The Canada Revenue Agency Audits eBay Sellers

If you are selling products on eBay, these earnings areand compares it against the sellers returns, they will
likely subject to income tax. If you sell more thannote any discrepancies and usually will begin an
$30,000 worth of goods per/year you may also beinvestigation that will lead into a full blown audit.
required to collect and remit sales tax.If this is you, the CRA will eventually find out about
Last year, eBay Canada received a court authorizedyour income and you will be subject to interest and
requirement from the Canada Revenue Agency. eBaypenalties. If you have been contacted by a CRA
must now release the account information and salesauditor, regard same as serious and seek professional
data of Canadian eBay members that meet thecounsel immediately. We routinely represent eBay
following conditions:Sellers who are being audited by the CRA. We
• Sales of more than $20,000 and at least 24 salesorganize audits to take place at our office (not our
transactions in any of the calendar years 2006, 2007clients home or business) and protect our client's
or 2008, (irrespective of membership in eBay's Powerinterests every step of the way.
Seller program); ORIf the CRA has not commenced an audit against you,
• Sales of more than $100,000 in any of thean excellent way to disclose your income and avoid
calendar years 2006, 2007 and or 2008, regardless ofpenalties and prosecution, is by making an application
the number of sales transactions.under the voluntary disclosure program. This is another
Ebay is required to supply the CRA with informationprocess that you should not pursue unrepresented.
about these individuals that includes their full name, userThis is a program that allows you to voluntarily disclose
id, mailing address, billing address, telephone number,previously undisclosed income to the CRA and avoid
fax number, email address, and the selling price ofpenalties and criminal prosecution. It is an involved and
each item that was sold.complex process but if you qualify, will be well worth it
This has resulted in an increase of audits by the CRA.in the long run.
When the CRA receives the information from eBay