Importing Goods to NZ

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garvani

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Topic # 60611 28-Apr-2010 22:08

Thinking of importing some clothing from the good old US of A.. Was just going to go and do it then started adding things up, doing it from the website its going to cost me $480nz including shipping.
Ive got a concern about customs and there pesky gst fees.. What is the maximum value in NZD before they start charging gst? Ive read that its $400 (incl shipping etc) but for some reason i thought it was lower??

How often do items get stopped at customs, and then charged gst?

So then i thought about using the shipito service.. hypothetically (of course) if one was to declare a slightly lower value say so it totaled $350nzd, would it get stopped? And if it did its clothes, and only 5 items so they should really have no idea what their true value would be as i believe shipito will dispose of the original invoice if asked. Then there is the other option too of writing gift on the declaration, but dodged out by this one..

rscole86

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Reply # 324435 28-Apr-2010 22:09

Are you able to split the parcel? So have 4 x $100 parcels coming in?

garvani

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Reply # 324437 28-Apr-2010 22:12

um yeah i could do.. wouldnt you end up paying more in shipping though?

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Kyanar

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Reply # 324442 28-Apr-2010 22:26

Check this page: http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Private+importers/Customs+charges.htm

Basically, there is no minimum value to qualify for GST, they calculate GST on the declared value of everything. They just don't ask you to pay it unless it exceeds $50 you owe them.

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Reply # 324454 28-Apr-2010 23:00

if its clotihng you're importing, then they will probably also calculate the GST take *after* also adding the import duties applicable:

Apparel:
- men's %26.5
- women's %26.5
- babies' %12.5

so your $100 shirt becomes $126.50 which becomes $142.31 inc gst (if my math works at this hour).

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nzpat

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Reply # 324479 29-Apr-2010 00:07

I have done this several times, (largest order being around $650), never been pinged, just get the sender to mark the box as a gift.

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Reply # 324494 29-Apr-2010 01:20

gifts still attract GST and duty. i had to pay some GST on an item my parents sent over from the UK as a gift.

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Byrned

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Reply # 324596 29-Apr-2010 10:38

I've found a lot of it comes down to luck.

Most of the time I haven't had to pay anything on imported items, including clothing and shoes. Recently my wife imported some dresses which came to around US$800. Paid $80 duty on it. I still can't work out how they came to that amount buy I wasn't arguing!

Behodar

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Reply # 324600 29-Apr-2010 10:53

Yeah, there does seem to be luck. I've imported clothes etc totalling over $400 and have never had to pay GST or any other similar charges. The only time I've had to was when I brought a laptop over.

garvani

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Reply # 324607 29-Apr-2010 11:04

Cheers guys.. will give it a shot and see how it goes..

bcourtney

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Reply # 324613 29-Apr-2010 11:17

Regs: if its clotihng you're importing, then they will probably also calculate the GST take *after* also adding the import duties applicable:

Apparel:
- men's %26.5
- women's %26.5
- babies' %12.5

so your $100 shirt becomes $126.50 which becomes $142.31 inc gst (if my math works at this hour).

The rates above already include the GST rate as well - thus, there is no duty on babies' apparel, only GST due