Earn
ATO extends eBay, Amazon data-matching program
Up to 30,000 eBay and Amazon sale transactions are set to be scrutinised by the ATO as it looks to identify taxpayers who may be failing to meet their tax obligations.

ATO extends eBay, Amazon data-matching program
Up to 30,000 eBay and Amazon sale transactions are set to be scrutinised by the ATO as it looks to identify taxpayers who may be failing to meet their tax obligations.

The online selling data-matching program, in place since 2008, has now been extended to allow the ATO to acquire data on Australian sales made through the online selling platforms for 2018–19 through to the 2022–23 financial years.
Obtaining data from eBay Australia and New Zealand and Amazon Australia, the ATO will be able to detect potentially unreported income and identify taxpayers operating a business but are failing to meet their registration, lodgement, reporting or payment obligations.
Online sellers who sell goods or services with a total annual turnover of $12,000 or more are likely to be looked at by the ATO, with such sellers seeing their data collected between 2015 and 2018.
The threshold was $10,000 during the 2014–15 financial year.
“The ongoing collection of this data enables us to review and educate online sellers who may be transitioning from hobby status to being in business,” the ATO said.
“Insights from the program inform treatment strategies to improve voluntary compliance through education on taxation obligations.”
Data collected from eBay and Amazon are set to include sellers’ identification details including their date of birth and contact information, as well as their online account details such as their IP address, their linked PayPal account and the value of their sales transactions.
The ATO anticipates obtaining between 20,000 and 30,000 account records for each financial year and expects around half of the matched accounts to relate to individuals.
Data records are expected to be kept for up to five years, allowing the ATO to cross-reference taxpayer records retrospectively.
The ATO has established a number of new data-matching programs this year, particularly around JobKeeper compliance as well as to verify eligibility for other pandemic stimulus measures such as the cash flow boost and the early release of super.

Tax refund
Expats cautioned over COVID-19 tax traps
With thousands of Australian expats either returning or planning on heading home following the COVID-19 pandemic, an accountant has urged them to look into their tax affairs to avoid a hefty tax bil...Read more

Tax refund
80¢ per hour work-from-home deduction method extended
Taxpayers continuing to work from home in the new year will be allowed to continue using the simplified working-from-home deduction method following a third extension by the ATO. ...Read more

Tax refund
The $40bn hidden tax hurting Australian businesses
Businesses rewarding hard-working staff with a Christmas bonus are paying for it through compliance costs associated with Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT), an industry expert argues. ...Read more

Tax refund
Government tackles ATO scams with new telco rules
New rules that require telcos to detect, trace and block scam calls have now been registered, as such scams, including ATO impersonation scams, cost Australians $36 million in 2020 so far. ...Read more

Tax refund
Victoria unveils new payroll tax break
Victorian businesses that re-employ or hire new workers over the next two years are set to receive a new payroll tax credit, as the state government unveils a range of tax measures aimed at stimulatin...Read more

Tax refund
Is it time for a national EV tax?
The Australian Automobile Association has called for a national EV tax as state regulators continue to introduce taxes to offset fuel losses. ...Read more

Tax refund
Major bank exec convicted over fraudulent tax claims
A major bank executive has been convicted and fined after attempting to obtain tax refunds close to $25,000 in work-related expenses. ...Read more

Tax refund
Can Millennials maintain their lifestyle as the Boomers retire?
With considerably more people exiting the workforce at age 65 than entering at age 15, younger Australians could be forced to foot the bill for retirees, an analyst has said. ...Read more

Tax refund
Expats cautioned over COVID-19 tax traps
With thousands of Australian expats either returning or planning on heading home following the COVID-19 pandemic, an accountant has urged them to look into their tax affairs to avoid a hefty tax bil...Read more

Tax refund
80¢ per hour work-from-home deduction method extended
Taxpayers continuing to work from home in the new year will be allowed to continue using the simplified working-from-home deduction method following a third extension by the ATO. ...Read more

Tax refund
The $40bn hidden tax hurting Australian businesses
Businesses rewarding hard-working staff with a Christmas bonus are paying for it through compliance costs associated with Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT), an industry expert argues. ...Read more

Tax refund
Government tackles ATO scams with new telco rules
New rules that require telcos to detect, trace and block scam calls have now been registered, as such scams, including ATO impersonation scams, cost Australians $36 million in 2020 so far. ...Read more

Tax refund
Victoria unveils new payroll tax break
Victorian businesses that re-employ or hire new workers over the next two years are set to receive a new payroll tax credit, as the state government unveils a range of tax measures aimed at stimulatin...Read more

Tax refund
Is it time for a national EV tax?
The Australian Automobile Association has called for a national EV tax as state regulators continue to introduce taxes to offset fuel losses. ...Read more

Tax refund
Major bank exec convicted over fraudulent tax claims
A major bank executive has been convicted and fined after attempting to obtain tax refunds close to $25,000 in work-related expenses. ...Read more

Tax refund
Can Millennials maintain their lifestyle as the Boomers retire?
With considerably more people exiting the workforce at age 65 than entering at age 15, younger Australians could be forced to foot the bill for retirees, an analyst has said. ...Read more