Replying vs. Leaving Feedback + Selling out users to the IRS

[rushandtriumph]

Hello Friends on eBay,   It used to be that I could "Leave Feedback" for a Buyer.  Now eBay throws a screen at you which says "Reply to Buyer."  I have emailed eBay asking what the difference here is.  Is "Replying to buyer" just an email?  Or, is it leaving reciprocal feedback to the buyer.  Of course, I've asked this question to eBay directly.  But its ignorant, homogenous, uneducated staff will not (probably cannot) answer the question.

Allow me to add that eBay has done a terrible job helping users and sellers with the new taxes we're all going to have to pay.  eBay's lack of direction, explanation and specificity leaves seller having to pay tax accounts and lawyers to disentangle the whole new tax mess.   eBay is selling out it's sellers to the IRS, while providing little to no help to its sellers and users.

[calntom]

Are seller payments different on Amazon or other major online venues?  Anything different with the income tax procedures on the other venues? Has nothing to do with eBay or the other venues. 

[albertabrightalberta]

@rushandtriumph 

Do you not realize that no one is forcing you to stay on ebay. If you don't like it, pack up your toys and go elsewhere! (But don't be surprised when you come back with your tail between your legs after finding that the government requires other sites to send 1099Ks too.)

[buyologist-3]

So very well said. Not insulting or accusing.  Very helpful!  

[buyologist-3]

 "It's more money for the government..."

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...To pay for the Stimulus Checks and more.  For a rare moment, both sides agreed to this!  OK, that's one...   

[coolections]

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@rushandtriumph wrote:

its ignorant, homogenous, uneducated staff will not (probably cannot) answer the question.

eBay has done a terrible job helping users. eBay is selling out it's sellers to the IRS.

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It sounds like someone is very confused. No need to contact cs at all. No changes to taxes and no changes to feedback. BTW nice insults being thrown around.

[rushandtriumph]

It sounds like someone isn't paying attention to the very noticeable drastic changes that have come with selling on eBay in 2022.  

"BTW nice insults being thrown around."   Actually, You and others who keep touting the false claim of "no tax changes," are the same ones who are recklessly and irresponsibly throwing around the term "tax-dodger."   By making that false allegation, you're just wrong on another out.  And I noticed that those who disagreed with me, actually reported me.  If you can't hang in an argument don't go running to eBay and start tattling like a kindergartener would.

[lakefor94]

We certainly appreciate your stopping back by. 

[rushandtriumph]

"you're just wrong on another count."   I meant to correct in my last post.  Your insincerity almost matches your level of inaccuracy on this issue.

[kalyoth]

ebay has nothing to do with you needing to report your sales to the IRS. The US Federal Government changed tax law requiring the reporting for those accepting payment card transactions in any amount (no minimum limits now in place). You want to crusade against someone, do it against those US House & Senate representatives you have that voted it into existence when that COVID stimulus payment was voted into existence.

[donsdetour]

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@rushandtriumph wrote:

"you're just wrong on another count."   I meant to correct in my last post.  Your insincerity almost matches your level of inaccuracy on this issue.

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Had to go and read this stuff: seems things got a bit heated, and even the mods had to step in.

Tax law change is the lowering of the reporting amount for 1099: eBay can do nothing but try and get folks to complain to their law makers, and comply with the law.

They did that.

as for feedback to the buyer: it was changed a long time ago, no negs for:

Again nothing we users are going to do about it:  tried then to no avail.... .

A screen popping up is not some thing I have not ecountered:

As for the outsourced Customer service; it is what it is: we advise folks to ask questions on the community boards: due to wee see a lot of incorrect advice given through CS...

As for taxes : As for Managed Payment it is not set up for the small users bookkeeping but it can be done:

I am sure I missed some stuff prior to the cleaning this topic seems to have got..

eBay is simple: as a seller if I can still make a buck its good for me:

As a buyer If I can find what I want at a price I am willing to pay it is good for me.

That is the bottom line of all of this stuff;

If you have not noticed such laws as the change for 1099 is targeted at such enterprises as eBay and the others: This also includes the state taxes now applied through law as well. Other legislation may make it unfeasible for such as eBay to operate as it has ( laws that were change did aid in the PayPal eBay split off): seem a few plans may be going on internally with ebay: the Vault and authentication being the main one I see.

Some sort of redistribution of how listings are showing and cutting down categories seems also in the plans: ( does not help the buyer from what I am seeing): a bit of a learning curve these days to find stuff.

What can I say to appease the crowd: not much...

Of course as with the world: Time will tell.

[oldwestgold · Accepted solution]

Lame.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Sadly, another member that would rather rant than learn something...but let's try:

1.) The IRS has always said you MUST report any additional income OVER $600. So, when people say thing has changed...NOTHING HAS CHANGED. You are just now getting (and so is the IRS) a 'tattletale form' that you got that money.

2.) When people 'post' that they are upset about it, and anyone seeing this post can click on your name and see your sales, feedback as a seller etc. and then it's EASY TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE A TAX DODGER. 

3.) eBay had NOTHING to do with the 'reporting' that is required. That is Congress that passed that new 'reporting'.

On a sidenote: leaving feedback is leaving feedback. Replying to feedback left is just that-replying.

[rushandtriumph]

@luckythewinner  (in red)   Rushandtriumph (me) in black:
"Congress "sold you out" to the IRS.  (stop) Blaming eBay....." OK sure - and Big Business and Big Government are never in cahoots.  Yes, I'm saying this very facetiously.  eBay did little to combat this legislation which effectively "sand-bagged" eBay sellers of all levels.  I'll outline and detail as much as I can in my responses below. Do you really think eBay's going to absorb all the costs and confusion involved here? No way.  Just guess to whom the burden will be passed.

"eBay told you what they will do" <---- That is simply not true. Complicating the largest tax threshold change in American history are the new fees, charges and re-categorizations of selling items. While everyone was trying to gain an understanding of the tax changes to online selling, eBay slipped in new changes which affect the selling community directly, and severely complicate the quarterly tax payments for sellers. And allow me to emphasize that the new fee changes weren't decreases. There are many charts out there detailing the increases. Here's one right from eBay itself:

https://export.ebay.com/en/seller-updates/releases-archive/2022-winter-seller-update/fees/ 

There are no "new taxes" <---- You have got to be kidding me. The cut to the online sales tax threshold is the most drastic threshold cut ever implemented!  Congress lowered the threshold for issuing a 1099-K in Section 9674 of the American Rescue Plan.  They lowered the taxable amount from $20,000 to $600. That is a 97%! 97% !!!! Can't you see that?!

 More people are grappling with many more 1099-K forms - which have also (and needlessly) become much more complicated. So now millions of Americans with non-taxable events are getting nothing but confused by receiving 1099-K forms since the law went into effect. A used good sold for less than the original purchase price will not create any taxable income. Yet these transactions will now trigger IRS reporting requirements, yielding confusion and ultimately overreporting of income, which could result in overpayment as well as ineligibility for certain tax benefits.

"When I buy gas, it is not the gas station's job to...."  <----- That is not a good analogy, nor is it a very similar comparison.  A more logical comparison to make would be a "Before & After" analysis of the inexplicable tax changes of March 2022 and the effects resulting from the largest-ever 1099-K threshold shift in history.

"eBay should not be trying tell sellers how to account for a 1099-K ... That is the IRS's job."   I might have agreed with you here on this stance a year or two ago.   Really - it has become our (sellers) job to disentangle all of this.   Even hired accountants are protesting the new IRS tax requirements resulting from the 1099-K in Section 9674 of the American Rescue Plan.  We are going to see an unprecedented amount of confusing paperwork change hands (on a quarterly basis, mind you), due to the largest threshold cut and most complicated IRS reporting requirements in commerce history.  A million articles about the new IRS confusion are out there. Here's one from the Journal of Accountancy:

 https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/mar/new-lower-form-1099-k-threshold-cautions-critici...

Lastly, I've noticed some of you, who disagree with me are using the same repetitive narratives in other forums.  That's OK, but read my responses here to navigate your way to reality.  And for those of you who are reporting/tattling on me because you disagree with me ............. petulance is a form of helplessness.

[rushandtriumph]

Here's my one addition/enhancement to my last reply: 

They lowered the taxable amount from $20,000 to $600. That is a 97% Shift! A Tectonic Plate-sized 97% Tax Shift!!!!  How can anyone overlook that?

[rushandtriumph]

Incorrect on several counts.   Please read my recent reply to luckythewinner.