Please note that eBay Canada Limited ("eBay") will be required to collect Canadian sales taxes (GST/HST/QST/PST) on applicable sales to Canada-based buyers, effective July 1, 2022.
Are you a buyer looking for information about tax? Read our article about paying tax on your eBay purchases
Sellers' tax responsibilities
You are responsible for paying all fees and taxes associated with using eBay as an eBay seller. For more information on eBay's tax policy and your obligations, see our Tax policy and User Agreement.
Your tax-related responsibilities may include:
- Paying sales tax on eBay sales
- Paying income tax on eBay sales
- Informing international buyers about import charges
As of July 1, 2022, eBay will be collecting the Canadian sales taxes (GST/HST/QST/PST) on behalf of Canada-based sellers and remitting the tax to the appropriate tax authorities.
For GST/HST and/or QST-registered sellers, we will be appointed as a billing agent for collection and remittance of Canadian sales taxes where the relevant legislation does not automatically require eBay to collect and remit such tax.
We will send all registered vendors a billing agent election form, and you should keep a copy of the billing agent election form with your tax records. If you are a GST/HST/QST registered vendor and you have not received a billing agent election form, please contact us.
Charging sales tax on eBay sales
If you're required to charge sales tax in a jurisdiction that eBay doesn’t automatically collect from, you can set up a tax table and apply it to your listings. We'll then add the tax to the buyer's total at checkout. You're responsible for paying the sales tax to the appropriate authority.
Contact a tax professional to determine whether you need to charge sales tax on your eBay sales, or if you have questions about any other taxes. We can't provide tax advice or guarantee that our sales tax features meet all tax requirements.
Setting up a tax table
You can specify a sales tax rate for each province listed in the tax table in which you're required to charge sales tax. You can also charge tax on shipping and handling, if it's required by law.
Buyers see your tax rates on the listing page. Once they confirm their shipping address at checkout, we automatically calculate the sales tax amount and add it to their order total.
Here's how to set up your tax table:
- Go to the Sales Tax table page - opens in new window or tab.
- Fill in the sales tax rate for each province where you want to charge sales tax. If you're also required to tax shipping and handling in that province, select the Also charge sales tax on S&H check box.
- Select Save.
Important things to keep in mind when setting up a tax table:
- When you list your item you need to indicate that you charge sales tax in the listing form and associate your tax table with the listing
- Changes that you make to your tax table won't be reflected in your live listings. You will need to revise any current active listings in order for your tax table changes to apply to those listings. Listing created after you have saved your tax table changes will reflect your tax table updates
Once you've created your tax table, you need to specify in your listing that you are charging sales tax. Here's how:
- On the listing form, check the box beside Charge sales tax according to the sales tax table.
- You can open and make changes to your tax table by selecting View sales tax table.
- Complete your listing and select Preview listing or Save and continue later.
Items delivered to a United States address
Tax laws vary between states, and sales tax - opens in new window or tab may be required to be collected by the seller, collected by eBay, or paid directly by the buyer. If your delivery address is in one of the US states where either the seller or eBay is required to charge sales tax, the tax will be included in the order total at checkout.
Informing international buyers about import charges
When you sell to buyers outside of Canada, import charges (including taxes and customs fees) may apply for the country you're sending the item to. These charges are determined by the country you're sending the item to, and are usually based on the item's price, postage weight, dimensions and country of origin.
Some countries and jurisdictions require eBay to collect import tax from the buyer when they pay for their order. Consignments where eBay does not collect taxes may require buyers to pay additional import fees (e.g. VAT and duties) as part of clearing their parcel through customs, or when they receive their order.
You can find more details in our Tax policy.
European Union - Customs duty
A €3 customs duty may apply to items valued €150 or less sent from outside the European Union (EU) to EU addresses.
For eligible items sent from outside the EU to EU addresses through eBay managed shipping programs such as eBay International Shipping and the eBay Global Shipping Program, applicable import fees, including the €3 customs duty, are collected at checkout.
Sellers should note that eligible items sent by other shipping methods, depending on the shipping method utilized, may see the seller charged the €3 customs duty by the shipping provider prior to shipment or the buyer charged prior to delivery.
The customs duty applies per item type rather than per package. Multiples of the same item type are charged the duty once.
- Stationery: A notepad, a diary, and a calendar in a single parcel are counted as 3 distinct item types (total = €9 duty)
- Clothing: A t-shirt of cotton and a t-shirt of polyester in the same package are counted as 2 distinct item types (total = €6 duty)
- Clothing: Two cotton t-shirts of different colour and size in the same package are counted as 1 item type (total = €3 duty)