Randomly Received a Small Refund

Question

A few hours ago, I received a tiny refund for a purchase I made back in May 2023. Here's the thing - I did not request for a refund. The refund is less than a dollar. Should I be suspicious of something here? Should I contact the seller? It feels completely out of left field.

lacemaker3 · Accepted Answer

Michigan recently changed the sales tax law. They used to charge sales tax on shipping, now they don't. I guess eBay was a bit late implementing the change, so they apparently collected sales tax on shipping when they shouldn't have, for some transactions. The change went into effect April 26, 2023. @alittlespark reported this for a purchase in May, 2023. https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/business-taxes/delivery-and-installation-charges

traco1958 · Answer

I had the same thing happen. Is it a scam. Nobody answered you to let you know what is up?

valueaddedresource · Answer

@collector_1234 I see from your listings you are in Kansas - looks like they also changed their sales tax laws regarding collecting of tax on shipping last year.

https://www.ksrevenue.gov/taxnotices/notice23-02.pdf

https://www.salestaxinstitute.com/resources/kansas-no-longer-taxes-delivery-charges-as-of-july-1-2023

Following changes to the tax code that were made during the 2022 legislative section, as of July 1, 2023, Kansas no longer imposes sales tax on delivery charges that are separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or other documentation given to the purchaser.

@stimpyfan20 what state are you in?

stimpyfan20 · Answer

Okay so as of now 1/24/24 I'm experiencing this phenomenon, I got nearly 20 listings I bought in July Partially refuned for .20 cents here to .50 cents there.

I don't live in Michigan and from what I was able to collect the listings that still were archived (cause ebay deletes some full detailed listings they way they were originally posted for sale if they are older than 90 days) none that I could tell where from Michigan.

From this log here it seems the automated service is no help or is customer service humans if you can get ahold of one not contacting sellers.

For now my only guess is maybe my state changed their sales tax law as well and ebay is giving out refunds for sales taxes they shouldnt have charged and I'm experiencing what is happening to people that buy or sell from Michigan

No real clear answer just some good theories, either way I'm just hoping it's not something that will prevent me from buying in the future or make it necessary where I may need to change my debt to get whatever this is to stop if it shouldnt be happening, honestly I don't know just trying to make sence of it. Also seems just laughable that the only real clarity to this issue is from the Ebay buyer/seller community and not the cooperation themselves at least we look out for each other.

mydayisday6 · Answer

Iâ€™m happy to have found this post. I received a handful of refunds today and was confused and concerned. But seeing that it has happened to other people and the â€œreasonâ€ for it has eased my concern.

dictation-mall · Answer

Same here. It's really a pain for our accounting system.

miguy70 · Answer

In Michigan as well, and have been receiving these randomly for the last couple of months. Never could figure out until now - yeah it is probably a sales tax on shipping refund due to MI law changes

0hnobinki · Answer

I received a refund. It included the order number and I was able to find the order it referred to. I also am in Michigan as someone mentioned. Interesting.

cl_kid · Answer

SAME HERE, 10 or 12 such refunds of only pennies over the last several days!

thejokerswild2k5 · Answer

I also live in Michigan and same thing here. I have gotten quite a few of these and was starting to wonder why I was getting so many of these. Thanks to all in this post for the info/help!

redsxoie · Answer

I just received two refunds for purchases in May 2023. I also live in Michigan. The tax for shipping theory makes sense. Thanks for connecting the dots for us as it did seem like some kind of fishing scam.

marshamae · Answer

I called ebay about 3 of these little refunds. They INSISTED that they were being made by the sellers. I contacted the sellers and they DID NOT refund the money. One said they would check into it and the other two just told me not to worry about it. Im going to contact paypal next because they have already collected the fees and are losing money I believe. Refunds can be any amount. I am getting them showing in my paypal account as credits as well. I think ebay has some kind of system glytch and nobody there wants to pass it on or be concerned about it.

mickie586 · Answer

my credit card statements are showing over a hundred refunds for 0.03 cents

some are 0.05 and some as little 0.01 cents, don't know why, how would I find

out,I guess I'll have to contact Ebay customer service.

angelwith9mm · Answer

I've gotten three tiny refunds back over the last month. I also use PayPal. Very strange for sure!

tamiam42 · Answer

Hm. I wonder where the refunds will go if I removed all my payment methods? ðŸ¤”

tamiam42 · Answer

I just received an email with the exact same thing! A $0.34 cent refund on my credit card. I haven't purchased anything on eBay at all this year. So I just went in, changed my password, deleted my saved payment cards. There are no messages in my inbox on eBay regarding this 34 cents. This INFURIATES me. I would delete my entire account, but I don't want to lose my "seniority" or buyer ratings. Makes no sense. Maybe it's a ploy from eBay to members who haven't used eBay in awhile to get you back into your account and buy something? God who knows. I am so sick of new tech and frauds.

yu_gi_ig · Answer

My refund was from may also that I just received today. Iâ€™m guessing itâ€™s some kind of internal audit from eBay

1978wolverine · Answer

I'm from Michigan and received a couple of these. Both were small amounts and were from an order back in May 23. The email I received had the amount of the purchase so I went back to my purchase history and saw the details for that item. It was due to charging tax for shipping costs.

chizzy_deals0915 · Answer

Iâ€™m in Michigan as well and have got a total of like 20-25 refunds that range from .2-.15 cents that go back to about April-may. So Iâ€™d assume the tax reason is why. But also eBay is trying to make sure they get it all done before the end of the year so IRS doesnâ€™t fine them. lol

von-yesselstyn-restorations-1 · Answer

Same thing happening to me, multiples of these.

lacemaker3 · Answer

From what I can see, two of the people on this thread who reported this has happened to them are active sellers, and looking at their listings, both are in Michigan. Michigan recently changed the sales tax law. They used to charge sales tax on shipping, now they don't. I guess eBay was a bit late implementing the change, so they apparently collected sales tax on shipping when they shouldn't have, for some transactions.

kalyoth · Answer

I have been receiving postage refunds from USPS for overcharges. Might it be that? I round up in ounces & sometimes it bumps into larger class.

12345jamesstamps · Answer

Oh my!

I give refunds to my International buyers all the time for combined shipping because they can't add all their items in the shopping cart. And a lot of these never ask for a refund of combined shipping. Its just the right thing to do.

lionshead62 · Answer

I am getting LOTS of those too. I do NOT click the "get in touch" link. If something seems fishy ....

xtack14 · Answer

I've gotten about three or four of these in the last week. From what I can figure, the refund seems to correspond with the tax I was charged on the shipping amount. Haven't heard anything official though.

penguins_dont_fly · Answer

It isn't even possible for a seller to issue a refund on a sale that is over 90 days old (through eBay, anyway) and all sellers are in Managed Payments now, there is no PayPal connection at all for eBay orders on the Seller side.

If I had to guess, I would say it was a Sales Tax refund ... eBay miscalculated something and is now issuing refunds.

Just a guess.

scholtenj · Answer

I have been having the same thing happen. I have already received a refund for an item, but a couple weeks later a 34 cent, or 56 cent, or 22 cent pops up. I use PayPal to pay. Does that have anything to do with it?

albertabrightalberta · Answer

How do you know which seller it's from? A listing from May 2023 can't be retrieved. I'm not sure it's possible for a seller to issue a refund from a 6-month old order.

Was there any note included in the refund?

Unknown · Answer

It is odd. Never heard that one before. Maybe itâ€™s a ploy to get you to come back and buy more.