Tobacco Import question

Forums › Off topic › Tobacco Import question

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#229033 4-Feb-2018 18:10

I was asked by a friend coming from the UK a question to which I don't know the answer and which I could not spot on the appropriate websites.

He's a pipe smoker (the traditional briar kind, not the dubious glass kind!) and could not work out whether a partially used tin of tobacco was part of the Duty Free allowance or not - ie if he buys his Duty Free limit and has a pouch 'in use' about his person, is he allowed to do that or would that be over the limit?

1 | 2 | 3

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#1951537 4-Feb-2018 18:22

Why would think that a pouch being "open" is treated any differently than a closed one??

the duty free limit is 50 grams, if he has more and he is caught with it, i would expect him to get charged duty on the over amount

Linux

12173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8469

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951544 4-Feb-2018 18:40

Opened or unopened it's still tobacco no matter what so yes it's counted

Linux

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#1951546 4-Feb-2018 18:48

All that being said about limits, I used to smoke rollies and had open pouch in my checked baggage, new duty free in the plastic bag it came in, and about 3 pre-rolled ciggies in a tin in my pocket.

I never had an issue. I would buy max every trip. (I don't smoke anymore, this was 6 years ago).

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951559 4-Feb-2018 19:08

blakamin:
All that being said about limits, I used to smoke rollies and had open pouch in my checked baggage, new duty free in the plastic bag it came in, and about 3 pre-rolled ciggies in a tin in my pocket.

I never had an issue. I would buy max every trip. (I don't smoke anymore, this was 6 years ago).

The question arises as much because what is in the pocket isn't necessarily Duty Free, it's likely Duty Paid - just not here.

Linux

12173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8469

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951565 4-Feb-2018 19:20

Duty not paid in the country you are entering

Linux

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1684

ID Verified

Trusted

#1951566 4-Feb-2018 19:21

Geektastic:

The question arises as much because what is in the pocket isn't necessarily Duty Free, it's likely Duty Paid - just not here.

Which is irrelevant. If you were to purchase household goods in another country, pay sales tax on them, and move to NZ within 12 months of purchasing them, you will be expected to pay GST on them to the New Zealand Government despite the fact you already paid tax on them and cannot get it refunded by your foreign government. It's the same in Australia.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12765

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1951568 4-Feb-2018 19:21

All tobacco in ones possession at the border counts toward the 50gram limit. Amounts over 50 grams will incur NZ Duty charges and they are not cheap.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

#1951574 4-Feb-2018 19:34

MikeB4:

All tobacco in ones possession at the border counts toward the 50gram limit. Amounts over 50 grams will incur NZ Duty charges and they are not cheap.

It's okay though, his smoking tourist friend can just knock off a corner dairy if he's running short.

Lias

5655 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3978

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951598 4-Feb-2018 20:54

When I used to smoke, open packets of cigarettes didn't seem to count towards the limit.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951653 5-Feb-2018 00:12

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.

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951654 5-Feb-2018 00:14

Fred99:
MikeB4:

All tobacco in ones possession at the border counts toward the 50gram limit. Amounts over 50 grams will incur NZ Duty charges and they are not cheap.

It's okay though, his smoking tourist friend can just knock off a corner dairy if he's running short.

I think he's perhaps a tad too old for that sort of thing.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1684

ID Verified

Trusted

#1951656 5-Feb-2018 00:17

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.

Logic doesn't dictate that at all. The reason the limits are so low is because they really don't want you bringing it into the country at all, so whether your tin is open or not it counts because the reality is, New Zealand doesn't want you importing it. The duty free allowance these days is known to be effectively impossible to utilise in any useful fashion, since pretty much anything you buy immediately caps it out.

Linux

12173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8469

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951662 5-Feb-2018 00:28

Your logic is wrong then what a waste of customs time and a waste of a phone call it's any / total tobacco the person has on them or in their luggage!

Linux

12173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8469

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1951666 5-Feb-2018 00:34

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

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1749

#1951675 5-Feb-2018 02:56

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.

1 | 2 | 3