eBay Australia turns over seller financial data to Australian Taxation Office

[mandy]

EBAY has handed over the personal and financial details of hundreds of its top sellers to the Australian Taxation Office.

The ATO has asked for the details of eBay sellers with an annual turnover of more than $50,000. The request is understood to be part of an ATO audit to determine if sellers are avoiding GST, and could affect up to 1000 customers.

EBay Australia managing director Simon Smith said the ATO had requested data for the period July 1, 2003, to June 30 last year. The request was made a month ago and sellers were informed by email yesterday.

At least one seller is known to have gone into liquidation this year after a related ATO probe...

full article: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles...5E,00.html

A related article:

THE head of the group representing eBay's biggest Australian sellers expects the online auction site to be forced to register as an Australian entity and begin paying GST.

EBay handed over to tax officials yesterday the details of hundreds of its largest merchants.

Phil Leahy, Australian head of the Professional eBay Sellers Association, said eBay should be registered as a local business for tax purposes.

"It's only fair that eBay be paying tax in this country," he said. "The law has to be examined." ...

full article: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles...06,00.html