how does import duty work?

[Robert_T]

Help?

If I were buying something OS that came in at $1300AU I'm assuming someone in Customs will notice this and I'll have to pay something. How much do they normally add on and is it for the full amount or just the portion over $1000.

Also how do they let you know you have to pay (phone, e-mail etc) and how can you make payment?

Thanks all!

[[1ponders]]

I think it's a lucky dip and if they like you or not Rob. Often payment methods depend on the type of delivery that is being used. When I had my G11 sent from OPT I simply got a phone call from the shipping comp here in Aus saying that Customs wouldn't release it until the GST and Duties were paid. I paid and everything turned up fine, np. But I do know others have had a nightmare of a time with it.

Have you checked out this Customs site? (http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4376)

[Robert_T]

AAggghhhh - it's worse that I though.... amazing you add of various taxes and charges and then you pay the GST... looks like a $1300 item will cost $216 in charges:scared:

[Striker]

Robert...to ease custom problems...use USPS for items under $1000 AUD including postage and for items above $1000AUD use UPS...UPS will take care of all the paperwork regarding charges for custom and GST...they will simply ring you and pay over the phone...so very simple.

Custom fee is around $50 and GST is well 10% of the total cost.....this is only applied on items over $1000AUD including postage...under $1000 you get GST and custom free.

[wavelandscott]

To avoid confusion...

USPS = United States Postal Service (government agency)

UPS = United Parcel Service (private comapny)

FedEx = Federal Express (private company)

I concur with Striker's advice for smaller value items use USPS...

My experience has been that FedEx nearly always attracts GST/Duty etc.

While sometimes a little slow (and not always trackable) I 've never had any problems with USPS...

I've never used UPS...

Cheers!

[Striker]

I hope fedex is not charging GST and the custom fee for item's valued under $1000...I would agree with this 9 months ago but the law has changed since then to the new $1000 limit where it was only $250 before this when using private couriers like UPS and FedEX...Aust Post and USPS has always been $1000 but their all on the same playing field now.

If you use USPS for items over the $1000 you will quickly regret the amount of paperwork and information you need to provide to Custom just to declare the value of your item.

[wavelandscott]

Thank you for restating the fact about the change in the law (I should have clarified it myself)...my use of FedEx was over 9 months ago and was for a value in excess of AUD$250 (with shipping)...

The item (not Astro equipment) did collect GST/Duty via FedEx (I was not aware of the law then in effect and was surprised at the fees)...I had a similar parcel shipped USPS at near the same time which did not...which created a "warm and fuzzy" feeling towards USPS...

I have been pleased by USPS and their performance and costs so I have not used FedEx (or UPS) since the law change...

Sorry for any confusion from my earlier post...

[Robert_T]

thanks for the advice guys, must say I'm staggered at the way customs is applied and would have thought that in any fair-minded approach (what was I thinking :doh: ) that the GST etc would only apply to the component of cost above $1000 instead of the whole amount... makes for a might big jump in cost between something costing $999AU and something costing $ 1001 - the latter ending up costing nearly $200 more!!!

ah well, this means I have to think some more about whether I want a DMK firewire camera at ~$695AU or a Lumenera Skynx at ~$1300 (which I was favouring) but which with tax will cost ~$1520... annoying

cheers,

[Soldant]

Question: I got a PDA from overseas (IIRC, it was in the USA) for $550 or something like that. I can't remember how it was posted but I'm relatively certain it wasn't USPS. I had to pay something like $65 to Customs before they would release it. I can't remember the reason why. Anybody hazard a guess?

I wasn't impressed.

[Striker]

How long ago Soldant....if it wasn't posted via USPS and was over 9 months ago..then yes you would have had to pay the fees...you should have got it sent via USPS....= no fees.

[Soldant]

This was... mid 05 or something so yeah over 9 months.

Can't remember why it wasn't done through USPS, I think they insisted on another postage method. What fee would I have paid?

[wavelandscott]

I think there are some key things to remember when comparing overseas prices...

Include in your pricing comparison any GST/duty and the cost of shipping and insurance for goods (over AUD$1,000 including shipping attracts GST and duty on full amount).

Don't forget that pesky currency exchange fee some credit cards add (this may not be applicable for Australian based cards but as a US ex-pat in Australia my $USD based cards charge an extra fee for the currency conversion for purchases here)

Also don't forget about warranty (or lack of) availability and support.

While a few years back it was pretty easy to find a "deal" overseas due to the relative weakness in the $AUD/$USD but at current exchange rates (and maybe because of a little more local competition) most things I've looked at recently are nearly line ball in price...and I like to buy local when I can...

Good Luck!