How can a seller charge Canadian provincial taxes in US funds?

[stormspete]

Just wondering how a seller can get away with charging taxes in US funds, even though they advertise the cost of the item in US $, simply because the amount remitted is more than the correct tax charge.  For instance, let's assume an exchange rate of 0.957116.  A purchase of $36 US cost me $43.40 Canadian.  If you do the math, the applicable charge in Canadian funds is $37.61 plus taxes (13%) of $4.89 for a total of $42.50.  The seller has just made an extra $0.90 cents off the sale which I'm sure is not remitted to the government.  Anyone want to try and explain and/or justify this for me?  Thanks!

[fossil_diver]

Money in the US ebay is always in USD$. If you go to the Canadian ebay site ebay.ca the prices will all be in Canadian dollars. Now think about the question you asked. Why do you think US sellers should calculate in Canadian dollars? If that was the case they would also have to offer the same thing in the currency of every different country in the world.

[femmefan1946]

The seller will be remitting your taxes to the Canadian government in Canadian dollars.

How he collects the taxes he is registered to collect is up to him. He could collect in rupees if he wanted as long as he sends Harper the right number of loonies.

EBay is not programmed to invoice in multiple currencies at once.

Pay the bill. It's not your problem.

[stormspete]

To the first rocket scientist that answered my question...I'm in eBay Canada, NOT the US eBay...thanks for the lame effort...next time, before you open your mouth, try not to make assumptions...

To the second, just as equally bright gentleman, you are having difficulty wrapping your mind around the math, aren't you?  It matters not to me whether he charges in US dollars or rupees...what matters is the amount that is charged compared to the amount remitted to the Canadian government.  Let me see if you can follow this example...I'll use little numbers to make it easy for you...

If I charge you one dollar for an item, I remit the 13% tax, or 13 cents, to the government.  If I charge you 13 cents US, that is, for argument's sake, let's say, 15 cents Canadian.  So I'm collecting 15 cents and remitting 13, thus profiting 2 cents from the taxes I charge you.  Is that simple enough for you?

I'm sorry if my response hurt either of your feelings, but honestly...either learn to read or just don't respond.  Neither of you have a clue...

[2010-tb]

Hey, I get what you're saying.  PayPal is in the US and does not concern themselves with this issue.  And yes, the seller probably will be pocketing the difference.  However, I look at this way...it is a bonus of owning a business and as long as the cost falls into the price I'm willing to pay...C'est la vie.  If the matter does not sit well with you though, you can always write your member of parliament and work to change the process. Best regards and God Bless.

[q00q]

90 cents? Ask first if the seller even has a valid HST account number.  If so, then he does have the authority to collect it.  Whether he remits it to CRA is CRA's problem, not yours.