Question to Australians - Aliexpress GST Invoice/Receipt - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 09:33:18 pm
content: Hi Australia, NZ has a few days ago enacted similar under $1000 import GST rules as you have and now Aliexpress is required to collect GST at time of sale (and is doing so). This is good, cuts work done by customs, makes many things even cheaper to import, blah blah.As a GST registered entity when I make a business related purchase I want to claim that back, but I can not find any way on Aliexpress to generate the GST invoice/receipt that they are legally required (by NZ) to provide.Australia, you've been under this new rules for about a year, and I'm assuming that you have something the same about the supplier (for GST purposes) being required to give a GST receipt on request which shows their GST number, items purchased, GST amount etc, so... are they, is this something that is available to Australia and maybe they haven't done if for NZ yet, is there some special non-obvious way of doing it, or should I kick this up the line to our IRD and see if they will give special guidance or lean on Ali for full compliance.Of course I asked Aliexpress' (probably human) chat but got nowhere useful.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:10:26 pm
content: Perhaps worth a chat with the IRD?I assume they will have contacts in the right place in these companies and will push them in the right direction.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:23:20 pm
content: Thank you for raising this question.I am also interested in how I can obtain some sort of GST invoice.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:26:15 pm
content: No way on Ali to specify your GST number so they do not collect it?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:37:31 pm
content: The transactions I have seen under this new system have almost exclusively been DDP terms, if you're really game ask a tax accountant about how that is creditable (still no solid answer and these new laws are being tested in court).

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:45:49 pm
content: Importation duties and GST are different things ...

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 11:19:01 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on December 02, 2019, 10:26:15 pmIn NZ there is no requirement for the supplier to know the customers GST number, even if the customer is a GST registered entity.The supplier just needs to collect the tax and pay it to NZ IRD. They also do need to give the customer a Tax Invoice which shows the amount of GST they charged.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 04:30:05 am
content: Quote from: Bud on December 02, 2019, 10:26:15 pmNo, not that I can find.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 04:45:05 am
content: I'll have a chat to my livelong accountant buddy about this and report back.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 05:03:15 am
content: A quick bash around in the NZ IRD website finds this:https://www.ird.govt.nz/gst/gst-for-overseas-businesses/gst-on-low-value-imported-goods/requirements-after-registration(Sellers)Requirements for receiptsSuppliers will need to provide a receipt to consumers if they have charged the consumer GST on some or all of the goods in the transaction. This receipt can then be used as evidence to Customs that GST has already been charged on the goods.For the receipt, you must include the:name and GST number of the supplierdate of the supplydate of issue of the receipt (if different from the date of the supply)description of the goods suppliedprice paid for the goods and the amount of GST included, which may be expressed in a foreign currencylist of which goods have had GST charged.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 05:37:31 am
content: Quote from: tautech on December 03, 2019, 05:03:15 amYes those are the requirements that Aliexpress is supposed to adhere to, I can't find anywhere on the site to get such a receipt though (and as stated, I asked and chat was not helpful).The best they could offer was the order details, which do not state Aliexpress' GST number (otherwise it would pretty much suffice as the receipt even though you'd have to print the page or screenshot it, whatever).

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 05:56:21 am
content: Yeah well one of us just has to get some stuff and keep an eye out for the GST being added in the Aliexpress checkout and if there’s any new options there for printing, hopefully in which their GST# gets added.Black Friday specials end soon ........

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 06:50:24 am
content: If i were you i would send a letter to the tax agency reporting the merchant nog adhering to the regulations and ask for an advice on the situation.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:04:38 am
content: I'm waiting to see as I have a package already on the way. Personally I would prefer if it just got held up in customs for the paper work.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:12:42 am
content: Quote from: blacksheeplogic on December 03, 2019, 07:04:38 amTrouble with that is you have to engage a authorized customs agent to get clearance unless they're streamlining the process if you can show documentation.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:13:26 am
content: Quote from: tautech on December 03, 2019, 05:56:21 amAll you get is the GST amount on the order details page, there is no option for download/print/anything and no display of Aliexpress' GST number.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:16:26 am
content: Quote from: tautech on December 03, 2019, 07:12:42 amYou seem to be a bit behind the times there I think Tautech :-) Anything under $1000 will go straight through in theory now as customs should just assume that GST has been paid or was not required to be paid (there is no more duty or MPI etc for under $1000).Anything over $1000 the usual protocols remain for clearance etc.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:23:46 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on December 03, 2019, 07:16:26 amGenerally my overseas orders are larger, much larger and I use a broker mate from High school to handle sea freight, GST liabilities and customs stuff.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:25:29 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on December 03, 2019, 07:13:26 amNotice the: awaiting receipt ?Or is that for funds receipt ?

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:26:28 am
content: That is awaiting receipt of the goods, as in, not yet delivered.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 07:32:42 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on December 03, 2019, 05:37:31 amYou're assuming they are a domestic supplier for GST purposes, they aren't. When you buy from overseas the importer is liable for the GST, again, its not you, and its almost certainly not Aliexpress, they have organised an intermediary to import the item for you on DDP terms. Thats how its been working with eBay etc in Australia.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 08:04:35 am
content: Quote from: Someone on December 03, 2019, 07:32:42 amThis is in relation to legislation enacted here in NZ on the 1st of December. Aliexpress as the marketplace is classified as the supplier for GST purposes and is required to collect GST (at time of purchase) and remit (quarterly) to the IRD (NZ Inland Revenue Department), including the GST receipt requirements for overseas vendors as noted above.This applies of course not just to Aliexpress, but all overseas vendors, or marketplaces, or reshippers who send more than 60k NZD pa to NZ. And yes enforcing compliance to NZ law of overseas businesses is shakey, but the big names have complied so that is all that is required.Perhaps it works differently in Australia.

author: tycz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 08:43:40 am
content: sleemanj,In Australia, if you are buying from an overseas GST registered shop then you need to specify that you are a business and supply your ABN (Australian business number) before you buy. Then the shop will not charge you GST. Normally there's some question about this on the order form and a spot to put your ABN. As far as I know there's no particular paperwork requirements on behalf of the merchant to the customer. If you are expecting a tax invoice, you won't get one as only an Australian business (with an ABN/ACN) can issue one of those.The whole system looks half baked to me. There's no way to check that an overseas business is truly registered for GST or just pretending. On the flip side, there doesn't appear to be anything stopping Joe Random from supplying some unrelated business's ABN and having the GST magically removed from the price.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 08:44:53 am
content: I've thrown caution to the wind and sent a message to IRD to ask for their opinion.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 08:51:46 am
content: Quote from: tycz on December 03, 2019, 08:43:40 amFor NZ purposes, those overseas businesses/marketplaces who do 50% or more sold to consumers (certainly Ali falls in that category) can blanket charge GST to everybody and the GST reg buyers are supposed to be able to claim it back as normal. Those overseas businesses get an NZ GST number (rough equiv of ABN) like domestic ones do so they can issue those receipts.Sounds like AU isn't quite as similar to our legislation as I thought it was. I shall report back when the IRD replies, eventually.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 06:59:23 pm
content: Quote from: blacksheeplogic on December 03, 2019, 07:04:38 amThey charge you $60 or $70 on top of the GST for the privilege of holding up your package for a week. Not seeing the upside myselfMuch better to pay tax at purchase, and then there is no delay and no extra fees.Also the new, higher limit of $1000 compared to the old $400 limit means that if you are just over the limit the fees are a smaller percentage of the total.A $405 package attracted about 30% 'tax and fees' under the old regime.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 08:37:47 pm
content: Quote from: hendorog on December 03, 2019, 06:59:23 pmIt takes a couple of days normally.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 08:55:19 pm
content: You can now get a GST receipt from Aliexpress.On the order details page next to the "Confirm Goods Received" button you'll find a "Download Invoice" button, click it, then in the dialog that opens click the "Receipt" link, no need to fill out the form or submit I don't know what that's about, just click the link and you'll get a suitable PDF GST Receipt (well, looks good enough, has a GST number on it).

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 09:00:37 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on December 15, 2019, 08:55:19 pmDon't see any invoice buttons. Aren't you talking about some browser extension? Like thishttps://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ali-invoice/iddjifkhlboklmognibdadieodidkhcm?hl=en

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 09:05:54 pm
content: The button has appeared on one of the items I am waiting for...

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 09:12:48 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on December 15, 2019, 09:00:37 pmNo. But you are not in New Zealand so I doubt you're going to be offered to download a New Zealand GST Receipt :-)