Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

Hi Everyone,

This is the first year I've been on eBay selling. When I started, I wasn't aware that the CRA had mandated that eBay share Power Seller information to them.

I consulted a Chartered Accountant today for tax advice and how much it will cost to file my taxes taking into account the following:

eBay Fees
Paypal Fees
Home Internet Cost
Blackberry
Home Office Space Cost

The above are required in order to operate the business. In addition to eBay, I have a full-time job (9AM-5PM). I am also married with a 6 year old daughter.

The Accountant advised me that preparing a return will range between $300 - $400.

When I left, I forgot to ask if selling in USD will complex my tax return.

Have any of you successfully filed taxes on your own? Are there any links out there to file Canadian Taxes from income made via eBay sales?

Thanks,
Message 1 of 12
latest reply
11 REPLIES 11

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

I got charged $200 for my personal taxes by HRBlock last year.

The business guy also handles DHs business so I just piggyback and can't speak to that fee.
Message 2 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

No, you do not need an accountant for ebay/paypal fees, internet and blackberry.

Statement of Business Activities is quite simple form. Follow it, save yourself $400.
Message 3 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

I have used Quick Tax (business) the last 2 years. Very easy to follow.
The program walks through all the steps. It was really helpful in helping with the "home office" deductions.
Believe it cost about $99.00 last year.
Message 4 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

"I wasn't aware that the CRA had mandated that eBay share Power Seller information to them."

That is irrelevant. All Canadians need to report their income, even small business income, on their annual tax return. It does not matter if the income is generated online through eBay or other venues or through brick and mortar stores or flea market stalls or whatever. Everyone must declare their net profit (sales minus cost of goods minus related expenses).

$300 to $400 to prepare the bookkeeping and the tax return is reasonable. Personally, based on your number of transactions last year, I would charge more than that.

On the other hand, you can do it yourself, using speadsheets (MS-Excel or similar programs). In different spreadsheets simply compile your sales, your purchases, your business related expenses.

Many years ago I prepared a sample Profit and Loss Statement that can be used for income tax purposes. Please take a look at this http://www.pierrelebel.com/lists/P&L-sample.htm

Canada Revenue Agency offers similar forms.

It all depends on the value you put on your time. $400.00 the first year may be a bargain as understanding all the tax rules pertaining small home based businesses is challenging.

Good Luck.
Message 5 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

"I forgot to ask if selling in USD will complex my tax return"

Canadian tax returns are filed in Canadian dollars. When doing the bookkeeping, you (or your accountant) simply convert the US$ amounts into Cdn$. It can be done transaction by transaction (based on the amount you received - or paid - when you withdrew US$ from PayPal and converted them into Cdn$) or, like many sellers, use the annual conversion value of the Canadian dollar as determined by the Bank of Canada http://www.bankofcanada.ca/pdf/nraa10.pdf

In 2008, it was US$1.00 = Cdn$ 1.0660
In 2009, it was US$1.00 = Cdn$ 1.1420
In 2010, it was US$1.00 = Cdn$ 1.0300

(actually, the 2010 rate was $1.02993904; rounding is OK).
Message 6 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

We use Simply Accounting and do everything ourselves, including filing for HST monthly, on-line. It's all very simple.

Instead of logging each sale we simply enter funds as they get posted to our various bank accounts (net proceeds), usually daily deposits. (we use the bank statements for this).

As backup data we download different Paypal reports each month. Monthly summary, daily summary, complete transaction history and one that shows all funds that flowed out of the PP accounts (that one is quite important to CRA auditors).

As the reports can be huge we download them in Excel format and store them on our PC, all nicely labeled by year, month and report type.

All expenses get posted, of course, including eBay fees. We also, each month, download the eBay invoice and store it with the other reports.

All the above present a clear and comprehensive picture of our commercial activity. This puts auditors at ease as on-line sales and revenue still seems to be an enigma to some CRA auditors.

Bernie
Message 7 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

bilge21
Community Member
I use Quickbooks Pro to keep track of all my sales, both local and online as well as what taxes are are due for PST and HST and my expenses.

My accountant charged me $150 last year to do my taxes. I simply took him an accountants copy of my Quickbooks data file on a thumb drive and he took care of it all including the e-filing

I keep all reports downloaded from Ebay, Paypal etc., printed out and filed in an accordian case in case CRA wants to view them.

He took his payment in cartridges instead of cash lol.
Message 8 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

This site may be of interest to those of you who do not currently use accounting software but would like to try it:

https://www.kashoo.com/pricing/

It is online, comprehensive, works in multiple currencies and is billed on a monthly basis ($9.95/per). The big advantage is that it is always up-to-date (no yearly upgrades to be purchased) and your records are accessible from any computer. No contract required either.

Ann
Message 9 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

I just do the return myself..although being a fifth year business student helps,but on the other hand it's really not that complicated...The most important thing though as mentioned by Pierre is to make sure you declare the extra income.You'll sleep better at night.
Message 10 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

What exactly is involved in $400 service ?

Does the accountant verify EVERY record ?

Our 2010 has approx 15000 receivables and 1050 expenses (we are not done yet with expenses, need to go through it). If anybody wanted to audit everything and spend 15sec with each record, it's over 1 week work.

Receivables are mostly coming from PayPal and we simply use auto-filter to get the numbers out. Before doing that, I "normalize" the addresses, some people use ON, others Ontario. Some people use French name of province other English, this all has to be unified before auto-filter can be used. But within 30 minutes I can have the whole year of PayPal history download normalized.

Is this acceptable recording and processing of PayPal sales ? I do not maintain other records than downloaded transaction history.
Message 11 of 12
latest reply

Tax Software for eBay (eBay Fees, Paypal Fees, Home Internet, Blackberry..)

"I do not maintain other records than downloaded transaction history."

That is the point.

You do maintain sales/revenue records and your accountant simply put them together to generate a balance sheet, statement of income and prepare the tax return accordingly.

The op has not kept any record. The reconciliation of over 3,000 transactions would take some time. On that basis, $300 to $400 to do the bookkeeping and prepare tax return seems very reasonable.
Message 12 of 12
latest reply