Importing Tax????

[YipD]

I am going to buying item from US. Does anyone know what is the approx amount wil the government charge for the importing tax from US to AUST(say the item cost about $250 AUD). The seller said that this small amount of money usually not significant.

[dan_WA]

I bought a reel from the US and didn't pay any extra tax - unless it was included in the postage (which was US$20) - still managed a great deal !

[Jethro]

You may or may not get stung with Duty and GST. Its teh luck of the draw.

Duty is 5% of the value of the goods

GST is 10% of the value of the goods and postage.

I have been lucky with all of my importind and have never been stung with any of my orders up to $350AUD.

But in saying that I have heard of people getting stung with orders around $100AUD.

Its best to factor it in as a worse case and if you get through without it its a bonus.

[Choppy]

I have got away with orders up to $300 and have also been stung for $200. It depends a great deal on luck.

Customs genereally charge (for fishing gear) 5% duty on the total amount of the order including postage.

Then there is a 10% GST amount calculated for the whole order amount including the duty 5%.

Then on top of this is the approx. amount of $50 for inspecting the item.

So on a $250 order (assuming the postage is included in this cost)

= 250 * 1.05 = $262.5
then

262.5* 1.1 = $288.75

and finally 288.75 + 50 = $338.75.

It isn't bad when you consider you can buy some items for 1/4 the cost that they are available here - (is case you are wondering it was a livewell timer from basspro.)

Hope this helps

Cheers
Choppy

[captn' squinty]

fly gear might be exempt... but other stuff add gst and duty. and entrance fee will be charged if u use a courier like UPS ... just call customs and make sure for yourself.

[rodmy]

I have never been stung, bought reels, lures and lines

small purchases might help eg one reel, a spool of fireline and a couple of lures no problem

[afiedler]

Yeah, we have ordered around $2500 thousands dollars of gear just lately and haven't been done with anything. No duties. Well all the times there hasn't been any duties. Gst a couple times. But with that $2500 we spent we saved about $2000 if we bought it over here.

Cheers,
Aaron

[pie smuggler]

I've bought gear from Ebay, including Vintage & Antique Fly reels, and lots of lures.From all over the world and haven't had any trouble with Customs or being ripped off.If you use Global Priority form the USA it gets through OK.Also paying by PayPal covers you insurance wise, and you also get a record receipt to say it has been paid to the seller.

[Finney]

Interesting that some people have been stung by Customs under $333 AUD.

I was told by a customs officer that if you keep your total GST & Duty under $50.00 then it isn't worth their time and effort to recover it. Hence my $333 AUD limit when I purchase offshore, keeps me just under and I have never been hit yet.

If you go over I would have thought these days it would be a case of luck of being stung or not. Then again I wonder that perhaps with the computing links and sharing of information these days that all imports and their costs would tracked and as soon as you hit a $ limit the goods would be flagged and get a bill in the mail?

I was thinking of bringing in a boat cover next as they are heaps cheaper, made in the US and appear to be a better design than what I have seen and had quotes on here?

Finney