Just a warning for anyone thinking of getting gear from Overseas. I've been getting bike parts for a while just every now and then, anyway on the last order customs held it up and asked me to come and get the delivery in person. To cut a long story short...busted big time.
Now they have asked me to produce the receipts for anything that I have bought overseas in the last 2 years.
The guy told me that it's nothing personal but they have automatic alerts that come up when a whole lot of exports start coming from the same company, then they investigate and I am responsible for what these guys wrote on the import form. They also told me that it's a $1,000 threshold but they add duty, gst and freight onto this to get to the $1,000, so really it's about $700 and you can't argue with these guys.
That sucks!
Are you sure they add the GST to get to the $1000 mark? My understanding is they add it IF it reaches the $1000 mark... It could be that they've made a mistake.
Scroll down to "How do you pay GST on imports": http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/content.asp?doc=/content/13193.htm
Paying gst on the customs duty definitely sucks. The $1,000 threshold is AUD also.
I've imported a fair amount of stuff from the states with high price tags, and the way around paying any GST on any of it is deal up with the supplier to send multiple packages through with the invoice being less than $1000 Aus.
So if you split the kite up and priced it at say $950 then sent the bar and lines separately to total the full cost of the purchase, up to $2000 for two items.
If each individual item is more than a grand just make sure you buy say 5 other low cost items on the same packing slip to make it seem like they are low cost goods not any one particular item adding to a grand or more.
If it's more you need just shuttle the postage address's around to some mates and chuck them a carton or whatever.
And yeah the seller needs to be on your side as well.
If you are a regular customer of the seller then they will indeed side with you as it is in there best interest, one would think.
If you do this you should be fine.
Kinda sounds like what a drug trafficker says to his mule just before he boards the plane with bags of powder in his suitcase, doesn't it.
But really sounds like someone with "a hard on" ...produce receipts for the last two years, why should you do that, just because they ask you?
Where in the law book does it say you need to keep import receipts on goods purchased
i rekon we should have to pay Gst on everything we import (YES even under $1000)
It would simplify everything.
We could have Tax cuts in important areas.
Local small businesses would do better without being constantly undercut or have to match without gst prices.
Maybe extra revenue could go into the health care or education system???
And muzza wouldnt be getting the royal rubber glove!
It's a lot worse in the UK. Those guys get charged for new or secondhand gear, and if there is no price or value of the item they just estimate what it is worth and send you the bill..which has to be paid before you get the gear.
Buying local can save you some times.
moral of the story is....
buy here, support the local shops. In the end you might be thinking your saving some money, but look now at the problems you have.
SO was it really worth it? You know you have done something a bit dodge so no sympathy really.
Sounds like your getting done over. I just bought some stuff from the UK for AU$980
No import tax no VAT, money back or guarantee, black or white, rich or poor - no customs dudes knocking on my door
Only fools and horses I reckon!
this is total C R A P, another retailer trying to say dont buy o.s. or US buy our stuff.
muzza333 dont sound to legit.
Nope because govt bonds are in essence loans to the government which have to be paid back by the government with interest. Where does that money come from? Tax revenue. Where does tax revenue come from? My pocket. It would be completely non productive as all the money that would otherwise be lent to businesses and industry (the productive part of the economy) would disappear. Nobody would win.
Mr Float, I'm glad you're not my financial advisor...
If retailers want to be on equal footing with overseas competitors, they need to start leaning on the wholesalers/importers to start passing on the savings associated with a stronger dollar.
That, or do what businesses like Kite Republic are doing in St Kilda, get some loyalty going by setting up a club, with a standing discount on all stock and regular day trips to different locations, organising downwinders and social funtions.
Retail is a hard business, you have to innovate or die.
) It would be completely non productive as all the money that would otherwise be lent to businesses and industry (the productive part of the economy) would disappear. Nobody would win. ( but surely based on your info the money should go there .Screw the tax payer and the gov if they want to pay a high rate that's their business it's in the interests of bank profits ,dividends and bonus es that the money should go there )
retaillers association is trying to get the $1000 reduced so you basically pay GST on everything you buy from overseas.
many companies set the retail prices for each country explicitly to stop overseas purchasing based on dollar fluctuations.
so much for "free trade" agreements !
