Buying Electronics overseas

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#631079 27-May-2012 17:41

kyhwana2:
sbiddle:
kyhwana2:
keewee01:
You could be asked to produce the receipt for it to prove you bought it before you left... now what are you going to do?

What if you bought something second hand?

It makes no difference if goods are new or second hand.

I mean, if you bought something second hand in NZ and thus don't have a receipt for it? (Of course, you wouldn't be bringing it into the country with all the boxes/manuals/etc)

True, but it might not stop them from demanding you show proof that you did buy it. I wonder what their process is for that?

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#631080 27-May-2012 17:42

Actually taken right from the page posted:

Exemptions:

"The goods are for your own personal use and are not intended for any other person or persons, or for gift, sale, or exchange."

I have had a good many discussions with Customs officers over the years, they don't care if it's for your personal usage, and they don't even really care if it's a gift, so long as you aren't bringing in boat loads of stuff.

I don't have a form with me, but I am pretty sure right on the card declaration it states unless items are for personal usage etc.

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#631092 27-May-2012 17:52

networkn: Actually taken right from the page posted:

Exemptions:

"The goods are for your own personal use and are not intended for any other person or persons, or for gift, sale, or exchange."

I have had a good many discussions with Customs officers over the years, they don't care if it's for your personal usage, and they don't even really care if it's a gift, so long as you aren't bringing in boat loads of stuff.

I don't have a form with me, but I am pretty sure right on the card declaration it states unless items are for personal usage etc.

You've just quoted the personal effects concession - which covers clothing, toiletries and personal jewellery, nothing else.

The card also says nothing about goods for personal use and provides no exemptions for personal use, it simply asks you if you're brining in goods over the $700 personal concession.

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#631094 27-May-2012 17:55

Where does it state nothing other than those items? I believe the concession is anything personal.

It's hard to me to believe that the legislation means that before exiting I need to tell Customs about everything in my suitcase over $700 and then have them match it back up when I get back, makes no sense. If that were the case the queues would be out the door and down the roadside and deplaning would take many many hours.

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#631105 27-May-2012 18:16

networkn: Where does it state nothing other than those items? I believe the concession is anything personal.

It's hard to me to believe that the legislation means that before exiting I need to tell Customs about everything in my suitcase over $700 and then have them match it back up when I get back, makes no sense. If that were the case the queues would be out the door and down the roadside and deplaning would take many many hours.

Read that entire page and you will see where everything you're bring back in fits in. It is all there - I took the time to read the entire page, hence why I knew you were wrong in all your earlier statements. Read it.

I don't necessarily agree with the limits and what is cover and what isn't, but it is there in black and white.

In reality Customs are after the big fish, but there is no reason why a little fish won't get caught out one day and end up with the fines. It's better to be safe than sorry.

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#631120 27-May-2012 18:36

keewee01:
networkn: Where does it state nothing other than those items? I believe the concession is anything personal.

It's hard to me to believe that the legislation means that before exiting I need to tell Customs about everything in my suitcase over $700 and then have them match it back up when I get back, makes no sense. If that were the case the queues would be out the door and down the roadside and deplaning would take many many hours.

Read that entire page and you will see where everything you're bring back in fits in. It is all there - I took the time to read the entire page, hence why I knew you were wrong in all your earlier statements. Read it.

I don't necessarily agree with the limits and what is cover and what isn't, but it is there in black and white.

In reality Customs are after the big fish, but there is no reason why a little fish won't get caught out one day and end up with the fines. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I read the relevant part under Allowances & duty-free concessions - Duty Free Concessions for Household Items. That's the part that matters and is consistent with my interpretation, my experience (considerable) and in line with conversations held with customs officers during my extensive travels.

If he comes back with a single cellphone in his pocket he bought overseas, he will NOT have an issue.

I went to HK and when I came back I had with me 7 cellphones (Different models and makes) and the officer asked me if they were personal. I explained they were all mine, that I was going to review them for non profit, decide on which one I liked and give the rest to family. He said, no problem so long as it's personal and not for profit.

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#631156 27-May-2012 19:24

networkn:
keewee01:
networkn: Where does it state nothing other than those items? I believe the concession is anything personal.

It's hard to me to believe that the legislation means that before exiting I need to tell Customs about everything in my suitcase over $700 and then have them match it back up when I get back, makes no sense. If that were the case the queues would be out the door and down the roadside and deplaning would take many many hours.

Read that entire page and you will see where everything you're bring back in fits in. It is all there - I took the time to read the entire page, hence why I knew you were wrong in all your earlier statements. Read it.

I don't necessarily agree with the limits and what is cover and what isn't, but it is there in black and white.

In reality Customs are after the big fish, but there is no reason why a little fish won't get caught out one day and end up with the fines. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I read the relevant part under Allowances & duty-free concessions - Duty Free Concessions for Household Items. That's the part that matters and is consistent with my interpretation, my experience (considerable) and in line with conversations held with customs officers during my extensive travels.

And this section only applies if you have lived outside NZ for the 21 months prior. It does not apply to a NZer returning from a short trip overseas.

There are no exceptions to the $700 rule. If you bring more than $700 worth of goods back in with you that weren't puchased in NZ and taken away with you then you have to declare these and pay GST and/or duty.

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#631158 27-May-2012 19:27

sbiddle: that makes no sense. If that were the case then the Govt would make massive tax hauls by simply detaining each person coming back from holiday and spending time making them pay duty. The money involved would be staggering, and certainly worth the time and effort required, yet in 20 years of extensive travel I've never had an issue, nor has a single person I know, bar one photographer.

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#631165 27-May-2012 19:33

networkn: sbiddle: that makes no sense. If that were the case then the Govt would make massive tax hauls by simply detaining each person coming back from holiday and spending time making them pay duty. The money involved would be staggering, and certainly worth the time and effort required, yet in 20 years of extensive travel I've never had an issue, nor has a single person I know, bar one photographer.

It makes plenty of sence. Goods that come into NZ must have duty and/or GST paid. There is a $700 allowance for personal goods, and an exemption if you're moving your house here. For everybody else you're allowed to bring back $700 worth of goods, this is no different to the way customs works in any country around the world, except for the fact our allowance is lower than some other countries.

I've had a couple of occasions in my travels where I've been picked out and had invoices checked.

Going back to what I've posted numerous times customs ask you a simple question - whether you have goods values at more than $700. If you do you need to declare these and pay GST. Those are the rules.

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#631174 27-May-2012 19:48

If you tick the box "Nothing to declare" and they pick you finding lots of items with a total over $700 then you have to pay GST on everything, plus an instant fine.

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#631182 27-May-2012 20:12

Don't bother unless it is a model or specialist item not available in NZ you probably won't buy much cheaper than NZ overseas and when you consider the Consumer protection and redress on local retailer if bought here it really isn't worth the trouble - IMHO.

My checking when I travel in Asia is that prices are often more than NZ - go figure !

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#631207 27-May-2012 21:26

sbiddle:
networkn: sbiddle: that makes no sense. If that were the case then the Govt would make massive tax hauls by simply detaining each person coming back from holiday and spending time making them pay duty. The money involved would be staggering, and certainly worth the time and effort required, yet in 20 years of extensive travel I've never had an issue, nor has a single person I know, bar one photographer.

It makes plenty of sence. Goods that come into NZ must have duty and/or GST paid. There is a $700 allowance for personal goods, and an exemption if you're moving your house here. For everybody else you're allowed to bring back $700 worth of goods, this is no different to the way customs works in any country around the world, except for the fact our allowance is lower than some other countries.

I've had a couple of occasions in my travels where I've been picked out and had invoices checked.

Going back to what I've posted numerous times customs ask you a simple question - whether you have goods values at more than $700. If you do you need to declare these and pay GST. Those are the rules.

Now is the value of the goods measured in what it would be worth here or what you purchased it for overseas? So what would happen if I purchased a phone in the states for $699 nz, but it retails in NZ for $899. Do I pay duty on it?

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#631213 27-May-2012 21:36

You will be asked for the original invoice. If you can't produce one, then they will assess the value based on local prices.

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#631258 27-May-2012 23:20

Well I would suggest to buy from over here through a parallel importer as your likely to pay not much more than you would overseas and have the added advantage of local support as if things go wrong it would be a huge hassle as well as added expense to have to ship it back on your own accord.

I bought my Optimus 2x through this way had issues with it and it ended up going back twice now if i'd sourced it myself overseas i would most likely have no cover or cover at my expense to send things back. Since i upgraded to gingerbread thankfully i've had no issues.

On the other point being discussed I can see both points of view however the relevance to the OP has already been stated more than once so what does it matter as to who is right or wrong as we all know it will be the determinatioin of the customs officer on the day if they were questioned or checked which would ultimately decide whether or not their was any need to pay.

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#631361 28-May-2012 10:54

freitasm: If you tick the box "Nothing to declare" and they pick you finding lots of items with a total over $700 then you have to pay GST on everything, plus an instant fine.

I've always wondered about this, I have 2 smart phones (work and personal), iPad and a Macbook when I travel - justifying that I bought them locally upon returning from an overseas trip may not be possible.

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