I Need Help From Either eBay Power Sellers or a Legal Aide/Lawyer

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habscards

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Hopefully that catchy title will get someone who is in the know to look.

Here is my situation;


I work at a hospital and have been off of work since the end of April with a herniated L4-L5 disc in my back and a pinched nerve causing sciatic pain down my left leg.

I have had an ongoing back problem over the last five years but it has gotten significantly worse over the last two years. I hurt my back last January and was off for twenty weeks. I hurt it again last December and was off for another five weeks. Now I hurt it again this past April and have been off since. Last week I had a major setback and have been written off of work for a minimum if two months. That is when my next follow up appointment is.

I have tried everything from Chiropractor (I go weekly), to Physio, to Osteopath, to acupuncture, to cortizone needles, to gym membership. Needless to say I have tried it all. I am currently on a waiting list for four back surgeons. Needless to say their is a massive backlog to get surgery and I am not a emergency case so I have to wait for a few years. Last week I had another setback where my back seized up on me and I was getting massive spasms. It was so bad that I got prescribed a walker and I now have a handicapped parking permit. Over the last two years I have had a total of five ambulance rides because of my back. I have a legit injury. And yes I am only 31 years old.


Sorry for the long read but I feel as if I have to set it up to what is about to happen. In about a month from now I have to go on to long term disability. I will have to apply through the government and my insurance company. I have to report all forms of income. Here is what I am getting at.

I have an eBay store. Now I am a Power Seller and manage to make a little bit of money on hockey cards but I just re-invest it and buy more cards. I have been too small of a fish for the government to come after me for tax purposes. Hockey cards have really been my out. It is not just my hobby but a great time consumer. Over the last nine days I have been spending about 22-23 hours a day in bed. Hockey cards give me something to. It can be buying, selling or trading.

So now my questions. Would my sales on eBay be considered an extra income? Would I be smart to shut down my eBay store now? Should I just stop selling and leave my PayPal account empty?

I am not sure what to do as I do not want my hockey card hobby to stop me from being accepted and getting full pay on long term disability.

I am not sure what to do and I am seeking your guys advice.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff
 
My wife got absolutely screwed over last week by EI who told her she isn't going to see a red cent after her layoff from her job of 4 years, so I've learned that if the government can figure out some way to withhold money from you, or get money back from you, they will. In two months, we've gone from a comfortable lifestyle, to struggling to get by, all thanks to the government. I would close your store down.
 
If your "store" is a registered business, then yes it is income. If you can prove you spend just as much on the hockey cards than you make, than there isn't a profit margin and it can be hard to prove as an income, at that point it's just a hobby. Now if you spend more on cards than you make, than there is a loss...it's not an income if it loses money.

Good luck with your back problems!
 
When you go on long term or Employment Insurance or even social help, I believe the only thing they will look for is money deposit into your account/pay checks, etc...
if all your money stay in ebay and is being use from paypal, etc. I don't see any problem. If they don't see money deposit, I believe you are OK. call the revenue agency but I don't see any issue here. I having a similar situation with online poker...
and like Northup mentioned, if you are not registered and don't make more than 30 000in business, you are good to go.
If I am wrong, s#%#$%$ the government! We have the right to spend our money where we want!

On another note, I saw a facebook add that says Revenu Quebec wants to check all the online transaction including Kijiji and more. Crazy!! This is used stuff already taxed in!!
they don't know where to get their money anymore...
Just take our paychecks and give me enough to buy food while you're at it!
 
Superdoup said:
When you go on long term or Employment Insurance or even social help, I believe the only thing they will look for is money deposit into your account/pay checks, etc...
if all your money stay in ebay and is being use from paypal, etc. I don't see any problem. If they don't see money deposit, I believe you are OK. call the revenue agency but I don't see any issue here. I having a similar situation with online poker...
and like Northup mentioned, if you are not registered and don't make more than 30 000in business, you are good to go.
If I am wrong, s#%#$%$ the government! We have the right to spend our money where we want!

On another note, I saw a facebook add that says Revenu Quebec wants to check all the online transaction including Kijiji and more. Crazy!! This is used stuff already taxed in!!
they don't know where to get their money anymore...
Just take our paychecks and give me enough to buy food while you're at it!
Click to expand...



Thanks. I do take money out but only enough to cover my shipping costs. Maybe $100 a month or so. I do not think that is enough to alert any red flags.
 
Come to the US and get it done.

I had to wait 2 weeks to get herniated disc L5/S1 taken care of from when I decided that the pain was too bad to continue with normal work/play activities.

and that is the difference between socialized medicine and the capitalist system. I hear too many people complain about healthcare in the US - but the reality is if you have insurance and need something done -it gets done.

I can't tell you how many Canadian citizens come to our city to pay for health care that they can't get in a realistic time frame in Canada.
 
I feel for you. I had a major issue in the summer of 2013 when I was diagnosed with a Spinal Fluid Leak. I am and was a Power Seller and had no issues with insurance or disability.

I was also very fortunate to get fast and very effective care for my condition. I did consider travelling to the US if the wait was going to be too long, but the cost of the procedure and associated scans was going to cost more than my house is worth... I waited it out and was under the knife in less than two months.

Again, I'm sorry to hear this is happening to you. I would advise that you keep calling around to different hospitals and surgeons and pushing your case. It worked for me. It may be annoying, but it's your life and your health and nothing is more important.
 
Thank you for all of the kind words and advice everyone.

I have actually called around and got more referrals that way. It started off with one and then I got another doctor to write me a second one. My third and fourth referrals were from me pestering. I do have a very likely "in" for a fifth.

It is honestly so frustrating. You live in pain. You can't work. I have a son who turns two next month who I am little help with. I have tried everything. Yet still I wait. My back gets better and your back feels well enough to work. Then all of a sudden it goes downhill again and you start from scratch. Sorry my little rant.
 
You should be aware of the requirements under the Income Tax Act - and know that CRA is looking much more closely at on-line sellers.

Whether you are a Power-Seller or not - it is the sales volume they will look at - for example if you have sales of $30K annually - then you are required to collect and remit HST / GST on all Canadian sales.

Sorry to hear that you are in discomfort and unable to work - and hope things get better soon.

All the best
 
I am not as anti government as the others maybe as I am sure there is a certain amount that you are allowed to make that does not affect your EI or LTD. Speak with your insurance agent, whether it is a company rep or private insurance. Hiding it will not help you as if it is discovered that you intentionally misled an insurance company then life will become unbearable. For a measly $100 a month, I am confident that if it was reported, there would be no penalty or sometimes it is 50% of what you made is deducted, which is a lot better than being sued for false representation.
 
My mom has had the same problem since April 2011, 41 months and she's still not working, best of luck to you Jeff, I know it's not easy

P-L
 
I feel your pain...
I also have back problems since 2004 during a hockey training match and still haunts me, it's indeed not fun to have back problems which is ups or downs and I knows about it too well.....hope that everything goes well for all you with similar problems.
 
From the medical standpoint, while you are awaiting consultation from the orthopods, you may consider asking for a referral to a physiatrist. They are different than physiotherapists. They may be able to help with your back issues in the interim while you await surgical consultation.
 
Superdoup said:
When you go on long term or Employment Insurance or even social help, I believe the only thing they will look for is money deposit into your account/pay checks, etc...
if all your money stay in ebay and is being use from paypal, etc. I don't see any problem. If they don't see money deposit, I believe you are OK. call the revenue agency but I don't see any issue here. I having a similar situation with online poker...
and like Northup mentioned, if you are not registered and don't make more than 30 000in business, you are good to go.
If I am wrong, s#%#$%$ the government! We have the right to spend our money where we want!

On another note, I saw a facebook add that says Revenu Quebec wants to check all the online transaction including Kijiji and more. Crazy!! This is used stuff already taxed in!!
they don't know where to get their money anymore...
Just take our paychecks and give me enough to buy food while you're at it!
Click to expand...

You still have to report it. I know a few people in the CRA and they all tell me that ANY revenue needs to be reported. I operate from the mind set of being totally open and honest and report everything accordingly and by the books.
Hobby or no hobby, it is what it is. You have to use other vehicles such as RRSP/TFS to lower the taxable income which is what I do. .

Also all power seller info is shared with CRA as well.
 

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