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| Thread ID: 21208 | 2002-06-20 11:24:00 | Buying stuff from overseas | stevie_boy (478) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 55423 | 2002-06-20 11:24:00 | Here's a question to everyone who has bought stuff on the net from overseas sites. If i was to buy some CDs or books from say Amazon, i would be charged the price of the goods + shipping, then convert into NZ dollars. Then i am guessing that i would have to pay GST on them once they arrived? Is this correct or am i missing something? P.S. Like the new look :D |
stevie_boy (478) | ||
| 55424 | 2002-06-20 11:30:00 | Probably missing something, assuming they get delivered to you as normal, how will you pay GST? I am sure they have the right to charge, however that involves intercepting and holding the package for you to claim, verifying value etc. I have bought from Amazon, and it turns up in the letterbox end of story. Amazon cant charge GST. Assuming low relative value, get into hundreds of $ and it might be worth their while. Just don't assume it will never be charged... |
godfather (25) | ||
| 55425 | 2002-06-20 11:42:00 | Hi Stevie If it comes by mail and is not high profile, i.e. doesn't attract the eye of Customs, you won't end up paying GST. Similarly you don't pay on downloaded software. However, if it comes in by courier such as UPS or FedEx, it will have to pass through Customs and you can bet you will pay GST. Not only that, they only revise their exchange rates once every 14 days as I found out recently when I took advantage of the good exchange rate for the $US to order several hundred dollars worth of computer accessories for my business. They charged me the rate from ten days back when it wasn't so good whereas the charge to my credit card was the rate for the day. Fortunately I can claim the GST back but unless GST registered you won't be able to. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 55426 | 2002-06-20 11:46:00 | Thanks for your reply. After searching on the Department of Customs i found their section on Commonly Imported Goods for Private Use (www.customs.govt.nz) which has duty rates for nearly every good imaginable. |
stevie_boy (478) | ||
| 55427 | 2002-06-20 11:48:00 | GST on imported goods is collected by customs on behalf of the government, not passed on by the seller (as it is in NZ). The categories where GST, duty or other taxes are imposed are usually those heavily taxed already in NZ, such as tobacco, liquor etc. Cant have the govt missing out on income! There are tax free amounts etc - which are best explained at the NZ Customs Charges Site (www.customs.govt.nz) J. :D |
Jester (13) | ||
| 55428 | 2002-06-20 11:50:00 | :O Two minutes too late there with my info - wife wanted a coffee, I made it during my post .. honest!!! |
Jester (13) | ||
| 55429 | 2002-06-20 11:52:00 | Thanks anyway Jester. | stevie_boy (478) | ||
| 55430 | 2002-06-20 22:55:00 | Customs will only sting you for GST if the amount of GST is worth claiming. You will need to check out the correct amount on their website somewhere, but from memory I think it is around $50. Or maybe that's customs duty, I'm not sure. Anyway, my husband has had quite a few parcels from USA and made allowances for paying GST before deciding whether it was worthwhile purchasing. He was lucky that every time the parcel arrived, no GST or duty or whatever was requested - the parcels just turned up at the door. Just be prepared for it before calculating whether the savings or benefits are worthwhile, then if you do get stung it won't be a nasty surprise. And if you don't, then it's a nice bonus! ;-) |
Susan B (19) | ||
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