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Sedition
4th October 2015, 15:03
Hi all, looking to see if anyone knows the specifics on classifying bike gear for import fees so I don't get shafted buying riding gear outside NZ. WhatIsMyDuty (http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/) doesn't have a very comprehensive list. On this page (http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feetypes/Pages/default.aspx) there are listings for 'Helmet (Crash)', and 'Motorcycle Tyres' (both 0% duty rate). Would the rest - boots, gloves, jacket etc., go under Menswear, or Motorcycle (which I assume is meant for actual bikes)?

BMWGSER
4th October 2015, 15:22
Hi all, looking to see if anyone knows the specifics on classifying bike gear for import fees so I don't get shafted buying riding gear outside NZ. WhatIsMyDuty (http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/) doesn't have a very comprehensive list. On this page (http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feetypes/Pages/default.aspx) there are listings for 'Helmet (Crash)', and 'Motorcycle Tyres' (both 0% duty rate). Would the rest - boots, gloves, jacket etc., go under Menswear, or Motorcycle (which I assume is meant for actual bikes)?

Any purchases overseas valued at more than $400nz including freight etc You will be up for 15% GST . But this is likely to change shortly . You might get other charges as well.
The stuff I have bought in under this value has gone straight thru.

Mike.Gayner
4th October 2015, 16:10
Any purchases overseas valued at more than $400nz including freight etc You will be up for 15% GST . But this is likely to change shortly . You might get other charges as well.
The stuff I have bought in under this value has gone straight thru.

Sedition is asking about DUTIES, not GST. I would also like to hear people's experiences with this.

onearmedbandit
4th October 2015, 16:21
It's been a few years since I last imported a helmet from overseas but I did inquire about duty with customs and I was told (at the time) that motorcycle gear came under the umbrella of 'safety equipment' and therefore attracted no import duty. This however may have changed.

Sedition
4th October 2015, 16:50
I just noticed the WhatIsMyDuty website has the 'Helmets (crash)' listed toward the bottom. I'll try give them a call tomorrow, will report back on what I find out. Based on the customs website it appears that the WIMD list is trimmed to the usual fluff people buy online. I doubt it'd be a hassle to send a message with online orders asking them to declare the goods on what they'll be classified as in NZ Customs, may save people some dollars.

Their lack of clarity also makes me wonder if there's a hidden 'Helmets (fashion)' categorization.


Sedition is asking about DUTIES, not GST. I would also like to hear people's experiences with this.

Yep. Adding to that, I'd be keen to hear if anyone remembers (or can list, if they're waiting on deliveries) what their gear was classified as on the consignment note - it'll be listed there by the seller. If they're incorrectly sending a leather bike jacket declared as 'Menswear', then people are likely paying too much.


It's been a few years since I last imported a helmet from overseas but I did inquire about duty with customs and I was told (at the time) that motorcycle gear came under the umbrella of 'safety equipment' and therefore attracted no import duty. This however may have changed.

I heard bits of a TV show a while back where I THINK they were saying the limit before duty is charged is going to be lowered to something stupid like $150.

DamianW
4th October 2015, 17:12
From memory:
Imported a one piece RST leather suit from the UK (NZ$700) + NZ$100 shipping. Categorised as menswear, pinged 15% duty but still heaps cheaper than buying locally as exchange rate was £0.50 / $1.00.

Sedition
4th October 2015, 17:37
From memory:
Imported a one piece RST leather suit from the UK (NZ$700) + NZ$100 shipping. Categorised as menswear, pinged 15% duty but still heaps cheaper than buying locally as exchange rate was £0.50 / $1.00.

Dunno if this helps you now, but I'd be pissed if you couldn't call and challenge that. You don't wear a "menswear" jacket with joint armor and abrasion resistance down to the pub unless you're Antonie Dixon.

Good info though, thanks for that. Once I call Customs I'm going to check with Revzilla and a few others, and see whether they're happy to add the correct classification it should be charged at. Shouldn't be too difficult to adjust in their shipping process unless all that stuff is done automatically for them.

Erelyes
4th October 2015, 17:50
It's been a few years since I last imported a helmet from overseas but I did inquire about duty with customs and I was told (at the time) that motorcycle gear came under the umbrella of 'safety equipment' and therefore attracted no import duty. This however may have changed.

The legal-ese reply that I got was that motorbike gear would 'generally' fall under 'protective equipment' and attract zero duty. However this is case by case and if you want a hard-and-fast ruling on a particular bit of kit you have to pay to get a ruling (which defeats the fucking purpose).

In my own experience, back protector, gloves have been fine. Draggins/kevlar jeans could be another matter.

nodrog
4th October 2015, 18:03
From memory:
Imported a one piece RST leather suit from the UK (NZ$700) + NZ$100 shipping. Categorised as menswear, pinged 15% duty but still heaps cheaper than buying locally as exchange rate was £0.50 / $1.00.

did you get charged duty or gst?

I've never been charged duty on any gear, only gst on the shit over $400

DamianW
4th October 2015, 18:09
did you get charged duty or gst?

I've never been charged duty on any gear, only gst on the shit over $400

Ah my bad, yes GST not duty.

FJRider
4th October 2015, 18:23
A quick search found .....

http://www.customs.govt.nz/incommercial/importcharges/dutiesandcharges/Pages/default.aspx

jellywrestler
4th October 2015, 19:44
Hi all, looking to see if anyone knows the specifics on classifying bike gear for import fees so I don't get shafted buying riding gear outside NZ. WhatIsMyDuty (http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/) doesn't have a very comprehensive list. On this page (http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feetypes/Pages/default.aspx) there are listings for 'Helmet (Crash)', and 'Motorcycle Tyres' (both 0% duty rate). Would the rest - boots, gloves, jacket etc., go under Menswear, or Motorcycle (which I assume is meant for actual bikes)?

dont buy a helmet from overseas, there are several different shapes of head around the globe, you may try one on here for size and get something different, it's your life it's protecting.

jellywrestler
4th October 2015, 19:46
Once I call Customs I'm going to check with Revzilla and a few others, and see whether they're happy to add the correct classification it should be charged at. what with everyone buying their shit from overseas soon the only people working in nz will be customs...

AllanB
4th October 2015, 19:49
I have a e-mail somewhere (from this year) from customs stating safety gear is exempt from duty tax - even a list noting motorcycle gear.

Digitdion
4th October 2015, 20:14
My understanding is that there is no duty on motorcycle accessories. If you buy some motorcycle clothing either get if labeled motorcycle safety equipment or motorcycle accessories.
When the exchange rate was favorable I got quite a bit of kit from overseas.

Gremlin
4th October 2015, 20:19
Dunno if this helps you now, but I'd be pissed if you couldn't call and challenge that. You don't wear a "menswear" jacket with joint armor and abrasion resistance down to the pub unless you're Antonie Dixon.
Clearly you're new at this. Good luck arguing with Customs.

Once they took the subtotal and multipled by quantity (except that was the subtotal already). Totally ignored the actual total (in the total field, funnily enough). Doubled the value of the shipment pushing it over import threshold, fortunately I already had an import code... (no idea what was going on at that point). Gave up after about 6 months of arguing...

onearmedbandit
5th October 2015, 05:54
dont buy a helmet from overseas, there are several different shapes of head around the globe, you may try one on here for size and get something different, it's your life it's protecting.

A little research will help you avoid this issue. The Arai I wanted wasn't available in NZ and at the time (and still quite possibly now) Arai only had two different internal shell shapes.

Voltaire
5th October 2015, 05:59
did you get charged duty or gst?

I've never been charged duty on any gear, only gst on the shit over $400

me neither, but don't you hate Customs chagrining GST on the GST? What friggen service are they adding.

Rant bit: Bricks and Mortar shops can whinge all they like, I hate shopping, unless they offer great service.

bogan
5th October 2015, 07:12
me neither, but don't you hate Customs chagrining GST on the GST? What friggen service are they adding.

Rant bit: Bricks and Mortar shops can whinge all they like, I hate shopping, unless they offer great service.

They don't charge GST on the GST, they charge GST on their duties, ie, the service of charging you GST :laugh:

Who gives a shit anyway, it all gets written off as a work expense :D

AllanB
5th October 2015, 08:16
My last 3 helmets have been ex USA. As above do your research.

Erelyes
5th October 2015, 17:19
Rant bit: Bricks and Mortar shops can whinge all they like, I hate shopping, unless they offer great service.

Paging nurse Edbear, paging nurse Edbear.... ;)

imdying
5th October 2015, 18:20
dont buy a helmet from overseas, there are several different shapes of head around the globe, you may try one on here for size and get something different, it's your life it's protecting.
lol, there is no danger, otherwise the helmet companies would be culpable. It is merely a rort born of market protectionism. Too much migration going on in this world for helmet shape for a market bollocks to be true on any level other than minor differences.

jellywrestler
5th October 2015, 19:19
lol, there is no danger, otherwise the helmet companies would be culpable. It is merely a rort born of market protectionism. Too much migration going on in this world for helmet shape for a market bollocks to be true on any level other than minor differences.

they just don't fit the same

Dave-
10th October 2015, 16:39
they just don't fit the same

How did you test this?

pritch
11th October 2015, 11:56
I heard bits of a TV show a while back where I THINK they were saying the limit before duty is charged is going to be lowered to something stupid like $150.

Retailers want GST charged on EVERYTHING coming in "to create a level playing field". So far though the Gubbermint still has that one in the too-hard basket.

Recently I imported a package that was over $400 and it took thirteen days to get cleared through Customs and get to me. The previous one was not much faster at ten days. The cheeky bastards backdate their letter to the day the item arrived. I know NZ Post aren't quite what they used to be but I'd need convincing that letters take nine and eleven days respectively to go 400Ks

The International Parcels Office and Customs don't seem to be able to handle the level of traffic they have now, they'll need a huge increase in staff numbers if GST is to be paid on everything. Either that or there'll be looooong delays.

When you order it might pay to place several smaller orders over a period of time if that keeps the individual packages under $400. Don't just calculate GST at 15% either, once a package attracts GST it also attracts a number of other small charges and levies and the total will be a bit it more than the 15%. There'll be a biosecurity levy even though the MAF people don't go anywhere near the package. Customs don't get to keep the GST that goes to the IRD. So Customs levy a seperate charge for charging you GST. Then they charge you GST on the charge they charged you for charging you GST. :brick:

Despite all that bullshit people still find it worthwhile to import stuff they want.

pritch
11th October 2015, 11:58
lol, there is no danger, otherwise the helmet companies would be culpable. It is merely a rort born of market protectionism. Too much migration going on in this world for helmet shape for a market bollocks to be true on any level other than minor differences.

Absolute rubbish. Arai make helmets in three different head shapes. Different models come in different head shapes and you need to know what you are doing. If it goes wrong there is only one person culpable - the buyer.

AllanB
11th October 2015, 12:13
The customs website has a calculator that will tell you what it should cost.

Dave-
11th October 2015, 21:10
Absolute rubbish. Arai make helmets in three different head shapes. Different models come in different head shapes and you need to know what you are doing. If it goes wrong there is only one person culpable - the buyer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=537&v=aOCgazruSc8

Actually a good watch.

Jeff Sichoe
27th May 2019, 11:30
Sorry to thread dredge,

a co-worker found the approval list for all duty-exempt imports.

https://www.customs.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/technical-lists-and-guides/approvals.pdf

do a search for

'motorcycle'

or 'gore-tex'

and you will find an entry that will allow you to reference previous decisions made by customs on the duty-free component of motorcycle safety gear.

You can then quote this to the seller to put on the package.

I am not saying this is 100% as we all know Customs pretty much make shit up as they go along, but at least you can say 'Look at your own document printed on your own website and get fucked'

Temporary-Kiwi
27th May 2019, 16:04
im not looking gorward to my customs assessment on the k8 gsxr1000 cylinder head im importing from usa.
it cost me $1140nz for mint low km complete delivered,
so it will probably be $200-250 extra !
plus I've got to send a race header to the state's and the guy may want the ported head to go with it , bound to be a few bucks freight on that .

pritch
28th May 2019, 11:19
im not looking gorward to my customs assessment on the k8 gsxr1000 cylinder head im importing from usa.
it cost me $1140nz for mint low km complete delivered,
so it will probably be $200-250 extra !
plus I've got to send a race header to the state's and the guy may want the ported head to go with it , bound to be a few bucks freight on that .

You may be a bit on the light side unless you're lucky. It's not just the GST, it's the GST on the GST, and the MAF fee, and now it seems a Customs clearance fee.

Let's know the final damage?

Temporary-Kiwi
31st May 2019, 12:44
so I haven't got the details of the gst/duties, but it cost me $216.90 via online banking , so a $500us part has cost $1349.90 delivered.
I tried a couple of sites in USA for cheaper freight but they either wanted me to sign up to monthly charges or wouldn't give me any surety of the price they quoted via their online calculater, I did get the freight calculated at purchase decreased about 10% from $245us to $221us
but its daylight robbery really.
oh and I got an online estimated delivery charge by nz post- 19kg, .126cu mtr package $436nz to California
about half what US post charge