PST charged on a purchase by ebay in Alberta. Why?

[femmefan1946]

Is the seller also in Alberta?

Did the seller attach his Sales Tax Number to the invoice?

What province is he in?

Does the seller have B&M businesses in Alberta?

[ypdc_dennis · Accepted solution]

eBay only charges sales tax on Seller fees. If the Seller is in Alberta that would be 5% GST (and 0% PST).

eBay calculates sales tax on purchases according to information provided by the Seller and the location of the Buyer. The sales tax money is handled by the Seller.

Sellers have been known to have set up incorrect sales tax rates (sometimes by accident, sometimes as deliberate money grab).

Ask the Seller for their registered sales tax number(s) -- required if they are collecting sales tax.

If the Seller is not registered to collect sales tax -- then they are guilt of fraud -- don't deal with them and report them.

[have7220.wnqa9dzgl]

Supplier is in China, seller in the U.S. and the product entered into Canada at Ottawa then shipped to Alberta. No sales tax number and no B&M businesses in Alberta. The supplier has been around for years. Now what can I do?

[have7220.wnqa9dzgl]

Thanks for the help. First time on here so Ebay is not for me.

[momcqueen]

eBay is not tax exempt -shopping.

If you import into Canada from another country an item worth more than $20 CAD de minimus by mail, you owe the federal government import fees. Meaning duty and/or sales tax on the value of that item.

The only time your eBay purchase may be tax-free to you is if the seller is based in Canada and their annual sales totals lay below the sales volume threshold for which he or she is obligated to collect taxes on behalf of the government. Or they simply pay taxes on your behalf without you knowing it.

[femmefan1946]

If your purchase was over $20Cdn (~$15US) then CBSA will calculate import fees, which include duty and sales taxes.

China has no free trade agreements with Canada, and it is the place of manufacture that is important, not the location of the seller.

Some items are not dutiable, no matter where they were made. (Some electronic things and gold bullion come to mind.)

Even if a product is not dutiable, sales taxes still apply.

In addition the carrier is allowed to charge a service fee (called various things including customs brokerage). Canada Post charges $9.95 and will collect the import fees and their service fee before handing the shipment over.

[marnotom!]

PST rates vary from province to province. What rate of PST were you charged, @have7220.wnqa9dzgl ?

[pjcdn2005]

Were you charged the tax at the time of purchase or when it was delivered?

[have7220.wnqa9dzgl]

In Alberta you don't pay PST on anything

[femmefan1946]

But you do pay GST of 5%. What percentage of the price did you pay and how much.

A screenshot would probably be helpful.

[marnotom!]

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@have7220.wnqa9dzgl wrote:

In Alberta you don't pay PST on anything

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Yes, I understand that's the crux of your complaint.  I (and others) are still trying to figure out the tax rate used when you were charged PST on your purchase or what province's PST you were charged, at the very least.

As @femmefan1946 posted, a screen shot would be helpful.