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GST and second-hand goods

How to calculate and report GST on sales and purchases of second-hand goods.

Last updated 24 May 2017

These instructions will help you calculate and report goods and services tax (GST) on sales and purchases of second-hand goods.

The term 'second-hand' means 'previously used' or 'not new'.

Second-hand goods do not include the following:

  • precious metal
  • goods to the extent that they consist of gold, silver, platinum or any other substance which, if it were of the required fineness, would be precious metal
  • animals or plants.

From 1 April 2017, the definition of second-hand goods was amended to clarify that goods containing gold, silver or platinum are not second-hand goods.

However, collectibles and antiques (containing precious metals) that are bought and sold as such may still qualify as second-hand goods. For example, a collector's coins may have some gold content worth $50 but are sold as collectables for $30 in the hope they may increase in value as collectables over time.

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See also:

QC17481