Importing goods from overseas and import tax

[rapid van cleef]

HI

Im looking at buying a suit from the usa, sportbike trackgear.com. the suit costs inc shipping come to 1500 nzd.

does anyone have any experience of this buying a similar item from this company or from somewhere else and if so, what import duties were payable here in nz?

ive heard that protective clothing does not carry some import charges, however, i want to see it in writing before (if) i order from overseas.

thanks

[demerits]

10% duty fee
15% gst of the nz value
$42ish maf/customs fee.
theres a chance it will get through without having to pay anything though, all depends on how customs are feeling on the day.
The rationale behind it is to force us to purchase locally. but you will probably still get your suit quicker and cheaper if you buy from sportsbiketrackgear, ive got heaps of shit off them and it's here within 10 days.

[steve_t]

Don't forget the biosecurity fee, the GST on the biosecurity fee, GST on the customs fee, general butt raping fee :yes:

[mossy1200]

I only managed to get one item over 400 without paying tax etc.

I looked at a bunch of helmets online and found the local bike shop gave me a cheaper deal than importing the same helmet.

I think 1500-2k gets a custom suit made from the guy that does winter series rounds. i cant remember his name.

[demerits]

if you wait out until december, customs will be getting slammed, so better chances of getting it through unchecked.

[steve_t]

$1900 for a custom made one-piece race suit with armour

http://www.celtic-leathers.com/news.php

[scott411]

The rationale behind it is to force us to purchase locally. but you will probably still get your suit quicker and cheaper if you buy from sportsbiketrackgear, ive got heaps of shit off them and it's here within 10 days.

its more like to charge you the same fees they charge retailers in NZ, and they have got better at picking up on everything so the fees you state are right,

[rapid van cleef]

are these payable even if the item is sent from a private residential address as a gift?

[mossy1200]

are these payable even if the item is sent from a private residential address as a gift?

Most likely it will get stopped and take you a while to retrieve after giving up the cost etc and paying the tax. they dont even contact you to say they have your goods.

Celtic leathers is the best value. Plus if you damage the then you will get great follow up repair prices.

[Ntoxcated]

10% duty fee
15% gst of the nz value
$42ish maf/customs fee.
theres a chance it will get through without having to pay anything though, all depends on how customs are feeling on the day.
The rationale behind it is to force us to purchase locally. but you will probably still get your suit quicker and cheaper if you buy from sportsbiketrackgear, ive got heaps of shit off them and it's here within 10 days.

I thought it was 0% duty for protective gear - it's not counted as apparel as such.

15% GST on value + shipping.

[rapid van cleef]

that makes sense. how can they charge a shipping fee when its already paid?

[demerits]

I havn't heard of this protective gear 0% and i can't see it on customs website. I got stung on a helmet and jacket that I assume are protective gear. and yes if you have contacts over there who label it as a gift then there are no charges, however when you do it that way you then have to pay state tax as it's getting shipped to residential us first.

[bsasuper]

0% on safety glases,safety boots etc, not motorcycle riding gear, if you can get them to down mark the value you might be ok.

[demerits]

0% on safety glases,safety boots etc, not motorcycle riding gear, if you can get them to down mark the value you might be ok.

I see, I wasn't thinking of protective equipment in that aspect. problem with down marking the value is if it gets lost in transit, the insurance will only pay out on the listed figure.

At the end of the day even if you do get nailed with the maximum fees, chances are it will still be a hell of alot cheaper than buying here.

[bsasuper]

Worst case is 10% import tax, 15% gst and $60 maf fee.

[Robert Taylor]

0% on safety glases,safety boots etc, not motorcycle riding gear, if you can get them to down mark the value you might be ok.

i.e. Fraud

[Robert Taylor]

that makes sense. how can they charge a shipping fee when its already paid?

The gst gets charged on the shipping cost from the seller, in fact gst gets charged on every step of the processing. Same as for NZ businesses. Businesses that provide NZ workers a living.

[rapid van cleef]

so the gest gets charged on the shipping cost, not the cost of the item itself? then a 10 % fee of the cost of the item, plus a $60 maf fee?

[nodrog]

so the gest gets charged on the shipping cost, not the cost of the item itself? then a 10 % fee of the cost of the item, plus a $60 maf fee?

Do you have the internet? customs have a website with the answers you seek.

[rapid van cleef]

tried that, its very vague. ....you may be charged this, you may be charged that...etc....... ill just call them up, i may get an answer.....

thanks for the input anyway guys

[Paulo]

Yep I purchased a belstaff jacket from the U.K and the extra taxes and GST came to about $350 (my arse is still sore)
Next item was helmet, as I was still hurting I ended up getting Wellington Motorcycles to get it in as it worked out almost the same ( just a little more) but I wanted to give my business to a local shop and avoid dealing with the grumpy cow at customs.

[Voltaire]

Most likely it will get stopped and take you a while to retrieve after giving up the cost etc and paying the tax. they dont even contact you to say they have your goods.

Celtic leathers is the best value. Plus if you damage the then you will get great follow up repair prices.

I import quite a bit as its for old bikes, Customs strike rate over the $400 is high.....they always send me a letter, I ring up pay the tax and the tax o the tax, then get get it dropped off to work.

[steve_t]

A few years ago I got a few things sent over and customs sent me a letter asking me to register as an importer

[madkiwi]

I brought a pair of leather pants in about 1 month ago, paid about 500 kiwi and then another 250 for taxes

[demerits]

so the gest gets charged on the shipping cost, not the cost of the item itself? then a 10 % fee of the cost of the item, plus a $60 maf fee?

They take the total nz transaction cost. My recent purchase was
385nzd + 45nzd shipping = $434nzd
+gst $65.10nzd
+import transaction fee= $22.00nzd
+gst on import transaction fee=$3.30nzd
+biosecurity levy=$11.10nzd
+gst on biosecurity levy=1.67nzd
total fees= $103.17nzd
grand total= $537.10
cost of purchasing locally and supporting nz business,=$950+gst and a 2month wait time.
As long as you use paypal you really can't lose, your goods are insured until you have signed for them.

[DEATH_INC.]

Businesses that provide NZ workers a living.
I know this one is dear to you robert, but I also have an example of why we don't support nz business.
I recently made the decision to buy something off a local business (doing the right thing), they came close enough to the e-bay price and were not too much longer to get it here.
I won't be doing that again...I'm still waiting for them and it's been 2 weeks since they were meant to be here, and about 3 longer than getting them direct. They have no answers as to why they aren't here yet. :yawn:

I will say however, that for gear I always buy local, there's nothing like being able to try stuff on to get it to fit properly. I nearly got some gloves off e-bay recently, but fortunately ended up in a local shop that happened to have the same ones on the shelf, which didn't fit when I tried 'em on. Lesson learnt so I got some others off them.
For under 2g you should be able to get a reasonable suit locally.

[haydes55]

We imported 3 custom kevlar race suits from USA worth $1500NZD a piece and paid no taxes. The company wrote that they were "work overalls" on the declaration, said the value was $40 each or something. We had no issues.

[demerits]

We imported 3 custom kevlar race suits from USA worth $1500NZD a piece and paid no taxes. The company wrote that they were "work overalls" on the declaration, said the value was $40 each or something. We had no issues.

carefull what you admit to, a certain disgruntled business owner may report you for fraud or tax eversion.

[Padmei]

We imported 3 custom kevlar race suits from USA worth $1500NZD a piece and paid no taxes. The company wrote that they were "work overalls" on the declaration, said the value was $40 each or something. We had no issues.

But there are also companies that state in big writing they will not misrepresent the price of the products nor write 'gift' on the parcel. Cracks me up.

[haydes55]

carefull what you admit to, a certain disgruntled business owner may report you for fraud or tax eversion.

I didn't personally pay for these suits nor were they imported in my name, a few sponsors funded the suits. So technically I just received goods.

[pritch]

As another happy Celtic leathers customer I too will recommend Sam.

When I brought the carbon hugger in it took longer to get it through Customs than it took to get to Auckland from the States.
Then of course there's the thrill of paying GST on the GST, and on and on. But I already did a rant about that.

[jasonu]

however when you do it that way you then have to pay state tax as it's getting shipped to residential us first.

Only in the states that actually charge sales tax, lots don't.

[Ntoxcated]

I havn't heard of this protective gear 0% and i can't see it on customs website. I got stung on a helmet and jacket that I assume are protective gear. and yes if you have contacts over there who label it as a gift then there are no charges, however when you do it that way you then have to pay state tax as it's getting shipped to residential us first.

From another thread.


The customs document (http://www.customs.govt.nz/news/resources/listsandguides/Documents/Approvals.pdf) wording is quite specific.

Tarriff Item No: 4203.10.12
Goods: Leather protective one piece motor cycle suits, or jackets and pants whether or not imported in sets, with fitted rigid protective inserts for elbow, shoulders and knees
Rate: Free
Reference: 303103K
Effective From: 11/10

GST is always payable though. If it is more than $60 and they end up charging you, they add another $38 processing fee!!!



They also say...

62 Gore-tex suits, jacket and trousers of a type for motorcycle riding only.
62.01 Motorcycle abrasion and water resistant clothing viz: man made fibre jackets, trousers or suits.
62.02 being a combination of such jackets with trousers.
6203.42 Woven denim trousers, incorporating Kevlar reinforced panels, for safety and abrasion resistance,
6204.62 of a kind suited for motorcycle riding.
6203.43.02 Motorcycle trousers, abrasion and water resistant, 100% nylon outershell with kevlar knee protection and removable hip protectors.


Have no duty.

[rapid van cleef]

confrimed email from customs that the 10% duty does NOT apply to leathers that have protective armour fitted to them. gst applies all the way though, which is fine.