Hospitality & Retail · Brisbane
Accountants for eCommerce
Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy — multiple settlement feeds, imported stock and GST rules that change with the border. Reconciliation is the whole game.
What's different about eCommerce accounting?
Settlement, not sales. Platforms pay you net of fees, refunds, chargebacks and advertising, so recording the deposit understates revenue and hides costs. Correct treatment requires gross revenue, fees and refunds recorded separately. Add GST on imported stock (and deferral options), GST-free exports to overseas customers, potential overseas VAT/GST registrations, inventory sitting in third-party warehouses, and marketing spend that must be measured against contribution margin, not revenue.
- Specialist support for online sellers
- Fixed monthly packages from $220
- BAS, payroll and year-end handled together
- Benchmarked against ATO industry figures
What we watch
What matters most for online sellers.
Gross, not net
Sales, platform fees, refunds and shipping recorded separately so margin and GST are both right.
Cross-border GST
Exports are generally GST-free; imported goods attract GST at the border with deferral options for eligible importers.
Inventory you can't see
Stock in 3PL and Amazon warehouses still counts at year end and still needs valuing.
Contribution margin per product
Ad spend and platform fees allocated per product, or you'll scale the SKU that loses money on every sale.
Deductions
eCommerce — what you can claim.
A working checklist we go through with every client in this sector. Substantiation requirements differ by item — we'll tell you which need records and which don't.
- Cost of goods, freight and import duty
- Platform, merchant and payment gateway fees
- Advertising and influencer spend
- Software, apps and subscriptions
- Packaging, fulfilment and 3PL costs
- Warehousing or home storage space
- Photography, content and design
- Returns, refunds and write-offs
- Home office and equipment depreciation
How we help
Services online sellers use most.
Tax Returns
Individual and business returns prepared accurately, lodged fast, with every deduction claimed.
Learn more →Tax Planning
Year-round planning that lowers your tax bill before 30 June — not after it.
Learn more →Business Accounting
Bookkeeping, BAS, payroll and management reporting handled end to end.
Learn more →Self-Managed Super (SMSF)
SMSF setup, administration, compliance and audit coordination in one place.
Learn more →Business Advisory
Structuring, cash-flow forecasting, growth strategy and succession planning.
Learn more →Financial Reporting
Clear statutory and management accounts you can actually make decisions from.
Learn more →FAQ
eCommerce — questions we're asked most.
Do I charge GST on overseas sales?
Generally no — exports of goods are GST-free where they leave Australia within the required timeframe and you keep evidence of export. Domestic sales are taxable if you're registered. Sales through marketplaces can shift responsibility to the platform, so the treatment depends on the channel and needs checking per platform.
How do I handle GST on imported stock?
GST is generally payable at the border and claimable in your BAS if you're registered. Eligible importers can apply for the deferred GST scheme, which moves the payment into the BAS cycle and materially improves cash flow for high-volume importers.
Why doesn't my Shopify revenue match my bank?
Because payouts are net of fees, refunds, chargebacks and sometimes ad spend, and settle on a delay. The fix is a proper integration or a monthly reconciliation that books gross sales, fees and refunds separately. Until that's right, no margin figure and no BAS is reliable.
Do I need to register for GST or VAT overseas?
Possibly, if you hold stock or exceed distance-selling thresholds in a foreign jurisdiction — the UK, EU and US states all have their own rules. We flag exposure and coordinate with specialists in that jurisdiction rather than guessing at foreign law.
Related
Related pages.
Accountants for Retail Shops
Specialist tax and accounting support for Brisbane retail shops.
Learn more →Xero Certified Accountant Brisbane
Setup, migration, training
Learn more →Business Accounting
Bookkeeping, BAS, payroll and management reporting handled end to end.
Learn more →Accountants for Startups
Specialist tax and accounting support for Brisbane startups.
Learn more →Local coverage across Brisbane
We work in person from our Wakerley office and by secure video across 200 suburbs. Start with your region:
- Accountants Brisbane CPA accountants for the wider Brisbane metro area.
- Accountants South Brisbane South Brisbane, West End, Annerley and Sunnybank.
- Accountants Brisbane Northside Chermside, Stafford, Aspley and the northern corridor.
- Accountants Brisbane Bayside Wynnum, Manly, Wakerley and Tingalpa.
- Accountants Redland City Cleveland, Capalaba, Victoria Point and the bay islands.
- Accountants Logan City Springwood, Beenleigh, Browns Plains and 50 Logan suburbs.
- Accountants Ipswich Ipswich CBD and the western Brisbane corridor.
Ready when you are
Accountants for ecommerce — let's talk.
Free 15-minute consultation, fixed monthly fee, and an accountant who already knows your sector.