reserve fee = minimum bid

[callipy*1]

If there is a minimum bid amount on an item for an auction, does this mean there is a minimum $5.00 reserve fee for this item? If not, what constitutes a reserve fee of $5.00 or 7.5% of the purchase price and would the purchase price include taxes and shipping fee?

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@callipy*1.  Start auctions at a price you'll be happy with if you get just one bid to avoid the non refundable reserve price fee that's due even if the item doesn't sell 

Buyers don't like reserve price auctions either and it encourages "sport bidding " by buyers that just want to see what your reserve price is.   

The reserve price fee is addition to final value fees which are 13.25 % for most categories but do vary.     The fees are charged on the total a buyer pays including sales tax and shipping.  

[woodland_gnome]

All auctions have a Starting Price (a/k/a Starting Bid).  Some seller insist on setting their Starting Price for less than they are willing to sell for so for them eBay offers the option of a higher Reserve Price for the fee you mention.   You don't incur that Reserve Fee unless you choose to do that.   The Starting Price is included in the Basic Insertion Fee (of which all sellers have a monthly allowance of at least 250 waivers of the $.35 Basic Insertion Fee).

Shipping and handling is set by the seller separately from the final price (s/he can set it at fixed price:  Free Shipping if s/he desires to include s/h in the price).  eBay collects any sales tax due to the state and local governments at the zipcode of the shipping address given by the buyer.

ETA:  You misstated the Reserve Fee calculation:  it is 7.5% of the RESERVE PRICE, not the auction price.   It is owed regardless of the outcome of the auction or even if you end the listing without a winner or whatever happens.  It is charged again if you relist (possible exception for automatic relisting "for free up to 8 times" if you are given that option on the listing form).