• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Random eBay sales tax question

Status
Not open for further replies.
i don't know either, but it seems to me that this is an ebay transaction, and not an in-person transaction, regardless of the delivery/pickup procedure. the item was listed on ebay and is purchased through ebay; ergo, an ebay transaction. not craigslist, f.b. marketplace, garage sale, or some other in-hand fee-less transaction--ebay will collect their fees (and required taxes) on this sale, so their services are provided.

i expect there is some fine print somewhere...

I haven't done eBay in awhile, but payments used to be 100% through PayPal as eBay had purchased PayPal many years ago.
 
Why is it people complain about certain people not paying their taxes, then complain when THEY are required to pay their own taxes?

For the same reason people who are big on “law & order” are always trying to get laws passed that don’t apply to them - but protest vigorously whenever somebody “violates our rights” by trying to get laws passed that do apply to them.

tl:dr - People are often hypocrites.
 
Actually, the scam is Paypal charging fees on these remitted taxes. That adds up to a nice little payout.

By the same token they handle the filing an remittances to 50 different states and god knows how many separate tax jurisdictions within those states. Small price for getting that done for you if you’re a seller.

It’s also not a scam. Their fees and terms are clearly spelled out. If you’re surprised it’s not their fault because you didn’t read them. Which is something you’re clearly and repeatedly told to do before you open an account on eBay, Reverb, or PayPal. And those were also the terms you agreed to as a condition of opening an account with them. So where is it a scam? Did somebody hold a gun to your head and force you to join? ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 12BitSlab
^^ as an aside, i created a bank account ~15/20 years ago solely to use as a linked paypal account, and that has worked very well. i think i got lucky with that strategy. i would not want to link one of my 'regular' accounts to paypal. nasty stuff.

Same here. It’s cheap insurance wise strategy. :thumbsup:

Most times mine has $50 (my bank’s minimum balance) idling in it. If I want to buy something I’ll deposit my budgeted amount of cash to cover the expected transaction. If I do end up buying something it’s all good. If I end up not buying I just take it back out. So even if that account ever does get hacked all they’re likely to get is $50 max. It also keeps me from overspending my budget.
 
By the same token they handle the filing an remittances to 50 different states and god knows how many separate tax jurisdictions within those states. Small price for getting that done for you if you’re a seller.

You are incorrect. Paypal does not file or remit sales tax on behalf of buyers, to any states.

It’s also not a scam. Their fees and terms are clearly spelled out. If you’re surprised it’s not their fault because you didn’t read them. Which is something you’re clearly and repeatedly told to do before you open an account on eBay, Reverb, or PayPal. And those were also the terms you agreed to as a condition of opening an account with them. So where is it a scam? Did somebody hold a gun to your head and force you to join? ;)

Then let's agree they're shady. These were not the policies of Paypal when I joined, and they did not inform users of this change. It’s just a fun surprise the first time they do it.
 
Last edited:
For the same reason people who are big on “law & order” are always trying to get laws passed that don’t apply to them - but protest vigorously whenever somebody “violates our rights” by trying to get laws passed that do apply to them.

tl:dr - People are often hypocrites.

Wait until you try to tell a flipper that they are supposed to pay capital gains tax on their profit!
 
Wait until you try to tell a flipper that they are supposed to pay capital gains tax on their profit!

On the federal level the profit would more likely be taxed as ordinary income. You’d need to buy something like a musical instrument and have it qualify as a collectible under IRS regs for the more favorable CG tax treatment. If you’re a flipper it’ll most likely be seen as a normal personal business activity and any profit or loss will be treated as ordinary income for income tax purposes.
 
Form 1099-K
If you’ve sold at least $20,000 in gross merchandise value and exceeded 200 transactions for goods and services* on eBay this year, you will be receiving a tax Form 1099-K for all your 2019 sales transactions including relevant internet sales tax.
 
That’s because they’re now largely illegal. :laugh:

well yeah, they weren't gonna start collecting sales tax voluntarily:). What a pain in the a** to implement, it certainly cut into online retailer's competitive advantage and I remember lots of wailing about "killing the internet" lol.

No tax was a reasonable policy/subsidy in the early days to get things off the ground IMO, but it certainly isn't needed now. E-commerce isn't going anywhere.
 
On the federal level the profit would more likely be taxed as ordinary income. You’d need to buy something like a musical instrument and have it qualify as a collectible under IRS regs for the more favorable CG tax treatment. If you’re a flipper it’ll most likely be seen as a normal personal business activity and any profit or loss will be treated as ordinary income for income tax purposes.

I don't think you are correct and to argue it would be extremely boring... but the point is not the technicality of how the income would be reported or taxed, but that the taxman says it should be. I'd guess a small fraction of such profitable sales by casual flippers are ever reported, partly out of ignorance.
 
Actually, the scam is Paypal charging fees on these remitted taxes. That adds up to a nice little payout.

Nope, that's called the cost of doing business. Paypal is not a charitable organization. They charge fees for their services, so when money passes through them you can expect to pay something for that service.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guild B301
Nope, that's called the cost of doing business. Paypal is not a charitable organization. They charge fees for their services, so when money passes through them you can expect to pay something for that service.

Every other credit card processing agreement charges roughly 2.75% on the full charge, not the total before taxes.
 
I don't think you are correct and to argue it would be extremely boring... but the point is not the technicality of how the income would be reported or taxed, but that the taxman says it should be. I'd guess a small fraction of such profitable sales by casual flippers are ever reported, partly out of ignorance.

In the final analysis the taxman almost invariably prevails when it comes to how something is classified for tax purposes. My own opinion on it wouldn’t count for much either way. ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.