Customs tax on incoming package...

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Forums › Finance and wealth management › Customs tax on incoming package...

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#262045 7-Oct-2009 13:49

fraseyboy: This was shipped via USPS. I would much prefer it if they did just ring me or send me a bill AFTER the package had arrived. At least then it wouldn't be delayed.

Haha yeah right!!!

"Yes hi there Harvey Norman it's corksta (doppelganger version) speaking I'd like to buy the biggest Samsung LED TV you have please."

"Certainly, just give us your address and we'll courier one to you right now."

"What about paying for it?"

"Don't worry about that, we'll just give you a ring at some stage and sort that out later."

So two weeks later HN ring up asking for payment. In the meantime doppelganger corksta has had all this time to choose a reply: sorry wrong number, don't know that person, he moved out, TV was stolen, TV never arrived...

So as someone else mentioned with the volume of packages coming into the country every day that is the reason you PAY first and RECEIVE afterwards!

pebbles

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#262132 7-Oct-2009 16:33

Another thing.. two parcels that separately are less than $500 but together add up to being over, both going to the same address can also incur GST if they come through at the same time. I have had that happen to me before. So if I do it again I will remember to choose a friends address for the second parcel :)

fraseyboy

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#262177 7-Oct-2009 17:28

dickytim: simply put the cost of collecting duty and GST of less that $50 is not worth the effort for customs, so as they have said $400 NZD value i.e $50 of GST passes thru without inteception. Marmel virtually all packages that come into the country are screened for value and held for payment of the GST/Duty that is customs job so if it is declared truthfully and should attract tax the likelihood is that it will be stopped and held until the owing is paid, as far as not holding it up and billing later....yeah right, how many people would simply not bother paying the cost to chase up the owing would be prohibitive.

If you decide to import an item yourself that is valued over $400 (or $350ish and attracts duty) then you need to factor these in, soon your cracking good deal turns out to be only an OK deal.

Also warning to all as an importer, I have had a lot more items stopped and opened by customs recently, we don't lie or cheat but it is happening more and more and customs are not stupid, if they see, for example an Ipod come thru with a declared value of $10 they know it is unlikely to be correct the item will be stopped. They are also wise to everything being sent as gifts and if they open a package that has an invoice inside.....

When you get a speeding ticket where money is due they don't take your car and not let you drive until you pay. Why can't customs work the same way? If people don't pay, they know there is a chance that things will be seized... Why can't it work the same as any other fine?

corksta

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#262183 7-Oct-2009 17:36

Because if they simply sent you the parcel and you don't pay after you've received it then how are customs supposed to prove that you are the person who the parcel is addressed to?! To use your example, if you get pulled over you have to produce your licence, if you don't have your licence then checks are done to establish your identity before you are sent on your way and that's the difference - your identity is established before you are fined, with a package it's just being sent off blindly with a name on it but with no one officially identified as that person.

If that were the case people would simply have something addressed as "Bob Jones" even if their name wasn't Bob Jones. Then the letter turns up from Customs addressed to Bob Jones and all you have to do is prove that you are not Bob Jones by producing your real ID and then Customs are screwed, and as stated before with the volume of packages they wouldn't have the resources to pursue every instance of non payment. This really isn't worth arguing about!!

billgates

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#262184 7-Oct-2009 17:39

corksta is on to it and I agree with him.

Do whatever you want to do man.

fraseyboy

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#262185 7-Oct-2009 17:39

Yeah, you're right.

Oh well. Can't be helped. I paid my fees today and its on its way.

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corksta

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#262186 7-Oct-2009 17:42

There you go then, you've now had an extra few days to get yourself even more excited about whatever it is that's coming to you! ;)

Damager

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#263206 11-Oct-2009 00:34

If i bought something from aussie, and asked a friend from there to bring it with them on the plane. Do customs check the bag, and if they see an item looking new in the box, will they still charge for it, if it costs over $500? Id like to buy a phone from ebay aussie, then ask a cousin to unbox it and pack it in their suitcase when they fly back to new zealand.

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corksta

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#263208 11-Oct-2009 00:52

Yes, you can still be charged GST if they search your bags and all of the above criteria are met. Whether you bring it in yourself or have it posted here you are technically still importing it, so the method of entry is irrelevant. But you won't be searched unless you have something to declare or you are chosen for a random search.

If it's unpacked and looks like it's been used they're unlikely to say anything, but if it's all still wrapped up or the box is in another suitcase for example then you may be asked to explain.

I imagine this is harder for them to police, as mail coming in is scanned so it's much easier to pick up on things.

dickytim

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#263221 11-Oct-2009 06:59

the other side to that is that if the value of items they are bringing in is under $900 then it will fall under the personal concession for "duty-free" goods and should be good as gold, if it is unboxed then it would be pretty unlikely that they would try to charge duty/GST.

sbiddle

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#263225 11-Oct-2009 08:31

dickytim: the other side to that is that if the value of items they are bringing in is under $900 then it will fall under the personal concession for "duty-free" goods and should be good as gold, if it is unboxed then it would be pretty unlikely that they would try to charge duty/GST.

The NZ duty free consession if NZ$700. If you are bringing in goods worth more than this you are legally required to declare them and pay GST. If you don't make a declaration and your bags are searched you will be required to pay the GST and face the potentnial of being charged and/or fined for making a false statement.

It also doesn't matter whether the goods are unboxed or boxed. If the goods were purchased outside NZ they must be declared.

I've been stopped on a few occasions bringing goods back into NZ from Aussie, typically because I've had them in a seperate bag so they could be presented to AU customs to claim back the Australian GST, something that is done after you have passed through immigration and bag screening.

Making a false declaration can probably be compared to people who import drugs. Some people get (obviously) get away with it, some people get caught..

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Satch

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#263290 11-Oct-2009 16:45

sbiddle: Making a false declaration can probably be compared to people who import drugs.

Say what???

Damager

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#263341 11-Oct-2009 21:25

corksta: Here's a link outlining what is and isn't charged GST/duty:

http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Private+Importers/Customs+Charges.htm#paraTitle03

Headphones are listed there as being charged at 12.5%.

Most freight arrives into Auckland first so yes it will go through customs there. The same way that people don't go through customs at their final destination, they do it when they first land.

I had a good look and didnt see Cellphones on the list. I planned to buy a cellphone so i should be fine not to pay anything?

Satch

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#263344 11-Oct-2009 21:31

Damager: I had a good look and didnt see Cellphones on the list. I planned to buy a cellphone so i should be fine not to pay anything?

You will still be up for GST if the total is NZ$400 or more (12.5% of $400 being the magical $50 level that customs start charging)

corksta

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#263357 11-Oct-2009 22:17

Damager:
corksta: Here's a link outlining what is and isn't charged GST/duty:

http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Private+Importers/Customs+Charges.htm#paraTitle03

Headphones are listed there as being charged at 12.5%.

Most freight arrives into Auckland first so yes it will go through customs there. The same way that people don't go through customs at their final destination, they do it when they first land.

I had a good look and didnt see Cellphones on the list. I planned to buy a cellphone so i should be fine not to pay anything?

Look again, it's listed as 'Telephones, Cellular' - 12.5%

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