I was wondering if it was possible to declare a telescope with no price value on the shipping box if I asked a seller to not attach anything with a high value or just blank or just place as a gift would work? Because the item costs $2000 USD+ $500 USPS shipping with tracking, I'm purchasing it from B&H, if it does would the 15% be included with the shipping costs? any experience if this could work? Cheers.
Customs 15% duty import
DEvok on 18/02/2014 - 05:53
Comments
what you're asking to do is fraud
It'll be up to B&H, but I think they'd be reluctant to send a separate, mocked-up invoice with the goods for less than half their value (you'll have to take shipping costs into consideration too - see below). Besides, if Customs decides to take a closer look, they can easily Google your product ID for an approx value, and see there's something shifty going on.
Duty = between 0% & 10%, depending on the item classification. Is calculated on the Australian value of the goods only, i.e. US$2000 converted at today's exchange rate for an A$ price.
Telescopes seem to have a duty rate of 0%, so you're lucky there.GST = a second calculation, it's charged at 10% of the "Taxable Import" value (i.e. cost of goods converted to A$ PLUS all international transport & insurance costs).
Your case?
DUTY = US$2,000 / 0.89 (approx) = A$2,247.19 x 0% = $0.00
GST = (US$2,000 + US$500) / 0.89 (approx) = $2,808.99 x 10% = $280.90If it's stopped by customs, you'll have to either employ a customs broker (for a fee) to get it through, or try to do all the paperwork yourself (time-consuming and a PITA). Alternatively, if it's being shipped by DHL, FedEx etc. they may do the legwork and tell you what you need to pay before they'll send it the last leg to your address (throwing in their fee as customs broker for you too).
There's no point in declaring a "gift".
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5653.asp#Giftssenttoyou
There is no longer a concession for goods sent as a gift. Goods that are gifted, donated, loaned or supplied free of charge are still subject to assessment for duty and other taxes and charges if they have a value of more than A$1,000 or if the goods are tobacco and/or alcohol products.
HOW ARE GOODS VALUED?
The most common method for valuing any import is to use the ‘transaction value’, which is the price the importer
actually paid (or is going to pay) for the goods
ARE FREIGHT AND INSURANCE COSTS INCLUDED?
The Customs value does not include freight and insurance costs in transporting the goods from the ‘place of export’ to Australia
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ValueofImp…
"Gifting" works if you can get the shop you purchase it from to declare it as gift
often "SHOPS" will not as then they are liable for tax fraud
where did you get 15% from, i thought you only pay 10% for GST
not sure about additional import charges though