GST when purchasing directly from ZWO

[garymck]

Hi,
I have bought many items from ZWO in the past and never been hit with a GST bill - even on expensive items like cameras.

However in the last month a friend had an order delivered from ZWO and was hit with a bill not only for GST but also a $120 "processing fee" from DHL. This negated any advantage of buying directly.

Is this a new thing? Has it happened to anyone else? Just wondering as it may effect my next purchases.

cheers
Gary

[Nikolas]

What did he buy?

[garymck]

ASIair, 585 color camera and a couple of accessories

[alpal]

Unfortunately even when you buy software from overseas
such as Microsoft 365 -
you get hit with GST and
that doesn't even go through customs -
it's downloaded via the internet.

It seems the Australian Govt has companies overseas acting
as tax collectors for them.
I don't know how they managed that?

cheers
Allan

[Max Vondel]

I paid an extra $400 recently on a Camera import from Italy. I expected $200- GST and something like a $20- charge (DHL). Separating GST as a component in presenting bills has happened since the introduction of the GST. Hey it's only $120- ...you get excited....then ... $132- ... Happens in professional scientific sales all the time. Best to stay local and support local suppliers.

[Osbojo]

Hmm, that's a worry. In the last 12 months I have bought a camera, EAF and Seestar direct from ZWO and never seen a GST bill. I assumed that they paid it upfront like EBay. The same has applied for US purchases from astro suppliers.

[Nikolas]

I've bought stuff from zwo direct never paid GST. I had a $1600 mount that didnt have gst on it from aliexpress, no issue.

[Addos]

GST applies to overseas purchases where the taxable value of the goods is over $1000. Wasnt part of the orig GST leg introduced. Known in the business as the 'Gerry Harvey' tax as he was the man who lobbied for it. Customs forwarding agents in Aus will assess and apply it (e.g. DHL, Fedex), and the purchaser will need to pay it before the goods will be released from dock. If you've imported goods since 2014 over $1000 and not paid GST, its likely the seller didnt declare it a taxable import and Customs sweeps didnt pick it up in inspections.

[Mosc_007]

Hello,

I think this was changed back in 2018. Imported Goods with a value under $1000 are also liable for GST. Ebay, Amazon, Ali Express etc charge GST on all sales to Australia no matter what the value.

[Buck]

This is absolutely correct. GST on o/seas purchases applies on ALL items from $1 value upwards. Used to be only over $1,000 - but has done so since above mentioned (date) change - on both new or second hand/used items. For higher cost items, and those not purchased through the likes of Amazon, eBay etc., as previously mentioned the GST, plus import and handling charges are collected by the carrier such as DHL etc from the purchaser prior to release and final delivery. Items obtained via PayPal, eBay etc will normally add the GST component upfront to the final cost.

I've bought a considerable number of items from o/seas sellers over the last 10-15 years, and this has been my experience whether buying from a retail company, an online supplier such as Amazon or AliExpress or ETSY etc, an individual via eBay and so on. Very rarely have I NOT been charged GST - usually only on small value items <$1,000 from private sellers, but this seems to be the exception these days.

If a retailer or company selling goods from o/seas to a buyer in Australia is not incorporating or adding in Australian GST, I believe they are not complying with Australian import legislation - but not sure how this is monitored or acted upon.

Paul

[AstroViking]

There is another wrinkle to this - I've seen some (overseas) online retailers saying "we don't do more than $50k worth of business with Australian buyers, so we are exempt from collecting GST from you".

I never purchased from them, so can't say whether GST would have been collected by the carrier company, Customs, etc.

V.

[Osbojo]

In my experience, EBay, AliExpress et. al. always charge GST at checkout as their prices are ex tax. That is why I assumed that when I've bought from them, ZWO, Agena, etc charges include tax as I've yet to be charged by the shipping company. I received a Hyperstar and filter drawer from Starizona late last year and it arrived without extra charges and it was over AU$1k including shipping.

Dunno, maybe I've just been lucky!