*******  OFFLIST *************
*******  OFFLIST *************
*******  OFFLIST *************
*******  OFFLIST *************



> GST (Goods and Services Taxes / Grab Snatch Take) is 12.5% in
> NZ. I'm registered for it, even though by most reckonings I'm a very
> small business (well hardly even a business, I'm just a self-employed
> developer), and the rebate is a welcome bit of pocket money in
> addition to buying at trade prices. It also means I can pass on that
> lower price by excluding GST from the bill, which is a good will
> gesture towards customers

No no no no ... !
(!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

At least, if I understand you correctly that is.
I've made this offlist for hopefully obvious reasons.

I'll explain GST situation briefly - if you understand this that's good. If
not, you may wish to adapt your trade practices if required. Sorry if I'm
telling you how to suck eggs.

Please do not think I am wrong here :-)
_________________

If you are GST registered

If you buy goods or pay for services (G&S) you may claim the GST content
back for the government via the IRD.

If these G&S are expended during the course of pursuing your business then
the GST is essentially yours to keep (as it was originally paid earlier down
the line for G&S which were intended for retail consumption and you are not
a retail consumer)(It is effectively assumed that this consumption on your
part goes towards making you a more effective creator of GSTable income.)

If you export goods then you can keep the GST content as above.

If you sell goods to ANYONE then you MUST add GST at 12.5% to the sale
price. This GST BELONGS to the government. You MUST return it to the IRD. If
you do not do so you are liable for it. If you do not charge GST you are
STILL liable for it. If you do not pay the IRD the GST they will, in due
course come and kill you or some reasonable facsimile thereof.

There is NO WAY to avoid liability for GST on goods that you sell if you are
a GST registered person.

Suggesting that you do not charge GST on a public list (or perhaps seeming
to suggest this) is inviting unwelcome interest.

If you want to tell the customers that you are not adding GST and then
absorb the GST cost yourself and pay the IRD out of your pocket then you are
we4lcome to do so. As long as the GST is REALLY paid the IRD do not care who
does the paying. This may have been what you meant. It was, wasn't it ? :-)




        Russell

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu