. An invoice is only a 'tax' invoice if they are registered for GST. If they aren't registered they are unable to provide a tax invoice and aren't required to provide one on request.

      • 

        JimmyF on 19/12/2024 - 10:27

        +1

        Sure, technically they don't have to issue a "Tax Invoice", but they still have to issue an "Invoice" when requested which for all intensive purposes are the same thing, they require the same things on both, including showing the amount of tax paid.

        The only difference, is one Say "Tax Invoice", while one say "Invoice", one shows the GST amount paid, while the other shows $0 in the GST paid field.

        • 

          OzzyBrak on 19/12/2024 - 11:19

          @JimmyF: Can you provide any evidence?

      • 

        Universal Constant on 19/12/2024 - 16:19

        My understanding is a receipt is a confirmation that you paid them money for the said item.
        An invoice is a document stating what is owed or needs to be paid for said item.
        A tax invoice is what the tax department owe or indebted for gst already paid on said item.
        I would imagine a business using that item that was purchased that has to pay gst on what they sell eg a tradesman (above the gst free limit), would use the tax invoice against the tax department for a gst credit.
        But then I could be wrong.
        We never used to have tax invoices, only receipts or invoices in the good old days.

        • 

          OzzyBrak on 19/12/2024 - 16:24

          @Universal Constant: That is similar to my understanding. Essentially it is the tax department that makes the requirement to provide a tax invoice within 28 days for amounts above $82.50. If you aren't charging GST and aren't providing a tax invoice I can't find anything that says you are required to provide one.

      • 

        hasher22 on 19/12/2024 - 18:51

        Actually, a tax invoice is just a fancy name for a purchase receipt. It has nothing to do if a business is registered for GST, a business not registered for GST can still provide a tax invoice, but technically, they can call it a purchase receipt or a tax receipt.

        Someone asked in the ATO forums

        Also see ATO Tax invoices

        • 

          OzzyBrak on 19/12/2024 - 20:52

          @hasher22: It has everything to do with if the business is registered for GST. Reread your own links. You are unable to issue a tax invoice if you haven't collected any tax and aren't registered to collect tax (GST).

          Your community comments are around treating invoices that don't explicitly say 'tax invoice' on them as tax invoices and is covered in great detail by a tax ruling.

          • 

            hasher22 on 19/12/2024 - 21:12

            @OzzyBrak: Sorry, I stand corrected, a business registered for GST needs to issue a 'Tax Invoice' and must call it that where as non-gst reg. businesses can issue out regular invoices but can't call it 'Tax Invoices'.

            • 

              OzzyBrak on 19/12/2024 - 21:35

              @hasher22: Yep. And I can't seem to find anything that requires non tax registered businesses to actually supply an invoice or receipt on request. I assume it may be state based and via fair trading or something. Everyone always quotes the federal tax stuff, however it doesn't apply to non-GST registered businesses.

• 

  Dollar General on 19/12/2024 - 05:23

  +3

  If they are based overseas, why would they care what the ATO requirements are

  • 

    boomramada on 19/12/2024 - 10:16

    +2

    To generate one , they need abn, they probably dont have one.

• 

  geekcohen on 19/12/2024 - 05:58

  Did you get a receipt?

• 

  JimmyF on 19/12/2024 - 08:58

  +2

  As its under the magic $82.50 number, they oddly don't have to provide you a tax invoice.

  https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-exci…

  But as others have said, just whip up a tax invoice using their details to submit.

  • 

    djsweet on 19/12/2024 - 11:18

    +1

    If it’s under this amount you also don’t need to provide the tax invoice to the ATO to claim a GST credit. Some businesses I have worked for don’t even ask you to provide the receipt for expenses under this threshold. Others ask you to provide it, but I think that’s more so they can check it’s a legit expense rather than just going to the pokies or something.

• 

  KaTst3R on 19/12/2024 - 10:11

  +1

  It is Concur? They are quite anal about it but there are options to choose that allows an invoice with no tax component stated to be accepted for reimbursement. I had this issue when I had to purchase software from a UK vendor that had no GST component.

• 

  McFly on 19/12/2024 - 22:27

  If they aren't supplying a receipt (not necessarily a tax invoice) they are breaking the law, and may be liable for up to a $15K penalty.
  https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/consumers-and-businesses/pro…

  https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-servic…

  Businesses must give consumers a receipt for anything that costs over $75.

  For anything under $75, the consumer can ask for a receipt, and the business must provide it within 7 days.

  A receipt can be a:

  • GST tax invoice
  • cash register docket
  • hand-written document
  • a digital receipt.

  The receipt must include:

  • the business’s name
  • the business’s ABN or ACN
  • the product or service
  • the date the product or service was supplied
  • the price of the product or service.

  Next steps: If a business won't fix a problem

• 

  BewareOfThe Dog on 21/12/2024 - 08:55

  1st check your spam folder.

  Did you use Paypal?

  Apply to get a refund. Say you need to Return, as you can't claim it, despite repeated requests. Submit requests as evidence with paypal requests. If they still don't supply invoice, see what paypal says, and send it back (Auspost using tracking).