Business Seller info and Return Policy clearly defined on eBay.CA and eBay.COM

[silverpinups]

Business Seller information and Return Policy cleared defined at the bottom of the listing page.

Is the Value Added Tax Number a GST/HST number and Business Registration number?

Business seller information

Value Added Tax Number: CA nullnull

Return policy

Return policy details

Seller does not offer returns. You are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee if you received an item that is not as described in the listing.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Yes, VAT or Value Added Tax is the proper descriptor for the GST/HST. A registered business is required to provide a "Business Registration" number (same number is used for filing GST/HST returns) on all customer invoices.

[silverpinups]

Excellent, Thank you... I'm wondering if I should add it or not.

The GST/HST is included in the price.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Since ebay is providing a convenient location to provide the number I think I would add it.

When listing on the European sites I think it is mandatory to provide the number if you have registered with ebay as a business.

[kawartha-ephemera]

If you do decide to provide a registration number in the "Business Seller Information " panel I would definitely add a statement for Canadians that all GST/HST is included in the asking price.

Is there any space provided within that Business Seller panel for any comment beyond just the number? If there is maybe that would be the best location to place all GST info.

[cumos55]

Up until now, the only place that the Business Number (BN) was placed was on an invoice.

The first nine numbers of the BN have been included at the end of each listing.  I wonder how eBay got my number ......

The number used by Canada Revenue Agency  actually contains 15 characters.

The first nine characters will identify the business.

The problem with having all 15 characters presented is that someone can take the number  and pretend they have registered to collect GST/HST, when they have not registered to do so..

[silverpinups]

I never registered as a business.

There is no real advantage or benefit that I know of..... I guess if I was going to get community mail box in my part of the city like other areas of Winnipeg did, then I would have registered my house as a business and applied for a business number.

That's the only advantage I can think of, and it would have been well worth it, saving me time and grief of going to my local post office every other day to pick up packages.  

[pjcdn2005]

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@silverpinups wrote:

I never registered as a business.

There is no real advantage or benefit that I know of..... I guess if I was going to get community mail box in my part of the city like other areas of Winnipeg did, then I would have registered my house as a business and applied for a business number.

That's the only advantage I can think of, and it would have been well worth it, saving me time and grief of going to my local post office every other day to pick up packages.  

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Cumos is referring to the business number/gst number that you get when you register for the gst.   When you refer to registering your house as a business, I think that you are talking about something totally different?

[silverpinups]

Yes, your business number and GST/HST are the same. 

The house would be a separate issue. 

[hlmacdon]

Return policy fields are essentially worthless given any ability for the seller to deviate from EBay's return policy is being removed.

[silverpinups]

Yes, I agree...

The return policy fields will serve as a highlight for sellers who offer 30 day and 60 day free returns.

[kawartha-ephemera]

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@silverpinups wrote:

Excellent, Thank you... I'm wondering if I should add it or not.

The GST/HST is included in the price.

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I interpreted this to mean that you are charging GST/HST when applicable but that you have chosen to include the tax in the sale price. Have I understood you correctly?

If I have then ebay has to be given the GST/HST registration number somehow so it can appear on customer invoices. Is this panel on the listing page the only place where ebay asks for the information?

[silverpinups]

Yes, the GST/HST is included in the selling price.

Is this panel on the listing page the only place where ebay asks for the information?

There not really asking me for that information but yes this is the only place where the GST/HST number would be visible on the listing page (as far as I know).    

[kawartha-ephemera]

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@cumos55 wrote:

Up until now, the only place that the Business Number (BN) was placed was on an invoice.

The first nine numbers of the BN have been included at the end of each listing.  I wonder how eBay got my number ......

The number used by Canada Revenue Agency  actually contains 15 characters.

The first nine characters will identify the business.

The problem with having all 15 characters presented is that someone can take the number  and pretend they have registered to collect GST/HST, when they have not registered to do so..

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I suppose someone may think that would be a good trick, but surely ebay keeps a database of this important info and has a system in place to prevent the same number being used twice ... similar to how email address databases do not accept duplication.

What surprises me is that ebay is in a way suggesting that the owner of the number post it for all to see right there on the listing page. Don't see as there is much potential for the number's owner to be defrauded in doing so ..... but it does seem unusual.

I wonder if the CRA has been whispering in ebay's ear regarding giving online shoppers a clearer understanding of whether or not sellers are registered to charge GST/HST.  When we shop in person at any Canadian brick and mortar shop we know for sure it's going to be charged ... but online it's still a bit of a guessing game.

[kawartha-ephemera]

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@silverpinups wrote:

I never registered as a business.

There is no real advantage or benefit that I know of..... I guess if I was going to get community mail box in my part of the city like other areas of Winnipeg did, then I would have registered my house as a business and applied for a business number.

That's the only advantage I can think of, and it would have been well worth it, saving me time and grief of going to my local post office every other day to pick up packages.  

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Seems we are perhaps struggling with terminology in this thread, I know my head starts spinning when the CRA gets involved in a conversation.

Could it be you are referring to registering a "Business Name" to operate under?  A sole proprietor can operate a business under their own name, no need to register a "Business Name" With a sole proprietor situation the owner's name should appear on customer invoices. 

As I've described above is how "Business Names" are handled here in Ontario, there may be some variation from province to province. 

[cumos55]

If a business is registered.... no one else can use that name.

It was several years ago that  there was a local Manitoba business with a registered name...

Then came a business with the same name... from another province... wanted to become a "national' business.

They went to court  and nothing was resolved....  Both kept their name....

The owner of the Manitoba business retired  and the other business became the only one with that name.   Most likely by agreement

If a business is very unique, that  business name becomes  unique, and will be remembered  for many, many years.

Who in Winnipeg remember Kelekis...... I used to walk past that restaurant....  to school every day...

[cumos55]

It should be noted that the business number on eBay's listings  is not complete....  

The true business number has 15 characters ... the number used when communicating with the Canada Revenue Agency... while the number on eBay only has 9 characters, which appears to be enough to identify the business.