Importing Diamond Engagement Ring from USA -Costs?

Lquikstix on 26/01/2018 - 07:56
Last edited 26/01/2018 - 09:16 by 1 other user

Hi all, I'm thinking this is the right place to put this so here it goes.

I've purchased a diamond and platinum ring for the GF (obviously)from James Allen. Now I already knew I would be paying GST as its well over the $1000 mark, however my query is around the duty. With the jewellery being manufactured in the USA I believe with the free trade agreement I wont pay the 5%… am i right or? I've looked up the hs code which I believe to be 71131930, I've seen posts on a few Aus forums where some paid duty and some didn't.

So any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Financial

Comments

  • raiseyoursteaks on 26/01/2018 - 08:19
    +2

    You wont pay US sales tax but when it comes to Australia, DHL or FedEx will call you to inform the tax though. I know because I have bought them and on both instance both of them called me and I had to pay before they released the blings.

    • original15 on 26/01/2018 - 08:54
      +1

      Yep. FedEx for me x2 (engagement and then wedding ring)

      • quikstix on 26/01/2018 - 12:02

        yup i know i wont pay the usa sales tax and i expect Aus 10% GST however i saw someone recently say they paid the additional 5% duty but under the free trade act i dont think he should have paod the duty only the gst?

  • Ocker on 26/01/2018 - 09:37
    +2

    Under the FTA USA manufactured goods do not attract the 5% duty, only GST.

    The GST "may" be assessed on the landed cost of the ring, viz. cost of the ring PLUS the shipping cost.

    • quikstix on 26/01/2018 - 12:00

      This is what my understanding was and shipping etc was all free but i expect the 10% gst to be added before they release

    • Peck on 27/01/2018 - 00:11

      I thought that duty and sales tax 'used to be' on the FOB price (IE excluded shipping cost) and so I am surprised that GST is on the landed cost.

      • quikstix on 27/01/2018 - 01:09

        they add duty then do gst ontop of that total including duty also… so wrong but hey

      • Ocker on 27/01/2018 - 08:35
        +1

        GST is levied on the CIF value of the shipment, viz. COG plus Cartage plus Insurance plus Freight.

        This is the basis of charging when importing via a freight forwarder.

    • quikstix on 05/02/2018 - 12:17

      Made the payment today was only 10% as no duty due to FTA :)

      • mrshorty on 09/04/2019 - 15:46

        Congrats and did you and the GF like what you got from JA?

        Im trying to decide between BN and JA and came across this post realising I have to add extra on top of JA prices (but not for BN)!

  • wordplay on 26/01/2018 - 10:03

    Congratulations!
    don't let her see this post.
    when is the wedding?
    can I come?

    • quikstix on 26/01/2018 - 12:03
      +2

      haha she relies on me to do the bargaining so is not a visitor of this fine establishment :D

    • ChillBro on 26/01/2018 - 20:12
      +1

      OP will probably receive a lifetime supply of eneloops in wedding gifts if he opens his wedding up to OzBargainers.

      • quikstix on 27/01/2018 - 01:11

        this made me lollll

  • Baysew on 26/01/2018 - 17:58

    Since you have already purchased, why worry about the final cost now?

    • quikstix on 26/01/2018 - 20:05
      +1

      not worried just like paying whats right not what some dude in customs with half a brain cell thinks is right :) rather be 100% informed. im fine paying both as still worked out 1/3rd of the price to local even after duty and gst.

  • virhlpool on 26/01/2018 - 18:34
    +1

    When you bring it along with you (wearing) while coming back from the US, it doesn't attract taxes.. right? Just curious.. I like Tiffany rings.. and also BlueNile brand.

    • quikstix on 26/01/2018 - 20:08
      +1

      no taxes when wearing it back correct.

      Bluenile just links you up one level lower in the chain to the supplier hence the lower markup. They have multiple suppliers, i was umming between Bluenile and James Allen but preferred how i cpuld view the diamond on James Allen.

    • Ocker on 27/01/2018 - 08:36
      -2

      No taxes if wearing an item is incorrect. You will pay GST regardless.

      • virhlpool on 27/01/2018 - 11:55
        +1

        How would you or anyone differentiate between newly purchased (abroad) ring or a pre-owned ring when you are wearing a it in one of your fingers, mate?

        I reckon there would be a limit of how much of jewelry one can bring in total - no matter if purchased lically or abroa. And if all of that were purchased locally, then one might have to produce a proof for that.

        I suspect they would check to this extent only when one is bringing back boxes-load of jewelry along. One or a few rings? Meh..

        • Ocker on 27/01/2018 - 15:51

          Customs do not differentiate between the nature of a product being brought into the country. If it is valued at less than $1.000 then you can declare the item on departure and claim the GST refund. This applies equally to jewellery as it does, for example, to an Phone.

          On bringing an item (new or used) into Australia, and IF customs do a search then they would/could ask for a copy of the receipt.

          Suffice to say customs officer's are aware of all the tricks when bringing jewellery into Australia. With a ring they could easily see if it was new or "old" just by scruff marks etc.

  • magic8ballgag on 27/01/2018 - 10:15
    +5

    I've purchased a diamond and platinum ring for the GF (obviously)

    Why is this obvious? You could be purchasing it for your boyfriend.

    • quikstix on 27/01/2018 - 17:38
      +2

      did you just assume my gender?

      • magic8ballgag on 27/01/2018 - 18:02

        I don't assume anything, but why does your gender matter?

        • quikstix on 27/01/2018 - 18:59

          why does it matter if i stated obviously for my gf? nothing else matters lol

        • magic8ballgag on 27/01/2018 - 19:06

          @quikrex:

          Really? Why is that obvious?

        • quikstix on 27/01/2018 - 19:42

          @Lorindor:

          not exactly buying it for myself

        • magic8ballgag on 27/01/2018 - 23:44
          -1

          @quikrex:

          I'm glad the point went straight over your head.

        • quikstix on 28/01/2018 - 01:35
          +2

          @Lorindor:

          oh no i got your point… it just pointless and pathetic to nit pick

  • echelon6 on 15/04/2019 - 00:04

    You pay GST. You don't pay customs duty or anything like that. Find the correct NAFTA form.

    Then during honeymoon you TRS that ring for your GST back. You also TRS everything else you can bring along (laptop, phone, costco bags of macadamias for relatives, etc).

  • Foma2 on 15/04/2019 - 14:49

    my wedding was quite a while ago.
    but I am still interested in buying rings for my missis.
    Can anyone explain why to purchase jewellery from US. Thank you.

  • darque on 14/11/2019 - 17:14

    Hey, just wanted to confirm whether you paid the additional 5% on top of GST or not on your diamond ring (diamond + setting)? It looks like you only had to pay 10%… but I'm confused as I found from multiple sources that only loose diamonds are excluded from the import duty.

    https://ftaportal.dfat.gov.au/AUS/USA/search/7102.39/7102/?e…
    https://www.australiandiamondbrokers.com/latest-news/hidden-…
    https://www.bluenile.com/au/policies/international#australia
    https://www.jamesallen.com/tax-calculator/?a_aid=533517f948e…

  • leilamo on 19/11/2019 - 23:58

    hello, just wondering, how much exactly did you pay for custom taxes? thank you

  • heyitsjel on 21/06/2020 - 13:44

    Hey quikrex - going through a similar process at the moment and was hoping you could steer me in the right direction.

    Which AUSFTA forms/HS numbers did you end up specifying to avoid the 5% duty? or was there some other process?

    Any help is greatly appreciated mate!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join