Need to pay GST for importing a warranty replacement item (online/international)?

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sultanoswing

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#270162 26-Apr-2020 11:20

I ordered a Nest Thermostat last year from the UK, and it died after just four months (wifi/battery problem).

Annoyed, but Google/Nest have shipped a replacement. Trouble is, they don't ship direct to NZ, and the UK mail forwarder (not Youshop this time, who refuse to ship it because it has a 380mAh Li-ion battery in it. Sigh), is charging GST and say they can't enter a "zero value" declaration, even though it's a warranty replacement which I haven't paid for. I did pay GST on the original item, no complaints there - but can I claim back the GST in this case?

I'm chalking this up to the cost of doing business in a semi-but-not-properly globalised economy. And it's still cheaper than buying from the one NZ supplier (unless this one craps out too).

surfisup1000

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#2471482 26-Apr-2020 11:32

You shouldn't pay gst on warranty replacements. I haven't in the past.

Although, haven't made any foreign warranty claims since the new GST rules were introduced. Maybe the problem is with your supplier not knowing NZ tax rules (nor should they need to but that is another argument).

[edit] I had to get a laptop replaced under warranty from Lenovo in China and I was not charged GST again

sultanoswing

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#2471497 26-Apr-2020 12:22

Thanks for the example, surfisup.

I couldn't be bothered arguing (or waiting longer) with the mail forwarder over this, and have had the item shipped, and paid for the GST component.

However, my next thought is whether it'll be worth trying to reclaim the 27 quid paid in GST from the IRD in due course, including the need to extract the needed documents from Google/Nest.

sbiddle

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#2471546 26-Apr-2020 12:30

You need to lodge a drawback claim BEFORE you exported the faulty goods. There isn't anything you can do now that you've exported the faulty goods and received the new replacement goods.

sultanoswing

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#2471548 26-Apr-2020 12:34

sbiddle:

You need to lodge a drawback claim BEFORE you exported the faulty goods. There isn't anything you can do now that you've exported the faulty goods and received the new replacement goods.

Actually, the faulty good is sitting on my desk as I type this, opened up & waiting for the replacement lithium battery I also ordered to arrive from China. I may keep it rather than send it back to Poland, where the DHL shipping label says it is to be returned to in due course (with Youshop's UK address on the 'from' portion, I may add).

Perhaps I'll claim to Google I don't have clearance to ship a lithium battery item, in a mildly satisfying form of ironic revenge.

Edit: I'll look into how to lodge a drawback claim for current / future reference - thanks!

Edit 2: found it - https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import/import-payments-and-refunds/refunds-and-drawbacks/. I should be able to process this, if the new battery doesn't revive the broken thermostat, so I do end out sending it back to Google/Nest. If it does revive it, I'll keep it as a relatively cheap spare (it's probably what Nest would have done in any case, then resold it).

tardtasticx

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#2471599 26-Apr-2020 14:16

I'm about to return a Surface Pro to Microsoft (Purchased in NZ from JBHIFI, GST paid).

The return is going to Australia, and they will ship me a replacement back.
Do I need to do this drawback thing mentioned above before I send it back to avoid the risk of paying GST on it's way in?

lNomNoml

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#2471627 26-Apr-2020 15:13

tardtasticx:
I'm about to return a Surface Pro to Microsoft (Purchased in NZ from JBHIFI, GST paid).

The return is going to Australia, and they will ship me a replacement back.
Do I need to do this drawback thing mentioned above before I send it back to avoid the risk of paying GST on it's way in?

I do this as part of my job all the time and we don't do that we just get the replacement.