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Sales tax refund for orders shipped to a forwarder — support isn't processing an already-confirmed request
Summary: samuelquint0 is facing issues with obtaining a sales tax refund for purchases made on eBay, shipped to a forwarder in Tennessee. Originally, eBay support confirmed they were eligible for a refund with proper documentation but now claims refunds apply only with a current tax-exempt address. The conflicting responses and reliance on AI support make resolution difficult for samuelquint0, who cannot use the phone option due to being in Ecuador. monroe67 suggests pursuing a refund through the forwarder or the State of Tennessee and recommends using a forwarder in a tax-free state. mam98031 mentions that exemption issues might be causing the refund problems and suggests checking Tennessee's tax rules.
I buy on eBay from Ecuador and ship my orders through the forwarder Shappi, whose address is in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Some time ago I contacted eBay support via chat and was told that my previous purchases do qualify for a sales tax refund, and that I only needed to submit the corresponding documentation (screenshots from Shappi) for each order. I already submitted that documentation for my past orders, but I haven't received any response or the refund.
I also recently updated my shipping address on eBay to a new tax-exempt address and uploaded the supporting document, although I haven't placed any orders with that new address yet.
Now, when I follow up through chat, I get replies saying they can only refund the tax if my current address is the exempt one — which contradicts what I was originally told (that it was based on documentation for each order shipped to Shappi, regardless of the current address). The AI chat doesn't seem to understand that I'm asking about past orders, and the only option it gives me is a phone call, which I can't receive since I'm in Ecuador.
Does anyone know how I can escalate this to a real person who can review my case, or what the correct process is to claim a sales tax refund for orders already shipped to a certified forwarder?
samuelquint0
OP3 weeks agomam98031
Mentor3 weeks agoIt is unlikely that @samuelquint0 is exempt from the state sales tax. Which would be why you are having problems getting it refunded. You may want to do an internet search and find out the rules for Tennessee.
monroe67
Mentor3 weeks ago · EditedThis is a new one.
The sales taxes you paid to the State of Tennessee may be gone -- from you -- forever.
If your delivery address was in the State of Tennessee, which does collect sales taxes
-- on both the price of the item and the price you paid toward the cost of shipping --
you might not actually be legally entitled to a refund of sales taxes you paid.
You may have a better chance of receiving a refund from "Shappi" itself
OR from the State of Tennessee. Its website is www.tn.gov
I hope you have found a new freight forwarding company that is located in one of the five United States which charge no sales taxes.
In alphabetical order, those five states are:
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
samuelquint0
OP3 weeks agosamuelquint0
OP3 weeks agoThis is the chat with the first agent I spoke to and explained the situation to; in any case, I would like to know how to contact eBay via email, since the virtual assistant isn't working properly.