Posted on 03/14/2010 3:59:46 PM PDT by jsh3180
Internet sellers who don't report their sales will no longer be under the radar. Starting next year, any bank or other payment settlement company that processes credit cards, debit cards, and electronic payments such as PayPal will have to issue information returns telling the IRS what merchants receive. The new returns are Form 1099-K, Merchant Card and Third-Party Payments.
Purpose of Reporting The IRS believes that many online sellers fail to report their transactions. Some don't report because they mistakenly believe that Internet sales are invisible. Others do so because they are trying to evade taxes.
The IRS has found that using information returns, such as W-2 forms for employees, Form 1099-MISC for independent contractors, and Form 1099-INT for bank interest, goes a long way toward improving the reporting of income. IRS computers can match income reported on these information returns with the income reported on tax returns.
Who's Subject to Reporting All merchants who accept payments through credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and PayPal will receive information returns telling them - and the IRS - the gross amount of the merchant card transactions. This will be broken down month by month. While the form uses the word "card," the IRS has made it clear that this is interpreted broadly to include third-party network transactions (i.e., PayPal).
Exception: Very small merchants won't be issued information returns. "Small" for this purpose means annual gross sales on merchant cards of no more than $20,000 or 200 or fewer transactions. In other words, reporting is required only if gross amounts for the year exceed $20,000 and there are more than 200 transactions.
Mechanics As it now stands (proposed regulations have not yet been finalized), gross amounts reported for merchant transactions do not take into account any adjustments for credits, cash equivalents, discount amounts, fees, chargebacks, refunded amounts, or any other amounts. It will be up to sellers to report on their returns the full amounts reported to them and then make adjustments or explanations to account for differences in what is ultimately taxable to them.
For example, a seller who is paid $1,000 by credit card for a particular transaction does not necessarily have $1,000 profit even though $1,000 will be included on Form 1099-K. The $1,000 must be reported so the return will match what's in the IRS computers, but this amount will then be reduced on the merchant's return by the cost of goods sold (what it costs for the inventory sold), merchant account fees, and other costs.
Providing Your Tax ID Number to Processors Merchants will have to provide their federal tax identification numbers to the companies processing their transactions. If they fail to do so, they may become subject to "backup withholding," which means these companies will have to deduct and withhold income tax from reportable payments. Backup withholding won't go into effect until 2012.
Sellers who don't wish to provide their social security number to payment processors can obtain an EIN (Employer ID Number). Note that you can obtain an EIN even if you are a sole proprietorship. See the IRS website for more information.
More information on Form 1099-K You can find more information about Form 1099-K, the new information return that payment settlement entities will use to report the gross amount of merchant card or third-party payments, on this IRS web page (PDF format).
yep sucks big time... as I am Mr Bump
damm sucks, so long money...
eBay mandates use of PayPal now.
Considering every paypal sale I make is based upon a loss, it’s going to be fun getting cash back. Thanks, taxman, thanks.
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I concur ,, that used item I sell for $20 whether or not I purchased it new at full retail or at a garage sale for $5 will be reported as a loss with a cost basis of the full retail price. I gave up on eBay when they changed their feedback and PayPal policies... I may have to start selling again.
You’ll get both.
Remember how the lotteries were going to fund schools?
Yeah, right.
If a fundamentalist Libertarian view was taken, it would be preferable if such filings were not required at all.
Yet, at the present time, in the present realities, if they are legally required of all “bricks and mortar” merchants, then yes, they should be required of Internet based merchants and transactions as well.
I have a lot of concern about this. I’m a fulltime ebay and Amaazon seller, and I’ve been reporting my net income every year.
In some ways it will help me because it may drive out a lot of the sellers who’ve been making their money tax-free.
But I worry because the IRS being the IRS, they have a tendency to treat gross income as net income, as if I just sit at a computer all day and people magically send me money for no reason.
Good luck with that.
Mark of the beast.
Not good.
One more reason I have pretty much stopped selling on Ebay.
This will kill thousands of little cottage industry businesses like my wife’s and mine.
I quit almost 2 years ago when they raised fees again and took away my right to leave negative feedback on the bidders.
Was a 10,000+ shooting star in feedback and silver powerseller. Haven’t been back. Just too much BS to deal with.
Once in a while I will sell something of higher value for a friend or two for a piece of the action. Most of what I deal with is vintage radio gear that people in Asia go nuts over.
“Did you really think we want those laws observed?” said Dr. Ferris. “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against... We’re after power and we mean it... There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”
(’Atlas Shrugged’ 1957)
Cash is King. These idiots will just force internet sales to go underground. The IRS sucks... “sweet land of liberty” is fading quickly.
Render unto Caesar...
Is there another site where you can sell "stuff" like on eBay? But with less hassle, and you can leave negative feedback about buyers?
I was just about to get started on eBay, and it's all gone to Hell lately, from what I've heard... :-(
More good news...
This is the mantra I’ve been preaching to folks who cross the border into NH. Screw the few frequent flier miles or 2 quarts of free gasoline, the clampdown has been coming.
Well, it’s here now - spot on Pearls.
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