Thread: Ebay and the US Global Shipping Program

Duty is calculated on the invoice or declared value of the goods.

GST is calculated on the declared value plus duty plus freight.

Where mass and/or volume makes it possible always use the post office as the carrier. No hassles or hidden add-on costs like when using commercial carriers.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Hi Peter

If you check the Australian Customs site you will find a definition
"GST is paid on the Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI). The VoTI is the sum of the Customs value, transport and insurance costs (or postage and insurance) plus any duty payable and WET payable."

Diana

That is for Businesses not Individuals - for individuals as I said above - the $1000 threashold applies for value of goods only - have been through this many times - under $1000 not extra charges - over $1000 goods price and open your wallet.

Garry

Thats not the advice I received from Customs when I brought in tyres from the US (or should that be tires), they quoted the transaction value converted to Au$, the transaction being the cost of the item and the price paid to get it here, even though I was using my own Au FedEx account.

Perhaps I spoke to the wrong AC officer.

Diana

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Thats not the advice I received from Customs when I brought in tyres from the US (or should that be tires), they quoted the transaction value converted to Au$, the transaction being the cost of the item and the price paid to get it here, even though I was using my own Au FedEx account.

Perhaps I spoke to the wrong AC officer.

Diana

Sounds like you got the wrong advice! The rules for individuals (non-business) are definitely that you can import goods (excluding shipping or other transaction costs) up to the converted AU$ value of $1000, duty and GST free.

Once the value if goods exceeds $1000, then duty and GST are applied to the value of the goods and the shipping cost.

So if you have goods worth $995 coming in, with a shipping cost of $500, you'll have nothing more to pay. But add another $5 spanner in, it'll cost you a big donation to the gum'ment.

Has been applied on all my recent imports, and I had that backed up by an ex-customs fella who's now a freelance import declaration agent.

I can pass his details to you if you need those kind of services.

We seem to have this discussion about every 6 months with the same outcome evertime.

Anyway - I rang ebay this afternoon and started discussion with them on the Global Shipping Program and we were actually making progress - the ebay consultant then asked if I had seen the message from the seller now saying all was fine - fault was at their end as they had not used the Global Shipping Program before and was now all sorted - as I said no I haven't seen the message, it arrived in my in-box.

It seems that Ebay US now requires the Global Shipping Service to be used as some items may attract US Customs duties when leaving the US and using this program ensures US Customs is kept happy.

So hopefully I will get my item in a week or so.

Cheers

Garry

Is this the mob concerned ?

Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Project Cargo, Ocean Freight, Airfreight, Customs Brokerage Service - Global Shipping Service LLC

- Sounds like a 'Restraint of Trade' or something else.....

(Just to stir the pot ! )

US Customs on the way out of the country? - Don't tell our lot about that little lurk...

On the other hand, buying some H4H (702K) headlamps for our (deceased) Jap import.... was going to cost me $100 for a pair.

- Did'nt matter where I went, "prices" ranged from $99 with FREE shipping, to $20 and $80 shipping...and every combination between. That was evilbay as well as direct from various mail-order businesses.

Eventually settled on the most honest, who charged the US Postal Service 'Flat-Rate Box', whatever it was at the time. Cost $100 all-up.....

Maybe it's my grumpy old suspicious mind, but I'm convinced that too many US companies charge foreigners whatever they reckon they can....

Originally Posted by superquag

Is this the mob concerned ?

Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Project Cargo, Ocean Freight, Airfreight, Customs Brokerage Service - Global Shipping Service LLC

No - is an ebay thing.

I think what you will find is with purchases that include freight on the invoice it can push the value up over 1K and there for you will be hit with duty/gst.
Lets say you bought an engine out of the US for $750 and it cost you $250 to get it to the point of departure (airport/sea freight depot etc) customs will include the $250 as inland freight and part of the cost of the goods.
But generally speaking under 1k AUD and you are fine.