You can complain all you like - but I'm sure eBay is simply following the legal requirements.
In many cases the fact that we previously escaped paying Sales Tax was essentially an oversight.
For example, as far back as I can remember, if you purchased something from out of state...
YOU WERE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO REPORT IT ON YOUR TAX RETURN AND PAY LOCAL SALES TAX ON THE PURCHASE.
The reality was that most of us never reported it or paid those taxes...
Nobody ever actually checked...
And the law was never enforced...
And most of us were quite happy with that situation...
But, technically and legally, nothing has changed since then...
The system has simply been updated, so the oversight no longer occurs, and the government gets your money.
Actually, even in the old days, a few people were caught "mail ordering" expensive jewelry in NYC "to be delivered in NJ" to avoid the taxes...
And were prosecuted...
But most of us were quite happy to ignore the official "tax requirement" and get away with it.
I would also note that, for better or worse, it's "a Sales Tax" and not a "productivity tax" or even a "revenue tax".
Therefore it makes sense that it would be paid on every sale that occurs (and not just the first time a product is sold).
(Again, I'm not saying that I like it that way, but it hasn't actually changed.)
(Heck, if the system was fair, then you should also be able to write off the loss when you sell that amp for less than you paid for it.)
It all is what it is...
But, on the upside, no more worrying about whether the guy you sold it to on Craig's list will want to pay you with a check...
And whether his check will bounce, or worse yet, get returned from another state for insufficient funds after the money has supposedly cleared...
I for one am much happier letting eBay deal with messy details like that...
And being able to hit three buttons and have a mailing label printed... without having to go to another site... and enter everything again... is also nice.
(It may not be a big deal if you're selling one item... but, even with a half dozen, it makes things a lot more convenient.)
I should also point out something else...
With PHYSICAL auction houses you have always been expected to pay local taxes...
And it has also been traditional with higher-end auction houses to charge fees to BOTH THE SELLER AND THE BUYER...
And, with art auctions, those fees can easily run to 20%-30% ...
(This is NOT shipping... this is for in-person purchases.)
So, by those standards, eBay is pretty reasonable.
Hi
kauai82 -
Let's not forget the internet sales tax that eBay automatically collects. In my state, it drives up the cost of any eBay / Amazon purchase by an instant 10%. But if I deal with an individual via USAudiomart.com or Audiogon.com, I save that 10% AND the eBay fees. I can't complain about paying sales tax if I'm buying new merchandise. - I'd have to pay that anyway. But "double dipping" by charging sales tax for used gear just seems like egregious theft.
My eBay purchasing days are at an end. I'll still sell here on the Lounge and the sites I just mentioned, but I'll be closing my eBay store for 2021 ($263.40 saved annually).
Boom