Auckland Airport -iPhone X

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#2086662 10-Sep-2018 07:25

Dingbatt: At $2000 including GST normally, that means $1740 (approx) ex-gst. That is way above the duty-free threshold so GST would be charged on return to NZ. Saving literally, nothing. In fact because Auckland Airport take a cut of most sales there is a chance it will end up more expensive than popping into an NZ retailer who may add enticements to make a sale.
Not declaring the purchase on return is smuggling.

So you take the phone out of the box and use it and then they cannot charge GST on a personal item like such. If it is left in the box then they might.

sbiddle:

I wonder how many people purchasing something like an iPhone at Duty Free in NZ declare this and then pay GST as they're legally required to do?

I wonder whether the duty free staff advise people when they buy something over $700 that they're legally required to then declare it?

You can very well bet I'll never bother to declare anything going forward, got stung on that gifted iphone...
They can go shove it!

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#2086664 10-Sep-2018 07:34

Coil:

Dingbatt: At $2000 including GST normally, that means $1740 (approx) ex-gst. That is way above the duty-free threshold so GST would be charged on return to NZ. Saving literally, nothing. In fact because Auckland Airport take a cut of most sales there is a chance it will end up more expensive than popping into an NZ retailer who may add enticements to make a sale.
Not declaring the purchase on return is smuggling.

So you take the phone out of the box and use it and then they cannot charge GST on a personal item like such. If it is left in the box then they might.

sbiddle:

I wonder how many people purchasing something like an iPhone at Duty Free in NZ declare this and then pay GST as they're legally required to do?

I wonder whether the duty free staff advise people when they buy something over $700 that they're legally required to then declare it?

You can very well bet I'll never bother to declare anything going forward, got stung on that gifted iphone...
They can go shove it!

There is no such "personal item" exemption. The customs declaration very clearly says goods over $700 purchased overseas or duty free in NZ. It doesn't matter whether you buy it leaving NZ and throw away the box or buy it arriving back in NZ. By not declaring it you're breaking the law.

In the case of your iPhone customs simply followed the law.

trig42

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#2086682 10-Sep-2018 08:51

Linux: Chocolate is more expensive duty free than actual RRP

John

So true, but where else can you get a massive Toblerone? :)

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#2086689 10-Sep-2018 09:21

trig42:

Linux: Chocolate is more expensive duty free than actual RRP

John

So true, but where else can you get a massive Toblerone? :)

Any good supermarket or The Warehouse.. For about $8 or rather than $16 they sell for at duty free.

Exhibit A)

https://www.jrdutyfree.co.nz/product/5725980306/Toblerone+Gold+360g

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/toblerone-milk-chocolate-360g/R2113450.html

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#2086690 10-Sep-2018 09:23

^ Yes, I know, but who buys these things at any time other than coming back into the country?

The only time I've ever bought or eaten Toblerone, it has been from a Duty Free store.

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#2086739 10-Sep-2018 10:50

sbiddle:

trig42:

Linux: Chocolate is more expensive duty free than actual RRP

John

So true, but where else can you get a massive Toblerone? :)

Any good supermarket or The Warehouse.. For about $8 or rather than $16 they sell for at duty free.

Exhibit A)

https://www.jrdutyfree.co.nz/product/5725980306/Toblerone+Gold+360g

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/toblerone-milk-chocolate-360g/R2113450.html

The most ironic part is that you can get a second one for 40% off. it should be 100% off...

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#2086741 10-Sep-2018 10:54

I noticed leaving this time Whittakers chocolate had a stand / shop near the food court and I looked at the pricing and I was like WTF that is a rip off

John

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#2091684 16-Sep-2018 20:48

sbiddle:

There is no such "personal item" exemption. The customs declaration very clearly says goods over $700 purchased overseas or duty free in NZ. It doesn't matter whether you buy it leaving NZ and throw away the box or buy it arriving back in NZ. By not declaring it you're breaking the law.

In the case of your iPhone customs simply followed the law.

You're being very literal with the law but let's be honest, people take electronics etc worth >$700 OUT of NZ and return with it all the time. How do customs know whether it was purchased in NZ or overseas, and is therefore liable for duty/GST?

Edit: This is rhetorical, I feel like you are the sort of person who will try to reply.

The answer is, in 99% of cases they don't know and nothing will happen. Buy electronics overseas, don't carry the box/receipt/overseas charger cable perhaps in an obvious place and away you go.

Dingbatt

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#2091692 16-Sep-2018 21:32

^^
It's still smuggling.
And if you get caught, you are marked forever. And if you travel internationally frequently, getting searched every time you come back into the country will get old very quickly.

Rationalising that it's okay because other people break the law is no defence.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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#2091741 17-Sep-2018 07:33

bmt:

You're being very literal with the law but let's be honest, people take electronics etc worth >$700 OUT of NZ and return with it all the time. How do customs know whether it was purchased in NZ or overseas, and is therefore liable for duty/GST?

Edit: This is rhetorical, I feel like you are the sort of person who will try to reply.

The answer is, in 99% of cases they don't know and nothing will happen. Buy electronics overseas, don't carry the box/receipt/overseas charger cable perhaps in an obvious place and away you go.

Yes I'll reply.. simply because I'm confused by your statement.

There is nothing illegal about taking electronics worth more than $700 out of NZ and bringing them back again. If you are taking high value items out of NZ regularly however it does pay to get a certificate of export which is something lots of people do to avoid and issues coming back into NZ.

This is very different to bringing in goods worth over $700 that were purchased duty free in NZ or purchased overseas (which is what Customs are specifically asking) and falsifying a legal declaration.

Yes I am being very literal with the law - but like speeding you may not get caught. When you do get caught however, you will face the consequences of that.

bmt

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#2092182 17-Sep-2018 20:40

What is confusing about it?

You arrive at an airport in NZ from an overseas flight with expensive electronics worth >$700.

How does customs know whether you purchased it in NZ before you left NZ, or from overseas where no GST or duty was paid to NZ?

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#2092220 17-Sep-2018 23:07

bmt:

What is confusing about it?

You arrive at an airport in NZ from an overseas flight with expensive electronics worth >$700.

How does customs know whether you purchased it in NZ before you left NZ, or from overseas where no GST or duty was paid to NZ?

Customs has a surprising amount of power, and aren't stupid like you seem to think. If your expensive electronics looks brand new and barely used, they'll ask for proof of purchase and if not presented will probably bill you GST (which they'll refund if you then happen to find the receipt - you did keep the receipt in case you ran into warranty issues, right?!?) If your electronics looks beaten up and probably years old, "I don't have a receipt" will probably get you by.

But seriously though, stop trying to rationalise breaking the law.

bmt

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#2093387 19-Sep-2018 19:08

Oh yes, every time I go through Customs they demand to inspect the phone in my pocket for how "new" it looks. They definitely haul me aside and inspect my bag and give my laptop a thorough once over for how "new" it looks.