GST refund on imports returned due to size issues

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keewee01

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#1354474 29-Jul-2015 15:04

Paul1977: In regards to the original question, can't the replacements be marked as such "Replacement goods - no GST payable", or something to that effect?

GST is calculated on what you pay for the goods, and you haven't paid anything for the replacement items.

EDIT: Men's clothing is subject to 10% customs too, so sucks if they make you pay that twice too. And don't forget the import entry fee, or the biosecurity fee.

BUT... won't the sender still list a value the second time around, which they will have to for customs and maybe insurance purposes (or will they list it as zero value?), Customs are going to see that and hit you up again.

Geektastic

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#1354475 29-Jul-2015 15:07

richms: IMO its a risk you take personally importing things.

Dont want the risk, buy from someone locally who has already taken the risk and marked it up.

And if the items are sold only direct by the maker in the USA?

Geektastic

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#1354478 29-Jul-2015 15:10

The answer is

If it is the wrong size by the shipper's mistake or wrong item = full refund

If it is because you ordered the size and it does not fit = refund of GST but not duty (or the other way round - can't recall)

If you simply return it and change it for another size, no further duty payable.

I can, however, imagine it becoming a nightmare of paperwork etc trying to chase down a refund on something like that. It is further complicated by the fact that the wrong sized item would have attracted no collectible duty on it's own but as a part of a package of items, it did!

Geektastic

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#1354481 29-Jul-2015 15:12

mattwnz:
DizzyD:
mattwnz:
richms: IMO its a risk you take personally importing things.

Dont want the risk, buy from someone locally who has already taken the risk and marked it up.

Maybe that is why we pay so much more for some things in NZ. But it isn't great for the NZ economy having to pay more, just to cover these types of compliance costs. By not refunding GST on returned goods, the government are essentially making money from nothing. I guess they will argue that the cost to mange refunds is cost prohibitive.

I think its ridiculous that we need to pay GST twice. Pay the GST overseas, and then pay the NZ Government some more. Ching ching

Slightly off topic. How come certain countries like South Africa allow tourists to claim back GST/VAT on items purchased inside SA when leaving the country? Why don't we do it?

You can do it if you buy from the UK too and come back to NZ with those goods. I am not sure if they allow tourists to do when they leave from NZ or not?

They allow NZ citizens to do it!

I bought my wife a very expensive watch in Wellington and simply arranged for it to be collected airside when we left Wellington on a trip 2 weeks later. Result? No GST payable..

Geektastic

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#1354483 29-Jul-2015 15:14

Paul1977: Not the same thing, but talking about being taxed twice.

I recently bought some clothing from the UK and queried them about whether VAT should have been discounted at checkout, they said they don't distinguish between EU and non-EU customers so charge VAT on everything.

In this instance they did give me a 20% "special discount" for seemingly just asking the question, but why would they be charging non-EU customers VAT in the first place? They don't have to pay it on goods they sell to foreign buyers do they?

It would really annoy me if I paid VAT and then had to pay GST here as well.

JFYI if they do charge VAT to you, as a non EU delivery - they are breaking the law.

They are supposed to (and in many many cases the online shopping systems do it at checkout) sell sans VAT to non EU addresses.

Geektastic

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#1354487 29-Jul-2015 15:16

Paul1977: In regards to the original question, can't the replacements be marked as such "Replacement goods - no GST payable", or something to that effect?

GST is calculated on what you pay for the goods, and you haven't paid anything for the replacement items.

EDIT: Men's clothing is subject to 10% customs too, so sucks if they make you pay that twice too. And don't forget the import entry fee, or the biosecurity fee.

I still cannot work out why clothing and shoes attract 10% duty.

NZ has no significant clothing or shoe making industry to protect and we all need clothing and shoes - why is it taxed at an additional 10% FFS?!

BTR

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#1354488 29-Jul-2015 15:17

Did you order the wrong size because you didn't check a the sellers sizing guide or did they ship you the wrong size. If its a case of you didn't ask enough questions then tough.

Clothing sizes are different with every manufacturer, its you to you to find out the measurements if you can;t try it on.

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Paul1977

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#1354502 29-Jul-2015 15:33

keewee01:
Paul1977: In regards to the original question, can't the replacements be marked as such "Replacement goods - no GST payable", or something to that effect?

GST is calculated on what you pay for the goods, and you haven't paid anything for the replacement items.

EDIT: Men's clothing is subject to 10% customs too, so sucks if they make you pay that twice too. And don't forget the import entry fee, or the biosecurity fee.

BUT... won't the sender still list a value the second time around, which they will have to for customs and maybe insurance purposes (or will they list it as zero value?), Customs are going to see that and hit you up again.

I didn't say it would work!

Paul1977

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#1354505 29-Jul-2015 15:37

Geektastic:
Paul1977: Not the same thing, but talking about being taxed twice.

I recently bought some clothing from the UK and queried them about whether VAT should have been discounted at checkout, they said they don't distinguish between EU and non-EU customers so charge VAT on everything.

In this instance they did give me a 20% "special discount" for seemingly just asking the question, but why would they be charging non-EU customers VAT in the first place? They don't have to pay it on goods they sell to foreign buyers do they?

It would really annoy me if I paid VAT and then had to pay GST here as well.

JFYI if they do charge VAT to you, as a non EU delivery - they are breaking the law.

They are supposed to (and in many many cases the online shopping systems do it at checkout) sell sans VAT to non EU addresses.

Good to know. I want to buy from them again, so will be hitting them up in advanced for their 20% "special discount" they gave me last time :)

Geektastic

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#1354799 29-Jul-2015 19:14

BTR: Did you order the wrong size because you didn't check a the sellers sizing guide or did they ship you the wrong size. If its a case of you didn't ask enough questions then tough.

Clothing sizes are different with every manufacturer, its you to you to find out the measurements if you can;t try it on.

It was an error in so far as I asked them which particular garments would fit and they emailed me a link, which included one that in fact should not have been on the list. I did not notice (since it was suitable in every other way).

I see no logical reason why you should not get your GST refunded on a return.

Geektastic

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#1354800 29-Jul-2015 19:14

BTR: Did you order the wrong size because you didn't check a the sellers sizing guide or did they ship you the wrong size. If its a case of you didn't ask enough questions then tough.

Clothing sizes are different with every manufacturer, its you to you to find out the measurements if you can;t try it on.

raytaylor

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#1354933 29-Jul-2015 22:43

I purchased an elitebook off amazon a couple of years ago. When it came in, i had to pay the GST on it.
The laptop was an out of box failure, so i sent it back.
When the second one came in, I was able to provide proof that I had returned the first one and was able to skip the GST on the replacement unit.

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nathan

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#1354937 29-Jul-2015 22:47

raytaylor: I purchased an elitebook off amazon a couple of years ago. When it came in, i had to pay the GST on it.
The laptop was an out of box failure, so i sent it back.
When the second one came in, I was able to provide proof that I had returned the first one and was able to skip the GST on the replacement unit.

what was the proof? Did you need to get it sighted by customs etc on the way out or?

raytaylor

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#1354943 29-Jul-2015 22:57

I think it was an email confirming the dealer recieved the dead unit, and a receipt from nzpost with the tracking number on it.

When the replacement unit came in, they saw it was being addressed to a business and so the question tree I think is different when the couriers bringing it in call you to collect the gst payment.
I had the opportunity to explain the situation and she said that was an option they could accept.

You might need to prod them a little when the correct size garments arrive.

Ray Taylor

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