Import duty - what are the facts

[ON2DVD]

I've read so many reports from different people regarding import duty and
GST.
Does anyone know for sure the rules or a site that explains the rules.
Does it go on the value of goods and is it only applicable for certain
shipping methods
Thanks

[Codswallop]

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 05:24:07 GMT, ON2DVD wrote in aus.dvd:

> I've read so many reports from different people regarding import duty
> and GST. Does anyone know for sure the rules or a site that explains
> the rules.

Did you try www.customs.gov.au yet? That might be a good place to
start.

In under a minute, I found:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/index.cfm?nav_id=670&area_id=5

--
- Cods

pbqf_at@ubgznvy.pbz
(un ROT-13 to e-mail)

[Me]

Don't confuse the fellow. LOL Too much input at the one time.


"Codswallop" <chunkylover53@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9441E2701146Dcodswallopcom@211.29.133.50.. .
> On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 05:24:07 GMT, ON2DVD wrote in aus.dvd:
>
> > I've read so many reports from different people regarding import duty
> > and GST. Does anyone know for sure the rules or a site that explains
> > the rules.
>
> Did you try www.customs.gov.au yet? That might be a good place to
> start.
>
> In under a minute, I found:
> http://www.customs.gov.au/site/index.cfm?nav_id=670&area_id=5
>
> --
> - Cods
>
> pbqf_at@ubgznvy.pbz
> (un ROT-13 to e-mail)

[Alan Rutlidge]

"Codswallop" <chunkylover53@aol.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9441E2701146Dcodswallopcom@211.29.133.50.. .
> On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 05:24:07 GMT, ON2DVD wrote in aus.dvd:
>
> > I've read so many reports from different people regarding import duty
> > and GST. Does anyone know for sure the rules or a site that explains
> > the rules.
>
> Did you try www.customs.gov.au yet? That might be a good place to
> start.
>
> In under a minute, I found:
> http://www.customs.gov.au/site/index.cfm?nav_id=670&area_id=5
>
> --
> - Cods
>
> pbqf_at@ubgznvy.pbz
> (un ROT-13 to e-mail)

I've discovered that getting your DVDs, CDs etc sent in via the postal
service generally doesn't attract the attention of the GST or Duty man
unless the value of the goods exceeds $1000.

I used to use DHL and various other couriers for my SACDs and DVDs from the
US. I quickly discovered how costly this can be. GST is applied to both
the goods as well as the cost of packaging, insurance and courier charges.
Besides that, DHL often took longer than US Air Postal Service and cost
heaps more.

US Air Post - order on Friday - get here to Perth by midday Wednesday, from
Illinois in mid-west USA. Not bad IMHO.

So to avoid the duty, GST and the hassle use US Air Post if you are getting
your goodies from the USA.

Cheers,
Alan

[Me]

Get a credit card that does not charge for each foreign transaction, order
from a site with free shipping (CDWow HK), and make many small orders.

I order around $600 per month on DVD's and it works for me.


"Alan Rutlidge" <rutlidge*nO-sPaM*@mail.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3fc735ab$0$1746$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
>
> "Codswallop" <chunkylover53@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns9441E2701146Dcodswallopcom@211.29.133.50.. .
> > On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 05:24:07 GMT, ON2DVD wrote in aus.dvd:
> >
> > > I've read so many reports from different people regarding import duty
> > > and GST. Does anyone know for sure the rules or a site that explains
> > > the rules.
> >
> > Did you try www.customs.gov.au yet? That might be a good place to
> > start.
> >
> > In under a minute, I found:
> > http://www.customs.gov.au/site/index.cfm?nav_id=670&area_id=5
> >
> > --
> > - Cods
> >
> > pbqf_at@ubgznvy.pbz
> > (un ROT-13 to e-mail)
>
> I've discovered that getting your DVDs, CDs etc sent in via the postal
> service generally doesn't attract the attention of the GST or Duty man
> unless the value of the goods exceeds $1000.
>
> I used to use DHL and various other couriers for my SACDs and DVDs from
the
> US. I quickly discovered how costly this can be. GST is applied to both
> the goods as well as the cost of packaging, insurance and courier charges.
> Besides that, DHL often took longer than US Air Postal Service and cost
> heaps more.
>
> US Air Post - order on Friday - get here to Perth by midday Wednesday,
from
> Illinois in mid-west USA. Not bad IMHO.
>
> So to avoid the duty, GST and the hassle use US Air Post if you are
getting
> your goodies from the USA.
>
> Cheers,
> Alan
>
>
>

[OzStick]

Hi there,

I run a small business and often import stock from both Asia and Europe. I
can quite safely say that there are no hard and fast rules relating to when
duty and GST are applicable. Customs prefer to operate fairly randomly,
because if they didn't then we'd pretty quickly learn how to scam the system
which would very easily lead to illicit imports and the like.

In my own experience I know that if the declared value of an article is kept
below $250AUD then as a rule of thumb you run very little risk of it being
held up by Customs. It also helps if you use post rather than DHL, FedEx etc
as they use their own agents/brokers and will often flag articles that would
otherwise sail thru via Australia Post.

I've also noticed that this time of year they tend to let things slip more
than a little due to sheer volume of parcels coming in. Just in the last
week I've had one package invoiced at US$440 and another for US$360 come in
via EMS and both cleared Customs within 30 minutes, whereas normally I'd be
up for 5% duty and 10% GST. Needless to say I was pretty happy about that!

I hope this helps.

ChrisW
OzStick
http://www.ozstick.com.au


"ON2DVD" <mark@on2dvd.com.au> wrote in message
news:GOAxb.117$MT1.3179@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> I've read so many reports from different people regarding import duty and
> GST.
> Does anyone know for sure the rules or a site that explains the rules.
> Does it go on the value of goods and is it only applicable for certain
> shipping methods
> Thanks
>
>

[The Gadget Shop]

Couriered items over A$400 inc shipping and posted items over A$1000 inc
shipping should receive duties.

Customs duty: 5% of item price (wines and luxury cars - higher rates)
GST: 10% of item price + customs duty + shipping cost

ie A$1000 item with A$200 shipping:

Customs slush fund = 1000 x 5% = $50
Govt slush fund GST = (1000+50+200) x 10% = $125

Total you are screwed out of: $175.

Get your phone number put on parcels and you should be called when the item
arrives in country, and you can then pay via credit card over the phone...
otherwise, they post out a bill and the process takes ages.

Cheers, Jason (remove === to reply)

Macrovision disablers
http://gadgets.shorturl.com

[ON2DVD]

Thanks, so if I get regular air mail post it should be fine if under a
grand. I'm not worried about the GST coz I have to collect that at sale
anyway, just don't want to have to pass on customs duty.


"The Gadget Shop" <gadgets@jc=-.-=.com.au> wrote in message
news:bqc6lg$7f3$1@merki.connect.com.au...
> Couriered items over A$400 inc shipping and posted items over A$1000 inc
> shipping should receive duties.
>
> Customs duty: 5% of item price (wines and luxury cars - higher rates)
> GST: 10% of item price + customs duty + shipping cost
>
> ie A$1000 item with A$200 shipping:
>
> Customs slush fund = 1000 x 5% = $50
> Govt slush fund GST = (1000+50+200) x 10% = $125
>
> Total you are screwed out of: $175.
>
> Get your phone number put on parcels and you should be called when the
item
> arrives in country, and you can then pay via credit card over the phone...
> otherwise, they post out a bill and the process takes ages.
>
> Cheers, Jason (remove === to reply)
>
> Macrovision disablers
> http://gadgets.shorturl.com

[Codswallop]

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 08:03:47 GMT, ON2DVD wrote in aus.dvd:

> Thanks, so if I get regular air mail post it should be fine if under a
> grand. I'm not worried about the GST coz I have to collect that at
> sale anyway, just don't want to have to pass on customs duty.

If you checked the URI I posted, it's $250 for couriered items, though
still $1000 for "regular" post.

--
- Cods

pbqf_at@ubgznvy.pbz
(un ROT-13 to e-mail)

[The Gadget Shop]

Yeah, you're right... they must have just dropped the threshold the leeches!

Cheers, Jason (remove === to reply)

Macrovision disablers
http://gadgets.shorturl.com

[NewcastleBoy]

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 07:36:27 GMT, "The Gadget Shop"
<gadgets@jc=-.-=.com.au> wrote:

>Couriered items over A$400 inc shipping and posted items over A$1000 inc
>shipping should receive duties.
>
>Cheers, Jason (remove === to reply)
>
Oh dear..

I recently ordered a $600.00 (AUS) CD boxset of 20 CDs, and the only
way I could get anyone to send it was through EMS courier.. I hope I
don't get hit by customs and clearance fee, otherwise i'll probably
need to pay another $60-100.

Newcastleboy