Importing goods to sell in NZ.. (Tax?!?!)

**degrom** · 16th April 2008, 18:25

Originally Posted by scracha

If you're doing it regularly you get a TNT (or other carrier) account. They'll then send you the customs forms for you to get a customs code (or you can do it yourself). Yeah, you claim back the GST. Easy peezy.

Hi there...
Its been a while and at last I have started my Importing Kingdom...

I already have my first package sitting at NZ post waiting to be cleared by Customs. I am a sole trader and going to import stuff more and more.

Do I really need a Customs Broker to get my parcels cleared?

NZ Post is asking $75 to get it cleared + duty fees and GST. The parcel is worth about $475... Not really good!!!

Thanks to all.

**Forest** · 16th April 2008, 18:48

Originally Posted by degrom

Can I claim back Tax I paid in another country or am I going to getting hit twice... (Paying tax to my suppliers country and paying local tax to the IRD?)

Depends on what you're buying, and where you're buying it from as different countries have different tax regimes (including some countries which have no sales taxes at all).

If you're buying from Australian suppliers, simply ask them for a zero rated export invoice and they won't charge you any Australian GST.

Duty and excise taxes are a bit more complicated and are generally not refundable. When I moved from NZ to Australia, I took a few cases of NZ wine with me as unaccompanied personal effects and had to pay Australia alcohol excise taxes on them (in addition to the NZ excise taxes I paid when I bought the wine in NZ).

I own and run a trading company that buys and sells good internationally. If you have any specific questions, ask them here and I'll try to answer them.

**Forest** · 16th April 2008, 18:56

Originally Posted by degrom

Hi there...
Do I really need a Customs Broker to get my parcels cleared?

NZ Post is asking $75 to get it cleared + duty fees and GST. The parcel is worth about $475... Not really good!!!

Yes you do need a customs broker. The broker lodges the paperwork with customs and arranges the clearance.

The cheapest way to process customs clearances is to become a registered customs broker and lodge your own paperwork (this is what most commercial traders end up doing). However this requires a fair bit of effort, so for now I'd advise you to find a customs broker (look in the yellow pages).

Finally, if you can keep the value of your shipments below $400 NZD (including freight) then you don't need a customs clearance. You only need to get a customs clearance when the GST or duties on the shipment are more than $50 in total.

**degrom** · 16th April 2008, 19:01

Originally Posted by Forest

I own and run a trading company that buys and sells good internationally. If you have any specific questions, ask them here and I'll try to answer them.

Hi Forest,

I am mostly interested to know if I would be able to file my own Customs Clearance Entries.

I will most likely stay at the $500 mark for most of the parcels I receive and if I have to pay $75 brokers fee for easy parcel I might as well stop trading.

The Customs website said you can do it without a Customs Broker but after talking to a few customs people, I keep on hearing that I will need a broker.

Thanks for the input...

**degrom** · 16th April 2008, 19:02

You are to quick Forest!!!

**scracha** · 16th April 2008, 20:36

Originally Posted by degrom

Hi there...
Its been a while and at last I have started my Importing Kingdom...

I already have my first package sitting at NZ post waiting to be cleared by Customs. I am a sole trader and going to import stuff more and more.

Do I really need a Customs Broker to get my parcels cleared?

NZ Post is asking $75 to get it cleared + duty fees and GST. The parcel is worth about $475... Not really good!!!

Thanks to all.

$75 clearnace fee...bwhaha. TNT is about umm...15 bucks or summit. As I said before, get a TNT account and a customs code. Their customs brokers are really good and deal with all the paperwork and $hit for ya. NZ post are crroked barstewards and I wouldn't use them. Aussie post are good at losing stuff too.

**Mully** · 16th April 2008, 21:35

I am a Customs Broker. And no, you don't need one.

TNT/DHL and the like will usually do the Entry for free when they carry the parcel (basically included in the freight charge.

Although, you get what you pay for. If it all turns to custard, TNT and their mates will not want to know.

**The Pastor** · 16th April 2008, 22:19

Originally Posted by Mully

which is about as much fun as masturbating with sandpaper.

Makes it feel like the first time, (with the bleeding) the very first time

**scracha** · 17th April 2008, 00:13

Originally Posted by Mully

TNT/DHL and the like will usually do the Entry for free when they carry the parcel (basically included in the freight charge.

Although, you get what you pay for. If it all turns to custard, TNT and their mates will not want to know.

?? I can only say +ve things about them. Emailed/faxed me through all the customs stuff and filled out most of the forms for me. Have called me back when they said they would on the odd occasion a parcel goes somewhere strange. Only time I've had hassle from TNT was during the APEC summit...summit to do with all flights being canceled. Hell, they've flown stuff from the eastern seaboard, over the pacific and onto Auckland in less time than it takes most of the kiwi courier companies to then pass the parcel down to the waikato.

**Mully** · 17th April 2008, 08:38

Originally Posted by scracha

?? I can only say +ve things about them. Emailed/faxed me through all the customs stuff and filled out most of the forms for me. Have called me back when they said they would on the odd occasion a parcel goes somewhere strange. Only time I've had hassle from TNT was during the APEC summit...summit to do with all flights being canceled. Hell, they've flown stuff from the eastern seaboard, over the pacific and onto Auckland in less time than it takes most of the kiwi courier companies to then pass the parcel down to the waikato.

Don't get me wrong, they do what they do extremely well, and yes, I agree they are better than most domestic courier companies in NZ, however, if you get audited by Customs, a "normal" broker will provide support and assistance with that, whereas TNT will not want to know.

But yeah, certainly a good option for smaller imports.

**Reckless** · 17th April 2008, 10:59

Originally Posted by degrom

I will most likely stay at the $500 mark for most of the parcels I receive and if I have to pay $75 brokers fee for easy parcel I might as well stop trading.

Just a small point, why don't you import 3 lots for $1200-00 (incl freight) and avoid the customs altogether, instead of 3 for $1500-00 and have the above hassles?

**degrom** · 17th April 2008, 13:46

Originally Posted by Reckless

Just a small point, why don't you import 3 lots for $1200-00 (incl freight) and avoid the customs altogether, instead of 3 for $1500-00 and have the above hassles?

Yes... That is my aim,but till then I will have to keep it below $400 if I can. I am almost at the stage where I can afford two shipment at a time...

Thanks to all,for your advice.

**imdying** · 17th April 2008, 14:01

Originally Posted by degrom

How does tax on imported goods work?

I know you need to pay GST and import duty on imported stock.(But you can claim that back)

Can I claim back Tax I paid in another country or am I going to getting hit twice... (Paying tax to my suppliers country and paying local tax to the IRD?)

Any advice on the topic would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Hmmm, can't help you much I'm afraid... but I can tell you, if you buy anodized fasteners from tastynuts.com (UK based), they'll charge you a VAT exclusive price.

You can claim duty back?

**degrom** · 17th April 2008, 14:09

Originally Posted by imdying

Hmmm, can't help you much I'm afraid... but I can tell you, if you buy anodized fasteners from tastynuts.com (UK based), they'll charge you a VAT exclusive price.

You can claim duty back?

I am sure you would be able to claim back duty and GST.

But claiming back is actually not good,because as I see it,you first have to spend money before you can claim and the less you spend the better you are off...