GST and duty on private imports, again

**HenryDorsetCase** · 28th October 2015, 12:33

LOL. I think I might have had a win.

Ordered some stuff online for the Triumph, as you do: R & G tail tidy and some of that tank grip tape. Wanted some other stuff but realised it would go over the $400 landed and attract GST. So took some stuff out of the cart. $145GBP hit my card at $349NZD.

Waiting.

Waiting. no parcel.

Then I get a letter from DHL saying "Pay us $122 and you can have your parcel" that comprised of $63 in GST, plus another bunch of bullshit charges that took the total to $122.

I thought when I got it that they proposed changes to the regime (a zero dollar instead of $400 limit) must have come in. But no.

It turns out these turkeys are just making it up. The rules have not (yet) changed.

So cue some testy email correspondence. I have given them a copy of the invoice and a copy of the relevant part of my credit card statement demonstrating they are wrong. I have not yet received my parcel.

They are about to be told that I will lay a complaint of theft if I don't have it in 24 hours.

I actually wouldn't mind (or at least I would be philosophical) if we did have to pay GST on private imports. What really grinds my gears is all the other bullshit they stacked on top of it. Which in this instance had the effect of doubling the invoice. There is nothing right or reasonable about that.

**onearmedbandit** · 28th October 2015, 12:39

Let us know how you get on. Very interested.

**nodrog:Me** · 28th October 2015, 12:55

DHL have been doing that shit for ages. Its their way of making some more money by charging some fees for paying customs for you.

**Akzle** · 28th October 2015, 12:59

set the lawyers on them

**Gremlin** · 28th October 2015, 13:08

Are the rules going to be changing? I know it was proposed, but talking to a mate on the weekend he said it was coming in... what's the latest?

**jasonu** · 28th October 2015, 15:01

Originally Posted by Akzle

set the lawyers on them

The Jew lawyers???
(as if there is any other sort)

**R650R** · 28th October 2015, 15:08

Read the fine print....

GST and/or relevant DUTY has ALWAYS been payable on private imports, its just that for the most part customs doesn't bother if the amount is $60 or less worth of GST as the collection cost makes it a loss making procedure.
However for a variety of reasons your parcel may come to their attention at customs or the importers bonded warehouse.
Some items attract duty regardless of the amount, eg all clothing imports are 5% duty I think to protect the local fashion industry. And as soon as duty is charged they automatically file the GST and other bills like the biosecurity levy for packages they don't even open and inspect.

You have no case to protest here, you are in the system now. If an invoice has been issued for the correct amount of gst and/or duty payable it MUST be paid unless you can successfully protest the valuation. Also bear in mind that if you paid a foreign carrier for the shipping instead of say using youshop then the freight cost makes up part of the gst calculation also.

BTW if you don't pay GST or Duty customs will sieze and destroy the goods as they have technically already entered the country much the same as an illegal carton of ciggies in someones bag. Pay the bill its your only real option right or wrong.....

**HenryDorsetCase** · 28th October 2015, 15:38

Originally Posted by R650R

Read the fine print....

GST and/or relevant DUTY has ALWAYS been payable on private imports, its just that for the most part customs doesn't bother if the amount is $60 or less worth of GST as the collection cost makes it a loss making procedure.
However for a variety of reasons your parcel may come to their attention at customs or the importers bonded warehouse.
Some items attract duty regardless of the amount, eg all clothing imports are 5% duty I think to protect the local fashion industry. And as soon as duty is charged they automatically file the GST and other bills like the biosecurity levy for packages they don't even open and inspect.

You have no case to protest here, you are in the system now. If an invoice has been issued for the correct amount of gst and/or duty payable it MUST be paid unless you can successfully protest the valuation. Also bear in mind that if you paid a foreign carrier for the shipping instead of say using youshop then the freight cost makes up part of the gst calculation also.

BTW if you don't pay GST or Duty customs will sieze and destroy the goods as they have technically already entered the country much the same as an illegal carton of ciggies in someones bag. Pay the bill its your only real option right or wrong.....

Thank you for your input.

I am aware how it works. My point is that they have incorrectly levied GST and thus NO charges are payable.

**Erelyes** · 28th October 2015, 15:58

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Thank you for your input.

I am aware how it works. My point is that they have incorrectly levied GST and thus NO charges are payable.

What's this $400 limit? never heard of it.

The limit is $60 on levies+GST. If the combined total goes over $60 they will charge you.

You have presumably calculated the $400 limit based on something that has 0% levies and GST only, and as to whether your parts fall into that basket is another kettle of fish entirely.

**R650R** · 28th October 2015, 16:34

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Thank you for your input.

I am aware how it works. My point is that they have incorrectly levied GST and thus NO charges are payable.

Please reproduce forthwith the amounts shown on bill of sale invoice, including any freight charges so we can check the maths.
If they have calculated the amount incorrectly they will just recalculate it, you will still have to pay as your goods are now held for gst/duty payable...

**Woodman** · 28th October 2015, 16:49

Why do you get a letter from DHL? Every time I get stung for GST/bio/gst on bio etc all the correspondence is from NZ customs.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 28th October 2015, 16:51

Originally Posted by Woodman

Why do you get a letter from DHL? Every time I get stung for GST/bio/gst on bio etc all the correspondence is from NZ customs.

No idea.

Last time this bit me I paid up but it was for an expensive helmet.

**Akzle** · 28th October 2015, 17:12

Originally Posted by R650R

bonded warehouse.

i went to a place like that once...

Leather does nothing for my figure and ball gags give me a sore jaw.

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Last time this bit me I paid up

slow learner, huh.

**bogan** · 28th October 2015, 17:15

Got some of that shit charged on a similar $ amount a while back, which I just ended up paying, pretty sure it was DHL too.

Then on an entirely different occasion, youshop made me pay some fucking brokerage fee on top of like 8 other fees. Ended up costing a smidge under $250 in import fees for a $640 item, plus 50 bucks in the actual youshop postage fee.

Also, thanks for making me look that up again, just realised I had coded the GST wrong and hadn't claimed it back.

**Corse1** · 28th October 2015, 18:18

DHL or TNT or FedEx. Doesn't matter, they will all charge GST on imports. I don't know why. If you choose a slower std post option for delivery you will likely not pay anything. Just received a helmet from chromeburner in the Nederlands. Paid $558. Arrived in 10 calendar days std post. No duties paid but looked at the invoice and they had valued the goods at $87 Euro

I was waiting for the customs notice....maybe DHL etc calculate GST and just pay straight to customs regardless of the rules.