I'm buying computer components on Amazon and I know that I'll have to pay an import tax if I buy anything more than $1000. So my question is: If I split my shopping into many separate payments, will I have to pay import tax? (e.g. $2000 into $500x4 payments)
the xmas shopping period has started and the postal service (auspost) is getting hammered. split the consignment in parts and ship it to different addressees. customs will also get hit hard so they won't have time check properly.
edit
split into 3x au$670 consignments and ship 1st to your address, 2nd to your parents and 3nd to work or gf/bf.
Get a Parcel Locker and Parcel Collect Addy in addition to your address.
Miss a letter in your name too i.e Tomy instead of tommy or just use initials
This is what i do and it works
Are they all coming in separate packages?
Sure, amazon will assist you in tax avoidance.
tax avoidance is legal. the word you're looking for is tax evasion.
Tax planning, buddy;)
Arguably no different to big business moving billions of dollars around to not pay tax. As they say, any person who doesn't use the rules which are set out to minimise the amount of tax being paid is stupid.
In your case the best bet is just to have your shipments delivered a few days apart.
You will fine because on the invoice it will only say under $1000 (for different orders), as long as the amount on the invoice is below $1000 aud (about $800 usd give or take) then you won't be charged gst, no matter how many orders you have.
But does postage cost increase if you break up the parcel for multiple deliveries?
You will also have to pay multiple shipping fees, so you gotta consider which is cheaper
Amazon seem to know a lot about minimising tax:
http://www.theage.com.au/business/abbott-adviser-mark-textor…
Customs may catch you if you import goods totaling more than $1k in a short period of time.