eBay

bpl521_sell · ‎10-01-2018

Apparently under the new USMC agreement the threshold has been raised to $150.00 from $20.00. Pending ratification of course.

momcqueen · ‎10-06-2018

Importing from and travelling to. Go Canada!

ypdc_dennis · ‎10-06-2018

@silverpinups wrote:
The de minimus has been so low for so long that was time for a significant change and some thing the Americans wanted in a fair and mutual exchange. The American Government raised theirs to 800.00USD so I don't see why the Canadian Government can't cleanly raise theirs to 150.00 with no strings attached.

Fair and mutual?

What a load of rubbish.

This not a USA exclusive deal. The de minimis applies to all imports (including those from China).

The USA de minimis only applies to duty. Sales taxes are not exempted. But collection has been the state rather the federal authority. Which is why ebay and amazon are being forced into collecting sales tax on all sales for some States this year.

Or Canada could go the Australia route and have ebay collect sales tax on all sales under the de mimimis limit.

In any case, the deal has to be approved, and then implemented. Lots of smoke at this point and only a few actual flames to be seen.

-..-

lady.stark · ‎10-07-2018

@momcqueen wrote:

Under the new USMCA, the de minimis threshold for goods coming from the US and Mexico and imported via express carriers will change: Canadians will be able import up to $40 CAD in value without incurring taxes and up to $150 CAD without incurring duties. It’s important to note that these changes do not apply to postal services (i.e. goods shipped from the US using USPS and delivered in Canada via Canada Post). As a result, the current $20 de minimis threshold will remain in place for goods imported by postal carriers.

https://community.ebay.ca/t5/Announcements/Changes-to-duties-and-taxes-on-goods-imported-from-the-US...

Yeah, I just saw that announcement. Basically, NOTHING has changed whatsoever. It is still at $20. What a disappointment. Just smoke and mirrors

marnotom! · ‎10-08-2018

@lady.stark

In fairness, when are we exempted from paying taxes on applicable items we purchase from brick and mortar stores? Why should online purchases be different?

reallynicestamps · ‎10-08-2018

Welllllll actually.......

In Ottawa one of the most popular reasons for visiting Gatineau/Hull was shopping on their No Sales Tax days.

It was one of those fancy footwork sales (like BuyOne Get One*) where no sales taxes were added to the marked price after purchase.

Obviously, what was really happening was a 15%(?) discount on the price, but people loved it.

We used to give good customers trade dollars to the value of the sales taxes (because DH doesn't believe in discounting, he says it says the seller is admitting the price was too high to begin with).

So sometimes you "don't" pay sales taxes.

*And BOGO is really a form of half price sale.

lady.stark · ‎10-08-2018

@marnotom! wrote:
@lady.stark

In fairness, when are we exempted from paying taxes on applicable items we purchase from brick and mortar stores? Why should online purchases be different?

When you visit the US and come back with some items, a certain value is not taxable right? So why online purchases should be different? *Especially* used goods. Which are not taxable here if you buy directly from an individual.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-08-2018

Whenever they say they are going to make the tax system simpler and fairer, they turn around and do something else opposite to that. If you have a couple of yard sales a year, you are fine. Have more than a few and you are now considered a business and have to collect taxes. Still baffled for collecting tax again on something that had a tax on it the first time. But the way it is. Similar to paying tax on postage/couriers for shipments in Canada. USA/International...No tax. Guess that's a win for us...For now!!! Unfortunately, couriers have the option at their discretion to add a fuel surcharge when regular fees, just aren't enough. Sadly you can't fight couriers, city hall or the government. But fun to try!!!!

-CM

reallynicestamps · ‎10-08-2018

@lady.stark

I pay sales tax to thrift stores all the time.

It must be a common misconception that we don't, because there is a sign about it in the WIN shop that is one of my favourites.

Used cars are probably the item people are most used to buying secondhand from an actual business.

Garage sales and rummage sales would not be charging taxes because they are not registered to remit taxes, being well under the de minimus level. (In Ontario, that's around $30,000 annually.)

reallynicestamps · ‎10-08-2018

Short lesson on Value Added Taxes.

As a Thing passes through the economy a VATis added to each step, basically taxing the labour inputs.

Miner, transport, designer, factory worker, transport,shopkeeper, customer. (And that's way to short.)

Each link is taxed on his purchase of from the previous link, and is a tax credit for the next.

Which is why you occasionally see complaints from tax registered sellers that GSP does not give a sales tax component on their invoices. GSP decided to avoid the whole question by stating that they are not handling business to business purchases but only purchases by private persons.

marnotom! · ‎10-09-2018

@lady.stark wrote:

When you visit the US and come back with some items, a certain value is not taxable right? So why online purchases should be different? *Especially* used goods. Which are not taxable here if you buy directly from an individual.

Depends on how long your visit to the US is. If it's a quick in and out day trip, nothing is exempt from duty and taxes. If it's longer, I guess the thinking is that you're likely going to be spending money on food, gasoline, accommodation, etc., meaning that as you're spending a premium to obtain your items, the tax/duty threshold is adjusted accordingly.

To somewhat repeat an earlier post, new goods aren't taxable if you buy them from an individual, either. It's whether the individual is registered to collect taxes that affects whether your item is subject to being charged, not whether the item is new or used.

We should be looking at purchasing goods and services tax-free as an exception to a particular set of circumstances, not a given to which we're entitled.

marnotom! · ‎10-09-2018

@reallynicestamps wrote:

I pay sales tax to thrift stores all the time.
It must be a common misconception that we don't, because there is a sign about it in the WIN shop that is one of my favourites.

I like WIN, too. I'm also fond of the SOS Thrift Shop in Parksville, particularly the book section.

lady.stark · ‎10-09-2018

@reallynicestamps wrote:
@lady.stark
I pay sales tax to thrift stores all the time.
It must be a common misconception that we don't, because there is a sign about it in the WIN shop that is one of my favourites.

I think you missed the important part of my message, which was "if you buy directly from an individual". I never mentioned thrift stores which are - after all - stores/businesses.

momcqueen · ‎10-09-2018

Like an individual where? Garage sale? I didn't think we were talking about yard sales here, what did I miss?

reallynicestamps · ‎10-09-2018

I missed anything about garage sales too.

The revenooers don't really want to deal with low income businesses (like the eternal garage sale some people run). They have a de minimus threshold of $30K annually (gross) before the seller must register and remit sales taxes.

That would excuse most small and hobby eBay businesses.

So really it's a matter of scale.