import duties????

[dinkles]

Can anyone tell me if you have to pay some sort of duty when ya buy models from an overseas supplier and import them into Oz.For example from www.scale18.com(canada).

[Aussiecollector]

Most of the time the parcels will not attract attention, I get about 2 parcels a month from US and Canada without a problem. Last week I a had to front up to Customs because my order of West branded Mclarens had attracted attention (6) identical parcels, the customs officer searched the duty manual and after some coaxing from me that my models were in fact model cars and toys we paid no duty only GST. So as long as the customs officer looks in the book correctly you wont pay duty.

Glenn

[jager]

About 18 months ago our local model club had a guest speaker from Customs.

Just with all bureacracy there is the official policy (everything attracts duty !) and the practical, unofficial policy. With a nudge and a wink we were informed that the unofficial policy is all personal packages (toys, models, books, CD's etc) under approx A$ 200 will go through without GST or Duty.

I think customs is generally less strict if they are described as toys rather than models, and if you don't have multiples of the same items. Interestingly the tobacco livery problem doesn't seem to be an issue...........but thats another story !

[perry]

I bring in a bit of stuff from time to time, and ive found they only charge you duties when the value was over $200-300 australian. Last time i got charged, i paid $96 taxes for about $300 worth of stuff. I just order smaller lots now.

[V8SS]

In NZ the limit is about $300 or $400. I got stung once when I first started collecting as I bought a bulk amount of models from Aussie. The trick is to get the seller to send in 2 parcels to split the value.

[wombat]

Actually, Customs duty is not applied to everything, there being a myriad of concessions and "0 ratings" based on the type of goods as well as the country of origin. In very general terms, if the imported goods compete in the market against Australian produced goods, then duty would apply (unless coming from a listed country).

However, an exemption exists for personal items entered under a certain value. I understand that that value (in A$) is $250, but it varies as it is part of the Regulations, not the Act itself. So it may well be up to $300 now.

In the GST Act, there is a section stating that importations are GST-free if the valuation concession in the Customs Act applies.

Glenn's post is interesting as I understand that again, generally, toys, models, etc are dutiable at 5%. Therefore, GST would also apply. I cannot see a 0 rating on our type of goods which would result in only GST being payable.

The answer, my friends, is to bring in the models one at a time - certainly keep the entry value under $250. Remember, the law requires you to declare the shipment (although most people are unaware of this and are not picked up unless circumstances like Glenn's arise).

As a further interest, Trev, what do you call the models on your customs entry docs? Are they toys, cars, models or what? Can you confirm the 5% duty rate?

[bev]

Most developed countries will charge some sort of GST. When you import goods from another country, these fees should not be charged by the exporting country. Our website does not charge Aust. GST to overseas purchasers. However they are liable for their own GST charges their end.

Same in Australia, if you purchase from overseas, expect to pay the GST this end. Splitting all the postage only ads to your postal charges.

Biante pays GST on all items at entry, so before the container even leaves the wharf we transmit the many thousands of dollars to our forwarder, who informs us we have the most expensive cargo per container.....

Scale model replicas should not attract a customs duty.

[wombat]

Thanks Bev.

Theres a further component of the answer, fellas.

The only term to be used on importation is "scale model replicas".

I confirm that GST WILL apply if the value exceeds the concession level, ie $250 (or whatever it currently is). Under that, GST will not be payable.

Note that if Biante brings in one car, they will pay GST, because the transaction is not for personal purposes. They are a business and different rules apply.

Finally, be careful of those countries that might try and stick you with their GST, VAT or whatever they call it. Remember that in the USA, the GST is not a federal tax, but a State based tax. Ie, a GST is charged in California, but not in Colorado (didn't used to be, anyway).

Most retailers don't give a fat rats clacker where you are from, the salesperson just knows they gotta include the tax.

:)

[Aussiecollector]

If you get double taxed you can claim it back, the customs guy who handled my transaction said I would pay gst regardless of the dollar amount. Once the package has been held it is accountable, luckly only a small percentage get pulled up for customs check. Mine was the first time in five years of dealing with Mclaren UK or Toronto Motor Sports NA. Its most likely just the luck of the draw.

Posted by Wombat
(Glenn's post is interesting as I understand that again, generally, toys, models, etc are dutiable at 5%. Therefore, GST would also apply. I cannot see a 0 rating on our type of goods which would result in only GST being payable.)

The section in the duty book for models and toys was very specific to many different catagories and types.

Glenn

[SmartyMarty]

hi
....can anybody tell me what customs will charge me for my whole collection? Later this year or the beginning of next year i will ship my collection from germany to australia.
I have about 120 1:18 models and maybe 80 or 90 1:43 (will certainly be some more till i ship them over) all in their boxes plus heaps of old ones which shouldn t be very interesting for customs.
But i am really concerned about my exoto, minichamps etc.
Someone from this forum told me earlier that it would not be a problem because it was a personal collection and they don t charge money for that...
does anybody have reliable information about such a case?
regards Marty

[Jed]

I regularly have 1:18's shipped from the US of A, usually 3 - 6 cars shipped together (in one carton), with a declared value up to
US$300.00, and to date, these have always cleared Customs
w/- no duty or GST being asked for....

Only once, when I went a little overboard with an order from
diecastdirect, the total value was over US$300.00, and had to be shipped in 2 cartons...
This attracted the attention of the Customs people, I don't remember what I had to pay, around AUD$50.00 GST, I think...
From my (vague) recollection, I don't think any duty was applied..

I don't know what the "concession level" is, but from my experience, it would appear to be more than AUD$250.00...
More like $500.00+ I would think...

Hope this helps...

Keep The Shiny Side Up!!

Ed. C.

[Aussiecollector]

Smarty, There your's already you should not have to pay anything if your freight forwarders do their job properly.

Glenn

[Bangkok Bob]

Marty,

I am currently living in Bangkok but will return to Aus later this year and have investigated this.

Basically, if you can prove they are more than 12 months old you should be fine. In my case I have things like a DVD Player, Electric Guitar, Portable recording studio which are all nearly 12 months old. The big thing is keeping the receipts.

Am I right that you recently migrated to Australia? There might be some condition for you bringing personal possessions over as part of your migration (I am investigating that option for my stuff that is less than 12 months old....saying it is my girlfriends;) )

[jager]

....can anybody tell me what customs will charge me for my whole collection? Later this year or the beginning of next year i will ship my collection from germany to australia.

Marty

A couple of years ago I returned to Australia after 4 years working in Belgium with a 20 ft container of furniture, stereo, french wine and numerous models.

The only things Customs was interested in was the dust bag from the vacuum cleaner just in case it contain some nasty insect. Customs couldn't have cared less about the models (100+). They didn't even care about the wine (+200 bottles) that I was expecting to get hit with duty on.

[zeitgeist]

In the U.S., I can, in theory, can get away with paying nothing. Each state is responsible for collecting their own sales tax and deciding what is taxable.

If I buy something by phone, internet, whatever, from a different state, sales tax is not collected unless the place from which I buy it has a "viable presence" in my own state.

Just in the last few years, my state (Ohio) has an entry on our state tax forms, asking for the dollar amount of interstate purchases you made for which taxes were not collected. You civic duty, of couse, is to properly disclose the amount and cough up 6.5% to the state. It is, of course, built on honesty.

I'm assuming I don't need to claim the few GST-inclusive purchases I've made.

Of course, this still doesn't answer smartymarty's question.

BC
(from Ohio, where a eat-in meal will cost you tax, but a take-away one won't, except for carbonated beverages, which get taxed regardless - what?)

[SmartyMarty]

Thanks for the answers...i can slepp heaps better now...guess i ll just make a precised list of what i got ....just in case they want to see it all...thanks again :D

[cleveland]

O.K. guys, here is what you will be subject to if you import diecast models from overseas using the conventional Australia Post service.
(1) If your models are declared at a value less than $500 Australian dollars they will not be subject to duty and GST because customs will not collect anything under $50 (total duty and GST).
This is because diecast models which are scale replicas of motor vehicles are duty free. They fall under tariff item number
9503 90 91 (which actually atracts 5% duty however there is a tariff concession order number TC 9005327 which gives these particular models a 0% duty)
Also the 10% GST is applied to the cost of the goods in $AUD plus the duty plus the transport and insurance (postage) so if you keep all your costs under $500AUD you will be O.K.

(2) If your models are declared at a value over $500AUD you will have to pay 10%GST on the total cost of your goods plus the cost of the postage.

example,
A shipment with a declared value of $400US plus $30US postage.
$430US converted to $AUD = approx $728AUD
=$728 x 10% (GST)
=$72.80 GST payable

(3) Collections imported to Australia will be deemed as Personal Effects and therefore attract no duty. A consideration for personal effects is that the goods should be used so I would advise anyone doing this to keep all their reciepts because models new in boxes will probably attract the attention of customs.


cleveland.



:p

[dinkles]

Thanks Clevo for that in depth bit of info .

[cleveland]

No problem Dinkles.
If you have any other customs clearance questions please don't hesitate to ask.

cleveland:cool:

[jager]

Hi Cleveland

What do you know about import duty on motor racing books and videos imported from overseas. Is there a duty and GST (presumably the same $500 limit applies) ?

[cleveland]

Hi jager,

Yes the same rules do apply. Both books and video's are duty free so keep your values under $500AUD and you will be fine.

clevo :cool:

[Earnhardt-3]

I think you're pretty safe importing.

I regularly import 1/18 cars and other diecast models (usually just one at a time) from US, Germany, UK and other countries, and I've never had customs inspect the package and/or charge GST.

The largest import I've had was around USD$700 of diecast cranes, and it got through without a hitch.

[cleveland]

Earnhardt-3

You were VERY lucky getting away with a USD$700 shipment. What is normally required for anything valued over AUD$1000 is a formal entry. A Nature 10 form (formal entry) is a real nightmare to complete and normally requires the assistance of a Customs Broker. In addition to Duty/GST there are processing fees or brokerage fees to pay.

cleveland......:p

P.S. Did your goods get delivered by Aussie Post ?

[Earnhardt-3]

Cleveland,

I'm glad I got away with all that - wow. That sounds pretty involved.

Usually I get everything sent out of America via USPS, and Aust Post delivers it locally here.

Brad.

[terrine]

i recently received by parcel post my exoto 66 lemans gt40 set of 3 models from scale18 canada.
beautiful...
today the post office turn up and tell me the assesment fell off in rockhampton...here it is mister..thankyou very much.

the customs value was A$595.07 and GST payable is $70.75.

work that out?

r/peter
i have got several single items before from canada and USA without any problem and have 4 on the water at the moment

[jager]

the 10% GST is applied to the cost of the goods in $AUD plus the duty plus the transport and insurance

I'm guessing the postage and insurance on 3 Exoto's would be pretty steep (A$ 100 ?), so that probably tipped the total value over $700 hence the GST.

[cleveland]

terrine,

The customs value of 597.07 is the value of your goods converted to AUD$. The GST you paid would have included the cost of transport and insurance (postage). $70.75 GST means that the total value of your goods in AUD$ would have been AUD$707.50 which means the postage would have been AUD$110.43 or approx $88 Canadian.

P.S Make sure that NO duty was charged because some officers are not aware of the Tarriff Concession Order applicable to die-cast models.

cleveland:)

[terrine]

hi cleveland

thanks, that must be it.....
no duty was shown on the form as being incurred.

damn, i thought this parcel had slipped past you guys too...

r/peter