Buying from abroad & tax

[gareth_oau]

if the purchase price is less that AU$1,000, then you will be exempt from import duty and GST, even if the delivery cost takes the invoice total above AU$1,000. (make sure the goods price is shown separtealy on the invoice)

however, if your purchase price is over AU$1,000 then you will pay import duty and GST on the landed total including delivery charge

for example:

landed cost: A$1,200 (already paid to the seller before shipment)
duty @5%: A$ 60
GST @10%: A$126 (calculated on $1,260)

total of duty and GST = 60+126 = $186

note that a customs agent will also charge you around $70 to clear it, so you will have to hand over around $256 once it arrives and before delivery to you

[mikepologti]

when i imported my suspension from germany i got quite chummy with some of customs peeps, wasnt quite sure but they did mention somthing about a free trade agreement with the us. in any event customs (when you get a nice one) can be very very informative.

[gareth_oau]

when i imported my suspension from germany i got quite chummy with some of customs peeps, wasnt quite sure but they did mention somthing about a free trade agreement with the us. in any event customs (when you get a nice one) can be very very informative.

We have a free trade agreement with the US, this means that if the goods are manufactured in the US (not just purchased from there), then you dont have to pay the import duty otherwise applied, (which for car related gear is now 5%).

You still have to pay 10% GST tho, if it exceeds the $1k threshold.

We have 6 trade agreements in place with various countries - more details here http://www.austrade.gov.au/Free-Trad...s/default.aspx