Government planning changes to GST levy on overseas purchases

Forums › Off topic › Government planning changes to GST levy on overseas purchases

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#853514 10-Jul-2013 18:42

Writings on the wall for a lot of retail. Have to feel sorry for them some what, paying lease of bricks and mortar stores, paying sales staff, paying NZ tax, lots of customers coming in to touch/feel/try on the goods for size/colour and then buying online direct from overseas.

dman

953 posts

Ultimate Geek

#853521 10-Jul-2013 18:56

"The first JBMS tranche is three months late and $14m over its $75m budget, but Customs officials said the computer project had only a "miniscule" chance of failure and they hoped the governance of the project could become a model for other major public sector information technology initiatives. "

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/8900719/Online-shoppers-could-face-tax-bill

Only government would think a project that has a cost overrun of $14m (over its $75m budget) should be a model for the rest of the sector!

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

rugrat

3107 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#853522 10-Jul-2013 18:59

How would they know what's a purchase, and just a money transfer.

I play on pokerstars, pay on credit card, so I'm buying nothing, not fair to be charged GST on just a money transfer.

If I draw money back out or make profits would gst be refunded on that money?

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#853529 10-Jul-2013 19:24

Williamson has always been an idiot.

This just confirms it.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#853542 10-Jul-2013 19:50

ajobbins: If they want to collect revenue, they would be better off stopping some of the white collar tax evasion. Or bringing in a CGT.

Yeah what about CGT.

I am all for a level playing field. If they add import tax and done right sure. Still won't buy in NZ far toooo expensive even with GST. I dunno why they had to add a min charge isn't that like $30-40 custom fee. Why don't they just put tax on it. How I see it, it only serves a lump amount to get pple not to buy stuff from abroad.

Abo

78 posts

Master Geek

#853544 10-Jul-2013 19:57

keewee01:

It is ridiculous that the government is even entertaining the idea. When an individual can import something significantly cheaper than a retailer that is importing in bulk then that tells you we're getting ripped off!

It will be too costly to even thing about applying to minor dollar value items.

pretty much this.

If retailers in NZ stopped ripping everyone off then people wouldn't need to go overseas for items.

inb4 small market etc

gregmcc

2147 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#853546 10-Jul-2013 20:10

to me this whole idea sounds like a diversionary tactic, there is some other issue that they really don't wont blocked by bad press (such as the GCSB bill) so they bring out some other looney idea like this GST levy on overseas purchases, all the bad press get focused on that and in due course they back down saying it's impracticable and everyone is happy it didn't happen....meanwhile this other very important bill that the press has forgotten about is all but a done deal

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Bung

6489 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#853556 10-Jul-2013 20:19

Isn't this similar to the US experience where the Senate are considering law to force the likes of Amazon to charge the sales tax appropriate to the State the purchaser lives in.

JonoNZ

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#853566 10-Jul-2013 20:47

Bung: Isn't this similar to the US experience where the Senate are considering law to force the likes of Amazon to charge the sales tax appropriate to the State the purchaser lives in.

Yes it is.

I'm all for collecting GST on personal imports if they can do it efficiently -- otherwise the tax base the govt has will ultimately be eroded. I purchase a lot from overseas and don't mind paying my fair share of GST.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#853600 10-Jul-2013 21:34

gregmcc: to me this whole idea sounds like a diversionary tactic, there is some other issue that they really don't wont blocked by bad press (such as the GCSB bill) so they bring out some other looney idea like this GST levy on overseas purchases, all the bad press get focused on that and in due course they back down saying it's impracticable and everyone is happy it didn't happen....meanwhile this other very important bill that the press has forgotten about is all but a done deal

Yes but that is politics for you. They haven't brought up, should NZ change it's flag, or become a republic, or change the national anthem for a while. Perhaps they are saving it.

dman

953 posts

Ultimate Geek

#853631 10-Jul-2013 23:15

sbiddle:
mattwnz: It is interesting to read some of the comments on this on that article. GST actually applies toall imported goods, it is just that items under $400 isn't worth collecting in terms of time and cost involved. I do however see it being a problem, and it does mean that taxpayers do miss out on this extra revenue. It also means that local retailers are at a disadvantage. Maybe the whole GST thing on retail goods needs to be looked at, so local retailers aren't at a disadvantage.

Australia has a $1000 limit and has decided after several reviews in recent years that the cost of collecting revenue for purchases under this will cost more than the revenue gained.

You also need to look at this issue and the reason for it - is it to collect tax or protect retailers? If it's to collect tax the costs of processing a few million extra packages a year needs to be factored in. If it's to protect retailers they need to decide if something bring in a product that will now incur GST but still be cheaper than buying it locally will actually benefit retailers in any way.

I would add to that, you need to not only look at if it would benefit retailers in any way but also how would it harm the rest of the population?

Very greatly I say!

This is going to be bad for the economy undoubtedly due to the raising the costs. For instance I've put together a professional level of a video gear kit that would have cost in the order of $10k+ if I'd had to instead just walk into local NZ stores, that would've been waaaay unfeasible for me but instead thanks to being able to source it from a broad international range I've done it for a smaller fraction of that cost.

So this is but one example of a business (mine) which could probably have never started if the country was to indulge in protectionism again.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#853632 10-Jul-2013 23:19

Some retailers though are their own worst enemy, in the high prices they charge, where even in Oz, the same product can be purchased far cheaper.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#853635 10-Jul-2013 23:35

I'd support it if they have very low collection costs and make the changes fiscally neutral -- ie, they reduce my income tax .

If collection costs are too high it just introduces additional economic drag.

The collection costs are high, then, I'd expect a new tax on retailers to keep an equal playing field (ie, every purchase from a retailer has a fee equal to 'customs' inspection etc.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#853638 10-Jul-2013 23:44

I wonder if possible to make every nz cc purchase with tax cos in nz if you buy a gift for someone else gst is included, ditto voucher etc.

With tax i buy import still cheaper more selection, better quality even the nz distributor can take long to deliver.

nova

250 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#853746 11-Jul-2013 10:47

Seems like Maurice agrees!

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson says it would be virtually impossible to charge GST on items being bought online, an idea currently being explored by government official.
"Because I've got a technology background I think ... it's just about going to be impossible to do," he told Radio New Zealand.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10896770

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6