Import Tax Question

[dugnsuz]

Hi all,
40D has been modded by Peter tan in Hong Kong.
In order to insure it for its return journey, the value of the item and description has to be declared to Hong kong post.

Peter has said that I may be slugged for import tax due to the high insured/declared cost of the camera. Camera insured for $7380HK which is just under $1000AU

Does anyone have any ideas or experiences in this area!!?? Any ideas as to costs involved?

I can't find any specific information online.

I have all sales receipts proving that the camera was purchased in Oz, and Peter will include documentation to verify that the mod was performed on a user-supplied camera.

Cheers
Doug:thumbsup:

[CoombellKid]

Having just had to deal with this myself. If your under AUS$1000.00 it wont
cost you anything. Otherwise you will be slugged 10% GST plus 5% customs
duty. I'm sure the GST will be added after the customs duty. Btw, it's the
value of the item and it doesn't include shipping. And anything coming through
the post is exempt.

Well that the advice I recieved from Australian Customs about a week or
two ago

regards,CS

[asterisk]

Doug

I have found that Customs in Australia generally leave anything under AU$1000 alone - ie, no duties.

If they do try to charge you, a letter confirming proof of Australian purchase and explaining that repairs were being done o/s will get you out of trouble (just a longer wait until you get the camera).

Cheers

[CoombellKid]

Sorry miss the last bit, I think you should be cool. Any way you can get
the bloke in HK to make it look like you have sent it for repair. Still I dont
think you going to have any prob's

regards,CS

[dugnsuz]

Cheers guys,
It just scrapes under the $1k limit, so I think all will be good
Doug

[Louwai]

Doug,
If the camera was originally purchased in Oz (and you can prove it) then you will not be charged ANY import duty or GST on the actual item.
You also will not be charged duty or GST for the value of any REPAIRS done overseas.

You may however be charged Duty & GST on the value of any MODIFICATIONS done. But only if those mods total more that AU$1000.


The comment earlier about "things in the post are exempt" is not correct.
The exemption is for items under AU$1000 value, regardless of how they are transported.

If you pay Duty, it is calcuted on the purchase cost of the item only.
GST is calculated on the total value of Item + Duty + Insurance + shipping.

Bryan

[CoombellKid]

Bryan,

Perhaps you should ring Australian Customs on that, as that is what
they told me two weeks ago when I inquired with them about bringing
an item into the country. Either via a broker and/or via post.

regards,CS

[snowyskiesau]

According to this entry (http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5653) on the Customs website, the $1000 limit applies regardless of the method of importation.

There's a handy FAQ (http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ImportingGoodsByPostFAQ.pdf)that covers most of the points raised in this thread.
If in doubt, then an email or phone call to Customs is worthwhile. They're quite helpful.

[Louwai]

Yep, Snowskies is correct.
Doesn't matter what the method of transport.
If it's over $1000 & sent by post you WILL cop duty & GST.
BUT
If you get it sent via a courier company (DHL, FEDEX, TNT etc) & it's under $1000 you will still be charged a customs clearance fee of around $140 odd. Because they (the courier) do not have the autharity to decide on the item being exempt or not & so they must still present it for clearance.
They then are told it's exempt, BUT you are still charged the fee.


With all agencies you wll get a different answer from a different person each time you call.

I operate an Import Business & deal with Customs very regularly.
I don't want to come across "I know it all" here, but I can assure you that the exemption is based on $$$ value & NOT whether it is sent by post or not.


Bryan

[dugnsuz]

Thanks Geoff,
The FAQ was really helpful
Doug:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[CoombellKid]

I'm only relaying what Customs told me on the telephone, still the link posted
only suggests on postal items "you may be subject to Customs duty and Goods
and Services Tax". In which case I assume it is up to the post office to police.
I also think your better off pre-paying freight as you seem to avoid the dodgy
$140.00 customs clearance :scared: fee.

regards,CS

[Louwai]

COURIER COMPANY
If you use a courier company for your transport, you will always be charged the Customs Clearance Fee. It is not a Customs charge, it is a service fee for the courier company presenting the item/s to AU Customs. If the items are deemed to be Dutyable, then you will pay the duty & GST over & above the clearance fee.
A clearance fee is usually around AU$100 to AU$140 regardless of the item.
eg; It costs me the same clearance fee whether I'm clearing a 20' container contents value of AU$50k or a shoe-box size item of $1200 value.

If you pre-pay a courier company, you will still receive another Customs Clearance bill when your items arrives in AU & you will need to pay this amount BEFORE the courier will release your item for delivery, regardless of your item being dutyable or not.


POST OFFICE
When an item is sent via the post you are not charged a Customs Clearance Fee for the PO to present the item to Customs.
You will however be liable for Duty & GST if the item value is over $1000 as has been stated here several times.

If your item is over AU$1000 value & you pre-pay your postage, again, this will not bypass any of the charges.
If the item is dutyable you will receive a notification to pay the outstanding duty & GST before the item is delivered.


Another alternative is;
If your item is over $1000 value & able to be sent in multiple pieces, ask your retailer if they will send it in seperate packages with seperate invoices showing a value of that portion only. (under AU$1000)
Also ask them to send the packages on seperate days.

Some sellers will refuse, but some are very accomodating.
I did this with a motor focuser to suit my SCT & I saved AU$285.

[CoombellKid]

"If you pre-pay a courier company, you will still receive another Customs Clearance bill when your items arrives in AU & you will need to pay this amount BEFORE the courier will release your item for delivery, regardless of your item being dutyable or not."


I'm not going to keep arguing with you because it is obviously pointless.
Except to say two things. The above it's not alaways correct, I was never
charged a customs clearance fee. When I brought in a 16" mirror from
GSO on the 10th of this month. The freight was pre-paid by me through GSO
and shipping by UPS. It cleared customs in Taiwan, Philippines as well as
Australia as documented via UPS online tracking. I or UPS never charged
me this extra customs clearence fee either at drop off or anytime since.

You can state your interpretation of customs rules right here all you like.
But I will go with what info I get when I dial the customs 1300 number :)

End of Story :thumbsup:

And as far as I'm concerned thats the end of the matter but your more
than welcome to keeping arguing with yourself :thumbsup: knock yourself out expert

regards,CS

[Ian Robinson]

I've never once paid import duty or GST on anything I imported.

I always stipulate I require sending by parcel post.

[citivolus]

Rob, there is a big difference between "I'm an expert because I called a 1300 number" and "I'm offering my input because I deal with this stuff every day". While both should be taken into consideration, sometimes the practical implementation side can have more bearing on a situation than the strictly theoretical. Your declaration that the matter is closed because you have expressed your opinion is a bit of an "I'm right" with your fingers in your ears cop out - others should be free to interpret the information how they see fit. Additionally, as you stated, no rules are implemented 100% of the time, as special circumstances do arise and many rules are open to the interpretation of the customs officer. It is beneficial to the importer to know both sides - the theoretical "this should happen on import" and the practical "this is what usually happens on import". Making blanket statements based on a one time experience is dangerous and can be costly.

Personally, I've only had one import situation which exceeded $1000 where I was not charged the clearing fee and related duty. This shipment from China arrived at customs on a public holiday coinciding with a long weekend, and I speculate that the customs office was swamped when they opened again on Monday. The shipment was cleared without so much as the usual opening and inspection, and the items that I import always get opened for inspection due to their design and potential ability to be used as a concealment device. However, I am aware that a bill could show up any time in the next few years if ACS do decide to follow up.

Regards,
Eric

[Louwai]

I constantly hear people complain about "hidden" charges that they were never told about before they imported an item, but subsequently received a "surprise" bill for said charges.

Yet amazingly, when a detailed explanation is offered regarding where some of these "hidden" charges may lay, it's scoffed at or ignored.:shrug:

Obviously my years of dealing directly with AU Customs & AQIS have no bearing.

[dugnsuz]

Just like to say, thanks to ALL for the input in this thread - it has put my mind at ease re this particular transaction and hopefully will be useful to any others looking to import gear over the $1000 limit.
Cheers
Doug

[dugnsuz]

Camera made it back in one piece today (Mon 26th).
No hassles with customs. For its return journey it was insured for the replacement value in Hong Kong by the dealer who performed the mod - $7380HK, which worked out at approx $980AU. So it slipped under the radar. Glad I didn't have to go through the hassle of proving that it was purchased in Oz etc etc.
Cheers again all for the advice.
Doug

[Zuts]

Watch out sky :)

Paul

[dugnsuz]

Bloody Oath Paul!!!!:lol::lol:

[Louwai]

Glad it all worked out OK Doug.

Just for your future reference,
If ever you need to send stuff to HK again & you are concerned about the process at the other end.
I have a very good mate (Australian) who lives in a Chinese city called Zhuhai, which is only 1hr by ferry from HK. (it's right next to Macau)

I can always put you in touch with him directly so that your gear can be sent to him & he can make sure it is hand delivered to the repairer / modifier.
He's in HK about 4 to 5 times a mth.

But it sounds like you have it all sussed.

Alternatively, if you ever want to buy something from HK, & you are not 100% sure about the seller, the item, quality etc, I can ask him to go & look at it for you BEFORE you pay the money.

[CoombellKid]

No prob's Doug :thumbsup:

It's been almost a month now since I got my mirror through and I haven't
yet recieved any dodgy customs clearence fees and I dont expect too
either, but I'll post here if I do.

regards,CS