so goods over $1k attract import duty. how do I get around?

adolf said..

Get an invoice for $900. if You can split the item into parts then you could pay $900 for each part.

If you have two separate packages from the same place, then officially they can add the two and charge you duty if the total reaches the $1000 threshold. Whether this would actually happen in practice is another thing.

Some of the overseas vendors are real shonky. One of the websites I use actually asks you what $ value you want stated on the customs declaration. (And if you don't fill it in, it defaults to 30% of the order value!)

Where is it from? If Oz has a free trade agreement in place with country of purchase duty doesn't apply.

tmurray said..

Or you could just be honest and pay the tax?

If it is just over a $K then get them to invoice you for less. So much easier, also depends what it is and where it's from. If it's got special shipping arrangements - ie not through the normal postal network, customs and handlers may have to come into it.

Anything to do with government and officials is always pain and will add significantly to the purchase price.

myusernam said..

tmurray said..

Or you could just be honest and pay the tax?

there's always one....

^^^ agreed

Have you given your local guy a chance to lower his price,you may find that he will drop his price to a level that you will be happy with.
It may not be as cheap as overseas but you see what you are buying,dont have all the issues of posting etc and you keep Australians in jobs.

myusernam said..

tmurray said..

Or you could just be honest and pay the tax?

there's always one....

Make that two. I never accept the vendors offer to lower the declaration value. Why is being honest so socially unacceptable?

pueter66 said..


, I pay enough tax!

Well get ready to pay a little more. You have Myusernam's to cover.

TheWolf said..

pueter66 said..


, I pay enough tax!

Well get ready to pay a little more. You have Myusernam's to cover.

pleaase! the libs just stopped laws that would have prevented companies registering offshore etc to avoid tax.
kerry packer famously paid no tax one year
it's your moral obligation to not let yourself get raped by local profiteering and distributors. I will NOT pay 60 percent more for the same item just because the australian distributor can get away with it. We should have the tax threshold raised to stop this sort of profiteering that is harming our economy and contributing to inflation. If you want to discuss moral shxt by all means start a new thread