This guide is for Australian sellers who want to understand eBay Australia fees in 2026. You'll learn how the $25,000 free selling threshold works, what fees apply before and after you cross it, and how to calculate your costs accurately.
The $25,000 Free Selling Threshold
eBay Australia gives private sellers a significant benefit: you pay no final value fees on sales up to $25,000 per calendar year. This is not a cumulative lifetime limit. It resets every January 1st.
The threshold applies to your total sales value, not profit. If you sell $24,000 worth of items in a year, you pay zero final value fees on any of those sales. Once you hit $25,000, fees start applying to every dollar beyond that point.
This free selling benefit is designed for casual and small-scale sellers. It covers most people selling unwanted household items, collectibles, or side-hustle inventory.
What Happens After You Cross $25,000
Once your total annual sales exceed the free threshold, eBay charges two fees on each subsequent transaction:
- Final value fee: 13.5% of the total sale amount (item price plus postage)
- Fixed per-order fee: $0.30 per transaction
These fees only apply to sales after you cross the threshold. Your first $25,000 remains fee-free.
There is no regulatory operating fee in Australia (0.00%), unlike some other markets. This keeps the fee structure simpler.
International Sales and Additional Fees
If you ship to buyers outside Australia, eBay adds an international fee of 1.65% on top of the standard final value fee. This applies regardless of whether you've crossed the $25,000 threshold.
International fees stack with domestic fees. So after you exceed the threshold, a cross-border sale incurs 13.5% + 1.65% = 15.15%, plus the $0.30 fixed fee.
For sellers focusing on export markets, this can add up quickly. Use our eBay profit calculator to model international sales before listing.
How Seller Performance Affects Fees
eBay penalizes sellers who fall below performance standards. If your account is marked as "Below Standard," you pay an additional 6% surcharge on final value fees. "Poor Performance" sellers face a 8% surcharge.
These surcharges apply to the final value fee portion only, not the fixed per-order fee. They hit after you've crossed the free threshold.
Maintain Top Rated or Standard status to avoid these penalties. Track your defect rate, late shipments, and cases opened by buyers.
Store Subscriptions for High-Volume Sellers
If you regularly exceed the $25,000 threshold, an eBay Store subscription can reduce your per-sale fees. Each tier offers a discount on the final value fee:
- Basic: $25.00/mo, saves 2% on final value fees · 250 free listings/mo
- Featured: $75.00/mo, saves 4% on final value fees · 1,000 free listings/mo
- Anchor: $425.00/mo, saves 7% on final value fees · unlimited listings
Store subscriptions make sense once your monthly fees (at standard rates) exceed the subscription cost minus the savings. For most sellers, this breakeven point sits around $1,500–$3,000 in monthly sales above the threshold.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Casual Seller Staying Under the Threshold
Scenario:
You sell $18,000 worth of vintage clothing over the year.
Fees:
$0. You're under the $25,000 threshold.
Example 2: Seller Exceeding the Threshold
Scenario:
You sell $30,000 total for the year. The first $25,000 is free; the remaining $5,000 incurs fees.
Fees on $5,000:
($5,000 × 13.5%) + (number of orders × $0.30)
Assuming 10 orders in that $5,000: $675.00 + $3.00 = $678.00
Example 3: International Sale After Threshold
Scenario:
You've already crossed $25,000. You sell a $200 item to a buyer in New Zealand.
Fees:
($200 × 15.15%) + $0.30 = $30.60
Tracking Your Progress Toward the Threshold
eBay displays your current year-to-date sales total in Seller Hub. Check the "Performance" tab to see how close you are to the $25,000 limit.
The threshold is based on completed sales, not listings or pending orders. Once a buyer pays and the transaction is recorded, it counts toward your annual total.
Returns and cancellations reduce your total. If you refund a buyer, that sale value subtracts from your running count for the year.
Tax Implications of the Free Threshold
The free selling threshold is an eBay fee policy, not a tax exemption. You still need to report income to the Australian Taxation Office if your eBay activity constitutes a business.
Casual sellers disposing of personal items generally don't owe GST or income tax on those sales. If you're buying inventory to resell for profit, you likely need an ABN and must charge GST once your turnover exceeds $75,000.
Consult an accountant if you're unsure whether your eBay sales count as a business. The ATO looks at frequency, volume, and intent.
Strategies to Maximize the Free Selling Benefit
If you're close to the $25,000 limit late in the year, consider holding off on new listings until January. Your threshold resets, and those sales will be fee-free again.
Spread sales across multiple accounts only if each account represents a genuinely separate legal entity (different ABNs). eBay prohibits using multiple personal accounts to circumvent the threshold.
For sellers who consistently exceed $25,000, the free threshold is a $25,000 discount on fees each year. Factor that into your pricing and margin calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the $25,000 threshold include postage?
Yes. The threshold is based on total sale amount, which includes the item price plus any postage charged to the buyer. If you sell an item for $80 with $20 postage, that's $100 toward your annual limit.
What happens if I have a store subscription but haven't crossed the threshold yet?
You still pay zero final value fees on sales under $25,000, even with a store subscription. The store discount only applies to sales after you exceed the threshold. You do get the monthly free listings allocation and other store benefits (like promoted listings discounts) regardless of your sales total.
Can I opt out of the free selling threshold and pay fees from dollar one?
No. eBay applies the free selling threshold automatically to all eligible private sellers. There's no setting to disable it. Once you exceed $25,000, fees begin. Business sellers or those registered with an ABN may have different fee structures—check your Seller Hub for specifics.