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Importing Info
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Author:  MI65NI [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Importing Info
Howdy guyz...
Getting close to needing parts as a part of my restoration and i was after some accurate information as to buying parts from the UK.

What i believe is that i can but the parts off the net, pay the cost, (excluding VAT) and once it arrives in OZ it is taxed via GST.

OR i can arrange for a mates mate, from the uk to buy the part, including VAT (which is cheaper than GST i think) and post it over as a present or something, thus not coping gst.

Is this correct?
Are there any better ideas?

Cheers!
Author:  Harley [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
You don't pay GST. Only import tax on orders over $1000.
Author:  MI65NI [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sick,

So aslong as i keep my orders under $1000 its just the cost of parts + postage, to easy.
I've also heard that weight might be a contributing factor, does this have any effect?
Author:  Anto [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes Harley is right - I would do the order direct, don't pay VAT, and keep below $1000 value. Bear in mind though, that the invoice will be in pounds and that duty will be calculated based on the exchange rate when the order is getting through customs. So I would keep a buffer in case the exchange rate changes between the time the order is processed in the UK and when it lands in Australia. Otherwise it may cost less than $1000 when your CC is charged, but is valued at over $1000 when it gets here, and you unexpectedly have to pay import duty.
Author:  jasonf [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Does that only apply to the cost of the parts/items, or does the $1000 before import tax also include the shipping costs?
Author:  Anto [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
It shouldn't include shipping, only the value of the goods on the invoice.
Author:  weevel [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think we had a thread on this a while back, but here's my 2c...

Depends on the size and value of the parts i reckon, and how they're being sent.

UK VAT is 17.5%
Anything brought into Aus in a shipment worth over $1000 should be charged customs fees of 10% and then sales tax of 10% on the total of the value + customs fees (forgive me if the names of these fees is incorrect)

So theoretically $100 of pre VAT goods in the UK would cost $117.50 in UK incl VAT
Getting it VAT free, then paying AUS customs fees, it would cost at most $100 + 10% = $110 + 10% = $121.

So theoretically will cost more.

Here's the tricky part though. If your mate buys it including VAT and the value is over $1000, it will then still be charged customs/sales tax, so could end up costing $142 per $100 ex-VAT!!.

There is a customs rule about goods to a value up to $1000 not being charged:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549
Customs.gov.au wrote:
All goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000 or less.

Note: However, where there are multiple packages to the same addressee in Australia from a single consignor overseas that arrive at about the same time, then the value of all packages will be combined for duty and tax assessment purposes. Refer to example 1.

Imported goods with a value of A$1000 or less
Imported goods arriving by post will be released duty and tax free by Customs for delivery direct to the addressee

except for tobacco, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages (refer to example 2) or goods subject to import permit requirements

in these cases, you will be contacted and notified of the action you must take.
Imported goods arriving otherwise than by post will require the completion of a Self Assessed Clearance (SAC) declaration before clearance from Customs control


I'd say the other thing to consider is shipping/postage costs. Get quotes form the suppliers in the UK for what the ex-VAT price pluys shipping will cost, find out the weight (and approx shape/dimensions) and check what your mate's mate will be charged if he does it at the Post Office, often as not the businesses will get it cheaper than an individual. It cost me 40 GBP to send a grille from the UK (and that was the cheapest way possible, by sea).

PS. If it's bits & pieces of small parts and you decide to go the friend-posting route, then get your mate to send them in packages of under 2kg as they can be sent by Royal Mail rather than by ParcelForce, and will cost a lot less for 3 x 2 kg packages than it would for 1 x 6kg package, although be careful of the mention of this in the customs stuff above if the total value is getting towards $1000.
Author:  MI65NI [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Righteo.

Thanx for all the information and clarification m8!

I think i'll just stick with getting it sent straight here, as all that i plan on buying from over there will have a total of well under $1000.

Cheers Weevel and friends.
Author:  Wombat [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you shop on line with Minisapres UK you can select to have the prices shown in $AUS then when you checkout the freight is shown just before you pay - at that point you can either add more items till you trip the next weight point or take things off to take it down a bracket.(or can the whole order) Airmail is only good up to 2Kg over that its freight and costly. Make sure you know your prices or can't be got here. eg new tin brakeand clutch master cylingers from MS with freight was $330 but sourced local were $690 no freight :shock: but RC40 exhaust although only $82 from MS freight took it over $300 and local is around $290 so I'll get from local supplier when the time comes
Author:  weevel [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wombat wrote:
If you shop on line with Minisapres UK you can select to have the prices shown in $AUS then when you checkout the freight is shown just before you pay - at that point you can either add more items till you trip the next weight point or take things off to take it down a bracket.(or can the whole order) Airmail is only good up to 2Kg over that its freight and costly. Make sure you know your prices or can't be got here. eg new tin brakeand clutch master cylingers from MS with freight was $330 but sourced local were $690 no freight :shock: but RC40 exhaust although only $82 from MS freight took it over $300 and local is around $290 so I'll get from local supplier when the time comes

Good advice Wombat
Author:  Panthersteve [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think you'll find it does include the freight charges too, in assessing whether it is over $1000 that is.

Cheers
Steve
Author:  jess [ Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
SAC (self assessed clearances) are Customs entries lodged on all goods where the Cost of Goods Sold is under AU$1000. SACs are entries where no GST/duty is payable unless the goods are liquor or tobacco.Be careful of AQIS charges though, especially Tyres as these are a must-inspect for AQIS (unless they come with certain very pedantic documentation)

if anyone has any questions please feel free to PM me, i worked as a Customs Classifier for 2 and a half years up until last year.
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