eBay

ricarmic · ‎06-02-2022

Since I was somewhat hijacking another thread, I've decided to open a new discussion here.

Here's the link to the other thread.

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Central/eBay-will-start-collecting-taxes-on-our-behalf-effective...

Momentarily I'll update what I've done so far....

ricarmic · ‎06-02-2022

Many thanks again to @regs43 who provided the link to the form.

I filled it out.

I called my special ebay CSR support group (that I pay significant $$$ for to maintain my anchor store subscription, only reason I still have it) and I laid out what I thought I should do and the CSR advised that it was a good plan.

So I PDFd the file and sent it to the email address with this note: (I took out all the blank lines to shorten it up).

=======================================

"Hi! Here is my billing agent authorization form.

Please note that the automagic process to send me this form overlooked me likely because I do not have tax tables set up because I sell “taxes included”, ie I am GST/HST registered and I pay the taxes for the buyer. I acquired this version of the form from another eBay seller. I am presuming the form is the same for everyone.

I am hoping that sending this to you and having it signed off by “ebay” will “awaken” the process so to speak such that whatever else has to happen after this does naturally?

If you can acknowledge receiving this and advise if you know or where I need to go to find out if the subsequent steps will naturally happen or not I would appreciate it very much.

Have a great day!"

==============================

I noticed something interesting, there's nothing in the process anywhere that identifies what my ebay userid is, ie when I've sent them the form how do they know who I am "here" so to speak?

It will be interesting to see what happens, I'll advise of any news.

Anyone else's experience or suggestions always welcome!

marnotom! · ‎06-02-2022

@ricarmic wrote:

I noticed something interesting, there's nothing in the process anywhere that identifies what my ebay userid is, ie when I've sent them the form how do they know who I am "here" so to speak?

Seeing as this is a government form, I don't think your eBay ID is necessary here. They'll be using the GST number you provide to double-check against your name and business info.

ricarmic · ‎06-02-2022

@marnotom! Hmm that is interesting, I don't remember giving them my GST number, but then again 1999 was a long time ago. I looked up something that makes me believe I became GST registered in probably 1997 so I would have had the number when I joined here.

To look to see where it might be here, the only place I could see was to click on editing my "sole proprietor" designation and it looks like I've been grandfathered? I started geting questions about the company type etc and I didn't want to progress for worry of screwing other stuff up, especially MP as it was telling me it needed to know the company type to properly set MP up! When I have more time I'll maybe follow that path and see what happens. Certainly not today.

This might also explain why the automagic process missed me, ie my GST number is not there or the grandfatheredness of my ID info.

regs43 · ‎06-02-2022

I only have a Tax table set up and I think thats why I was sent the form. I never gave ebay my GST number anywhere that I recall, and I have a personal account not a business one. I have the number in the descriptions of listings thats only place I put it that I recall.

ricarmic · ‎06-30-2022

I forgot that I created this thread!

Here is a pertinent addition regarding my call to CRA a while ago (that I put in another thread):

Today I was able to get in contact with a CRA CSR, who was familiar with the billing agent authorization stuff occuring here, so that was good news. Also meant I wasn't the first person asking.

This is what I got from the CSR. I am putting out here what I got from our conversation. As we all know with contacting CSRs, one doesn't always get the same answer from CSR to CSR so I'm not asserting that this is the correct answer but it is what I was told.

On the reporting forms as has been suggested in other threads the eBay sales are treated the same as zero rated sales, ie if we sold $10,000 GST/HST taxable on ebay then we would have $10,000 in sales but no taxes acquired by us (same as would be if we sold $10,000 to US customers as zero rated sales). Everything else like ITCs are the same as today.

He was very quickly and abundantly clear that I and eBay were solidarily liable for ensuring the taxes were collected and remitted, and that is was my and eBay's problem to fix if some were missed, so I'm going to put a special all on it's own question on the other thread asking what we're specifically supposed to do if we notice a transaction that wasn't assessed taxes that should have been. (subsequently someone posted quotes from eBay that everything falls to them so I think that we are ok on this aspect)

I did ask as well what us folks that are having to pay quarterly installments need to do given we will now seriously overpay what we need to pay with the eBay change if we continue to pay the quarterly installments as is. As I understand it (again I can't assert this is correct) the important thing is that at the end of the year you've paid as much tax as you owe. I didn't specifically ask at the time about the definition of what "tax you owe" meant, but I expect it means the actual amount owed if it is lower than/or the total of ones quarterly installments which was the projected amount. I know that you can go over the projected amount, ie owe extra above the total of projected quarterly amounts and that is ok as long as you've paid the projected amounts during the year. So my plan is to probably not pay this quarter and perhaps next quarter then in December I'll pay enough to make sure I'm paying at least as much tax as I owe or whatever the total of the quarterly installments was. Otherwise he was clear that if one doesn't pay enough one gets fined and it is a paperwork pain (for me).

So there you have it.

ricarmic · ‎06-30-2022

As well as I've advised in other threads, my email to the tax (billing agent authorization) folks I sent in on June 2nd with the filled out form has not yet been replied to despite my request for acknowledgement on June 2.

marnotom! · ‎06-30-2022

@ricarmic wrote:

He was very quickly and abundantly clear that I and eBay were solidarily liable for ensuring the taxes were collected and remitted, and that is was my and eBay's problem to fix if some were missed, so I'm going to put a special all on it's own question on the other thread asking what we're specifically supposed to do if we notice a transaction that wasn't assessed taxes that should have been. (subsequently someone posted quotes from eBay that everything falls to them so I think that we are ok on this aspect)

I can see in situations where a seller has deliberately miscategorized an item to make the transaction "tax free" that the seller would be liable for a tax miscalculation, but proving that this was a deliberate act would likely be difficult, and how would this be resolved monetarily under the current UA? Suspending the seller isn't the same as making the seller liable or responsible for the miscalculated tax.

silverdreamfilm · ‎07-01-2022

Hi,

Did you convert the PDF Tax Form to a Word Document? If so, how? Also how did you sign it?

Sorry, I'm not very computer savvy....

marnotom! · ‎07-01-2022

@silverdreamfilm

Some versions of Adobe Reader have a “fill and sign” feature that will allow the user to not only fill out the form on a computer, but also to “sign” it with a version of their signature generated by the app/program.

Let us know if you need a hand with finding and using a version of Reader for your device. I use Reader DC on my Windows laptop.

silverdreamfilm · ‎07-01-2022

@marnotom! Thank you!

velvet@ebay Is there a mailing address to mail these tax forms in to eBay?

marnotom! · ‎07-01-2022

@silverdreamfilm wrote:

Is there a mailing address to mail these tax forms in to eBay?

CanadaGST/PST@ebay.com

velvet@ebay · ‎07-01-2022

@silverdreamfilm wrote:

@marnotom! Thank you!

velvet@ebay Is there a mailing address to mail these tax forms in to eBay?

Hi @silverdreamfilm! You'll want to email them as @marnotom! noted: CanadaGST/PST@ebay.com

ricarmic · ‎07-01-2022

@silverdreamfilm All I did is print the PDF tax form, signed it, scanned it and send it to the email address.

silverdreamfilm · ‎07-01-2022

velvet@ebay Thanks for the message. What I was asking is there a physical mailing address (not email address) I can send the forms too?

Thanks.

silverdreamfilm · ‎07-01-2022

@ricarmic Thank you!! That will also work for me. So fill out the forms, scan them and then attach them in a email. 🙂

ricarmic · ‎07-01-2022

@silverdreamfilm Yep that's what I did!

velvet@ebay · ‎07-06-2022

@silverdreamfilm wrote:

velvet@ebay Thanks for the message. What I was asking is there a physical mailing address (not email address) I can send the forms too?

Thanks.

Sorry @silverdreamfilm, but we'll need them emailed to us.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-06-2022

velvet@ebay wrote:
@silverdreamfilm wrote:
velvet@ebay Thanks for the message. What I was asking is there a physical mailing address (not email address) I can send the forms too?

Thanks.
Sorry @silverdreamfilm, but we'll need them emailed to us.

Hello velvet@ebay

Not sure if this has been asked and answered but IF there is an issue with the form or delay will that hold up payouts to sellers? Everyone may not have their ducks in a row when they go to fill/send that form. The other question that has not be answered is will there be a formal message advising a seller that form has been received and all is correct? This is standard procedure with anything of this nature.

Lastly is there works on a official FAQ for dot ca with questions and pertinent answers on the subject? This would be most helpful vs trying to gleam the info reviewing the multitude of posts on the issue.

-Lotz

velvet@ebay · ‎07-06-2022

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

velvet@ebay wrote:

@silverdreamfilm wrote:

velvet@ebay Thanks for the message. What I was asking is there a physical mailing address (not email address) I can send the forms too?

Thanks.

Sorry @silverdreamfilm, but we'll need them emailed to us.

Hello velvet@ebay

Not sure if this has been asked and answered but IF there is an issue with the form or delay will that hold up payouts to sellers? Everyone may not have their ducks in a row when they go to fill/send that form. The other question that has not be answered is will there be a formal message advising a seller that form has been received and all is correct? This is standard procedure with anything of this nature.

Lastly is there works on a official FAQ for dot ca with questions and pertinent answers on the subject? This would be most helpful vs trying to gleam the info reviewing the multitude of posts on the issue.

-Lotz

Lots of good questions @lotzofuniquegoodies!

We're trying to find out info to share about formal messaging once forms are submitted and I know work is being done on a FAQ for us to post. So more to come on that.

As for your question about possible delays with payouts due to any issues or delays with the authorization form, I will see what I can find out there as well.