ATT: Charlie

[DrummingBen]

Sorry to start a new thread guys.
Charlie, when you have bought drum items from the US, did you have to pay tax or something when it arrived? IE anything extra apart from the money paid via ebay. Because what I'm looking apparently ships via UPS and some people have complained of extra taxes.
Thanks

[Charlie Manson]

To the best of my knowledge, you will be only charged if the combined value of the item(s) is over $1000aud. I have had items shipped via UPS without paying any other fees, and would recommend you use them.

For your piece of mind, it might be wise to check the Australian website for UPS just to check this.

[semi]

customs. just get them to write gift or second hand parts on it.

[Charlie Manson]

Customs doesn't apply to anything under $1000aud when being imported for private use. Some couriers, like FedEx, will charge you a "customs clearance" fee anyway though because they are greedy bastards...

I've never been hit by customs when using UPS.

[DrummingBen]

Ah I think it was because the seller didn't write gift on it. Cheers guys.

[Pauly]

From what I remember, if your package isn't shipped by USPS the limit is only $250.

(I found out the hard way)

[DrumIntoTheNight]

I imported a Paragon Ride to the UK and got stung an extra £65. I think anything over like £35 gets stung in the UK. It's baaad. Damn you Gordon Brown, you theiving bastard.

[Charlie Manson]

From what I remember, if your package isn't shipped by USPS the limit is only $250.

(I found out the hard way)
Nope, all goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000aud or less.


Ah I think it was because the seller didn't write gift on it. Cheers guys.
That doesn't apply to australia on purchases under $1000.


If you guys are getting hit by extra fees when your importing via couriers, it;s the courier firm itself charging a processing fee rather than the government charging tax. However, I've imported a heap of stuff via UPS and they have never charged a processing fee.

[Pauly]

Nope, all goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000aud or less.

I dug up my customs receipt to make sure of the values. I don't want anyone else to be unexpectedly slapped by customs.

My receipt is as follows.

Total customs value = $263.46
T & I = $63.90 (I'm guessing this is shipping costs)

Total duty: 0
Total GST: $32.73
Other charges: $50.60

Total amount papyable: $83.33



However, I had a look at the customs website and read that,

"the Government's decision last October (2005) to increase the threshold for goods imported by non-postal systems from $250 to $1,000 for each import declaration, bringing this threshold into line with that applying to postal imports."

My customs incident happened in August 2005, 2 months before the change :mad:


So in conclusion, Charlie appears to be on the mark.

[Charlie Daniels]

Dude that sucked hard for you. :-(