Qantas Hotels no longer supplying Tax Invoices

[albatross710]

Qantas Holidays has recently changed its process for Australian hotels sourced by Expedia. At Expedia's request, Qantas will no longer provide tax invoices for these bookings. However, ......

This is the part that stood out to me. No actual explanation of why an international tech firm is overriding the ATO.

 

[Bindibuys]

Just checked out of Oaks Horizon at Adelaide, booked and paid for by NTL Uni. Asked for a tax invoice and told “as you did not pay us directly, you have to log in to our web site to get an invoice”

 

[747sp]

I have had similar issues with booking sites that you think are onshore but are offshore. For example i use to use wotif but they removed the abn number and gst. So could not use for work.

Like others I try and go direct to the hotel. A lot of time is spent on Google maps when going on holidays trying to find the right location and meet Mrs 747sp criteria

 

[dajop]

Surely this is illegal, or at least it should be.

The real "Spirit of Australia"

 

[bullerdude]

I would expect by law Expedia or Qantas Hotels has to provide a tax invoice if requested, as the transaction is taking place under their ABN and they are charging a commission for the service.

 

[Quickstatus]

cheaper booking direct

Never had that issue. Cheaper is also not always better. No point cheaper when issues like these and others arise which tend to be related to transactions where there are more than 2 parties.

 

[N860CR]

I’m having flashbacks of a fight with Expedia years ago about tax invoices… I can’t remember how it was resolved, but I do recall many fruitless calls and emails with their offshore agents who had absolutely no idea (for a while thinking I needed a “text invoice”).

Just as an experiment, I had a look at a domestic Expedia booking that I’ve got coming up. The itinerary doesn’t meet the requirements of a tax invoice, however you can click a link that says “print receipt”. It also doesn’t meet the requirements as it simply lists an ABN for “Travelscape” (which I assume is Expedia’s Australian registered company name) and does not breakdown the GST.

It’s definitely not legal, but this is Australia so I’ll assume a major corp will just get away with it.

 

[JohnK]

I understand. Just leave them out of the transaction. Just book direct with the hotel.

With the hotels we use in Thailand booking direct with hotel is much more expensive than OTA.

My wife and daughter are friends with reception staff at a hotel we stay(ed) in Chiang Mai. From memory I booked with Agoda for $27/night including breakfast. The reception girls said tell us what we paid and they may be able to beat Agoda. The hotel rate was $45/night. Same with other hotels.

 

[Quickstatus]

tell us what we paid and they may be able to beat Agoda.

Simple enough to do. I have always managed to price match.
Also beware that what Agoda is selling you might not be the same as what the hotel is selling you.

 

[JohnK]

Simple enough to do. I have always managed to price match.
Also beware that what Agoda is selling you might not be the same as what the hotel is selling you.

From my experience the lower end hotels won't price match. We had superior room with breakfast and that's what the hotel was selling.

My preference now is Expedia, Trip.com, Agoda as we get cashback from whichever has the lowest price.

 

[Cynicor]

Surely everyone in this thread should be reporting each instance of not getting a tax invoice to the relevant authorities (I assume ATO) and then initiating a chargeback for the difference if you do get an invoice for less

 

[tuppence47]

I had another reply from Qantas hotels again today....I keep telling them that I have booked all the hotels internationally, but they keep saying I can request an invoice from the Australian hotels... what part don't they understand? This is today's email:

....."Thank you for your recent request regarding a tax invoice on your booking and we apologise for the delay in reply.

Qantas Hotels has recently changed its process for Australian hotels sourced by Expedia. At Expedia's request, Qantas will no longer provide tax invoices for these bookings. However, you will have still received a payment summary in the booking confirmation provided to you at the time of booking, and you are still able to request a tax invoice directly from the Australian hotel during your stay..."

Today is the 5th email I have had so far from Qantas re this query. Each time it is from a different person, and each time I tell them it is an international hotel, so it is beginning to be quite a saga.

 

[N860CR]

I had another reply from Qantas hotels again today....I keep telling them that I have booked all the hotels internationally, but they keep saying I can request an invoice from the Australian hotels... what part don't they understand? This is today's email:

....."Thank you for your recent request regarding a tax invoice on your booking and we apologise for the delay in reply.

Qantas Hotels has recently changed its process for Australian hotels sourced by Expedia. At Expedia's request, Qantas will no longer provide tax invoices for these bookings. However, you will have still received a payment summary in the booking confirmation provided to you at the time of booking, and you are still able to request a tax invoice directly from the Australian hotel during your stay..."

Today is the 5th email I have had so far from Qantas re this query. Each time it is from a different person, and each time I tell them it is an international hotel, so it is beginning to be quite a saga.

By international hotel do you mean a hotel outside of Australia? In this case, there is no GST and technically no requirement for a tax invoice. You’ll note that Qantas International bookings aren’t actually issued with a tax invoice and have a disclaimer like “there is no GST on international flights”.

 

[tuppence47]

Over the last month I have booked 4 hotels in the USA/Canada via Qantas hotels, (using points/pay) and received an invoice for the first 3, but not the 4th. I queried this and these are the responses I am getting. All I wanted was an invoice/receipt, as per the previous 3, and they are now saying they are not issuing them anymore (for Australian hotels), so this is why I am pursuing this issue, out of principle.

 

[Chicken]

Sorry to sound like a rear end here, but has anyone actually reported this to ATO? This is tax law, this is administered by ATO, whining here is not going teach Qantas a lesson.

 

[SYD]

Sorry to sound like a rear end here, but has anyone actually reported this to ATO? This is tax law, this is administered by ATO, whining here is not going teach Qantas a lesson.

or get them to fix it.

 

[DC3]

… whining here is not going teach Qantas a lesson.

No, but it’s one of the things that we do best. Anyway, maybe just a glitch at “Qantas Hotels”

 

[harryhv]

The ATO's rules are quite clear, if someone won't give you a tax invoice you are required to withhold a certain amount of the payment. So your credit-card company will charge-back the amount, if you ask them to.

 

[DC3]

The ATO's rules are quite clear, if someone won't give you a tax invoice you are required to withhold a certain amount of the payment. So your credit-card company will charge-back the amount, if you ask them to.

Is there a link to this?

 

[TheInsider]

Some old discussions here:

ATO Community

ATO Community