Importing goods from overseas and import tax

**Robert Taylor** · 1st September 2012, 08:39

Originally Posted by 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.

i.e. Fraud

**Robert Taylor** · 1st September 2012, 08:42

Originally Posted by rapid van cleef

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** · 1st September 2012, 09:44

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:Me** · 1st September 2012, 10:00

Originally Posted by 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?

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

**rapid van cleef** · 1st September 2012, 10:08

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** · 1st September 2012, 10:10

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** · 1st September 2012, 10:31

Originally Posted by mossy1200

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** · 1st September 2012, 10:36

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** · 2nd September 2012, 08:31

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

**demerits** · 2nd September 2012, 09:50

Originally Posted by 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?

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.** · 2nd September 2012, 10:23

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

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.

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** · 2nd September 2012, 11:48

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** · 2nd September 2012, 15:35

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Padmei** · 2nd September 2012, 16:42

Originally Posted by 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.

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.