To Australian buyers buying from overseas

[timelord]

Firstly, Happy New Year to everyone!!. I am just wondering if anyone from Australia has ever purchased a Rolex from overseas on ebay such as from America and if so, whether there is an export tax to be paid there on top of the import duty paid in Australia???. Sometimes one needs to buy from overseas if the product isn't available locally, so any experiences???? Thanks in Advance

[Andad]

Happy New Year to you too.

There is no export tax/import duty on watches brought into Australia.
You will be required to pay GST on the total value.
eg. (US $$'s + Freight x Rate of Exch) + clearing costs x 1.1 (GST).

[2careless]

Originally Posted by directioneng

eg. (US $$'s + Freight x Rate of Exch) + clearing costs x 1.1 (GST).

To be more precise/mathematically correct:
((US$ buy price + Freight) * Exchange rate + customs clearing cost) * 1.1

[timelord]

Originally Posted by 2careless

To be more precise/mathematically correct:
((US$ buy price + Freight) * Exchange rate + customs clearing cost) * 1.1

So what is customs clearing cost*1.1? Is it GST or in addition to the 10 percent GST?

So a USD6000 advertised Seadweller with USD120 (Freight) for example,
end up to be
USD6000 + USD120 (Freight) = USD6120 totalling to AUSD7000, cost an extra $AUS700GST plus clearing costs??

[swatty]

Originally Posted by timelord

So what is customs clearing cost*1.1? Is it GST or in addition to the 10 percent GST?

So a USD6000 advertised Seadweller with USD120 (Freight) for example,
end up to be
USD6000 + USD120 (Freight) = USD6120 totalling to AUSD7000, cost an extra $AUS700GST plus clearing costs??

Thats correct

[toph]

basically you pay 10% GST, or what is usually known as sales tax in the US or VAT in the UK, of the total value+ cost of shipping when you bring it in to Australia.

[timelord]

an extra 10 per cent or flat rate

[Andad]

Originally Posted by 2careless

To be more precise/mathematically correct:
((US$ buy price + Freight) * Exchange rate + customs clearing cost) * 1.1

Sorry Kai,

I was just trying not to be too smart.

note:
* Exchange rate could be /Exchange rate depending on the value used.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by timelord

an extra 10 per cent or flat rate

In my experience, if the value of the article exceeds $500 it will be flagged by customs. Some have claimed this value is $1000 but I will stay with $500. Goods under this value will usually be sent straight through to the receiver.
If the article is held by Customs pending payment of GST then you have a choice of tracking down and filling in the paperwork or have a third party clearing agent do it for you (I use Bell Total Logistics but there are others). I have always found the amount they charge to be very reasonable. I think the last shipment I received had a value of $4800 and they charged $68.00 but this is not a percentage it is just a cost for the paperwork.

[mcjp6]

Originally Posted by directioneng

In my experience, if the value of the article exceeds $500 it will be flagged by customs.

my experience to date is if shipping with Fedex you always pay GST, with UPS I did not and with ems I did not, full value of the watch declared in all cases, and two shipments per carrier ie total six watches over a 13 month period.

it seems there is no consistency at all.

[jmin]

I have bought from the US and only had to pay GST on the total cost of postage and watch. So i got charged USD3700+ USD50 (postage and insurance)= 3750USD + GST.

[Andad]

Hi Jonno,

That was good work. Do you recall the freight company that was used. Some might do their own clearing in bulk and write it off, it's not usually a major cost.
I have had some shipments held and cleared in Sydney and then had to pay postage from Sydney to Adelaide with had been included in the original freight cost. It was also interesting that these shipments bypassed the GST - go figure.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by mcjp6

my experience to date is if shipping with Fedex you always pay GST, with UPS I did not and with ems I did not, full value of the watch declared in all cases, and two shipments per carrier ie total six watches over a 13 month period.

it seems there is no consistency at all.

I have had over a 5 Fedex shipments that have come straight through to me in Adelaide - you are correct - no consistency.

[jmin]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Jonno,

That was good work. Do you recall the freight company that was used. Some might do their own clearing in bulk and write it off, it's not usually a major cost.
I have had some shipments held and cleared in Sydney and then had to pay postage from Sydney to Adelaide with had been included in the original freight cost. It was also interesting that these shipments bypassed the GST - go figure.

The seller used USPS so I had to deal with customs myself

[tannee]

Deal with customers by yourself? So they call your mobile and you pay by credit card?

[ArcticMoose]

I've had no issues with shipments up to $1000.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5549.asp