Tobacco Import question

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#1951684 5-Feb-2018 07:31

Linux:

From the www.govt.nz website

For tobacco, you can bring in one of the following:

50 cigarettes, or

50 grams of cigars or tobacco

This is very very clear and anyone can understand this! 50 Grams is 50 grams not 50 grams plus some more cause the pouch is open

Linux

Exactly, otherwise everyone would buy their limit and also have a 40 pack with one smoked or a 50gm with one smoked, or theoretically, multi packets of in use cigarettes/tobacco

MikeB4

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#1951687 5-Feb-2018 07:44

Aredwood: Assuming it doesn't cost much to buy overseas, tell him to try bringing in his tin, and the open packet. But very important,

Tell him to make sure he declares it!!!

The customs officers do appear to have some discretion in applying the rules. I have bought back some interesting things in my travels. Almost every time I fly international, I have to go through the "something to declare" customs lane. (both departing and arriving to NZ) Yet I have never had any problems with what I was wanting to bring in.

Legislative limits are the limit and unless the act provides discretion then Customs Officers cannot apply discretion. In this case it is my belief that there is no discretion the limit is 50 grams of loose tobacco.

epr

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#1951696 5-Feb-2018 08:03

Geektastic: I'll ring Customs tomorrow and ask them.

Logic dictates any product in use must be excluded since from research I see that pipe tobacco comes in 50g tins so the allowance is in effect one tin.

If product in use counts, almost nobody could actually use the Duty Free allowance in a meaningful way since it seems likely that most users would have something on them.

I shall report back.

Cool next time I am coming in to the country I will get a dozen bottles of spirits open each one and have a sip and be able to bring them all through because logic dictates any product in use must be exluded.

Geektastic

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#1951844 5-Feb-2018 10:34

tdgeek:
Linux:

From the www.govt.nz website

For tobacco, you can bring in one of the following:

50 cigarettes, or

50 grams of cigars or tobacco

This is very very clear and anyone can understand this! 50 Grams is 50 grams not 50 grams plus some more cause the pouch is open

Linux

Exactly, otherwise everyone would buy their limit and also have a 40 pack with one smoked or a 50gm with one smoked, or theoretically, multi packets of in use cigarettes/tobacco

Not necessarily. Perfectly possible that you could leave NZ with 50g of duty paid tobacco, buy 50g in duty free and return a week later. Presumably they can't charge you duty again on what you carried out, so there must be scenarios where it's not that simple.

Geektastic

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#1951848 5-Feb-2018 10:41

Answer is "I wouldn't mention that. Just go on unopened amount. Technically it's included but officer's discretion and unless there are other matters, it's highly unlikely anyone would be concerned in that scenario."

qwertee

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#1951871 5-Feb-2018 10:57

2 weeks back I flew in through CHC airport and was carrying 100 sticks of cigarettes for someone. (50 sticks allowed)

Paid duty ($50) and the officer didnt want to look at the bag they were in when I offered.

I suppose its really up to the officer, and honesty pays. They really come down on you if caught concealing stuff!

In the same vein, years ago I carried 2 cartons ( 1 carton of 200 sticks allowed)
Paid duty for the 1 carton and I did tell that I had an opened pack too. The officer didnt bother with that single pack

cheers

Linux

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#1951878 5-Feb-2018 11:05

Geektastic:
tdgeek:

Linux:

From the www.govt.nz website

For tobacco, you can bring in one of the following:

50 cigarettes, or

50 grams of cigars or tobacco

This is very very clear and anyone can understand this! 50 Grams is 50 grams not 50 grams plus some more cause the pouch is open

Linux

Exactly, otherwise everyone would buy their limit and also have a 40 pack with one smoked or a 50gm with one smoked, or theoretically, multi packets of in use cigarettes/tobacco

Not necessarily. Perfectly possible that you could leave NZ with 50g of duty paid tobacco, buy 50g in duty free and return a week later. Presumably they can't charge you duty again on what you carried out, so there must be scenarios where it's not that simple.

Yes it is that simple don't come back into NZ with more than 50 grams or you could be charged duty on the excess, From reading the information on the website it's so so simple to understand

Linux

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Geektastic

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#1951883 5-Feb-2018 11:13

Linux:
Geektastic:
tdgeek:

Linux:

From the www.govt.nz website

For tobacco, you can bring in one of the following:

50 cigarettes, or

50 grams of cigars or tobacco

This is very very clear and anyone can understand this! 50 Grams is 50 grams not 50 grams plus some more cause the pouch is open

Linux

Exactly, otherwise everyone would buy their limit and also have a 40 pack with one smoked or a 50gm with one smoked, or theoretically, multi packets of in use cigarettes/tobacco

Not necessarily. Perfectly possible that you could leave NZ with 50g of duty paid tobacco, buy 50g in duty free and return a week later. Presumably they can't charge you duty again on what you carried out, so there must be scenarios where it's not that simple.

Yes it is that simple don't come back into NZ with more than 50 grams or you could be charged duty on the excess, From reading the information on the website it's so so simple to understand

Linux

Could but are very unlikely to be in this scenario as per customs own staff response.

MikeB4

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#1951888 5-Feb-2018 11:22

The person coming to NZ should do the right thing and respect our laws.

tdgeek

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#1951892 5-Feb-2018 11:29

MikeB4:

The person coming to NZ should do the right thing and respect our laws.

Yes, very simple. Laws have a reason. Imagine if there was no such thing as a parking ticket or a speed limit. Chaos

Geektastic

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#1951896 5-Feb-2018 11:39

MikeB4:

The person coming to NZ should do the right thing and respect our laws.

Nobody is attempting to circumvent the law. Nobody has suggested circumventing the law.

cadman

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#1951897 5-Feb-2018 11:40

tdgeek:

Imagine if there was no such thing as a... speed limit. Chaos

Fortunately for you we have to largely imagine, with all the bias that accompanies it, because few places actually try it. But the ones that do seem to find something quite counter-intuitive to the expected result.

https://www.motorists.org/press/montana-no-speed-limit-safety-paradox/

tdgeek

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#1951945 5-Feb-2018 11:58

cadman:

tdgeek:

Imagine if there was no such thing as a... speed limit. Chaos

Fortunately for you we have to largely imagine, with all the bias that accompanies it, because few places actually try it. But the ones that do seem to find something quite counter-intuitive to the expected result.

https://www.motorists.org/press/montana-no-speed-limit-safety-paradox/

A quick scan shows that the numbers are low, so more vulnerable to variation. A few years before the change, there was a no daytime limit road toll similar to the increase following speed limits. The use of seat belts increased but we already have a seat belt law that expects 100% compliance. Rising to 91% is a positive but can't be used to defend the speed limit change. A benefit is that road flow is staggered with slower and faster drivers, thats a positive as there is a lower chance to hit a vehicle if less vehicles are nearby. Ive driven in the US a lot. Narrow streets in SFO CBD, Manhattan, Interstates. US drivers are a generation ahead of us for consistent speeds and courtesy. Would it work here? Nah.

Wheelbarrow01

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#1951960 5-Feb-2018 12:42

I've flown to and from Australia dozens of times in the last decade. I've usually purchased the maximum allowance of duty free tobacco in both directions, plus I've always had an open packet of duty paid smokes in either my pocket or carry-on bag. I've never declared the 'extra' open packet, but nor have I hidden them. Sometimes they've gone through the x-ray machine and nothing has been said.

I think customs just expect (and accept) that most smokers will have an open packet on them in addition to their duty free purchase. I think it's a way different story if a person is carrying 2 (or 4 or 8) open packets with one dart missing from each - that's a pretty clear and deliberate attempt to cheat the system.

Peppery

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#1952001 5-Feb-2018 14:05

Aredwood: Assuming it doesn't cost much to buy overseas, tell him to try bringing in his tin, and the open packet. But very important,

Tell him to make sure he declares it!!!

The customs officers do appear to have some discretion in applying the rules. I have bought back some interesting things in my travels. Almost every time I fly international, I have to go through the "something to declare" customs lane. (both departing and arriving to NZ) Yet I have never had any problems with what I was wanting to bring in.

Definitely a lot of discretion - I've brought back expensive tech gear purchased overseas (iPhones, MacBooks, cameras etc) and declare that I'm carrying goods over the GST limit. Showed the officer, they just waved me through. No dramas.

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