Thread: Import duty

Orders over $A1K get GST and customs duty applied automatically, orders under $A1K have GST applied by the supplier, if the supplier overseas is registered for GST. If you're very lucky and find a supplier who isn't registered (and hasn't been chatted by the tax office) you might get it in to the country without either. I managed to do just that not too long ago.

Ebay for example is registered and applies GST automatically to all overseas purchases.

E-Bay only applies the GST if the seller declares that they are sending the item from overseas. I recently purchased some items that were advertised as being sent from within Australia, roughly 70km from me. I paid a premium of about 100% above the overseas price, thinking it would arrive quicker. After about two weeks, it arrived from China.

Aaron

Originally Posted by Aaron IIA

E-Bay only applies the GST if the seller declares that they are sending the item from overseas. I recently purchased some items that were advertised as being sent from within Australia, roughly 70km from me. I paid a premium of about 100% above the overseas price, thinking it would arrive quicker. After about two weeks, it arrived from China.

Aaron

did you report that to ebay, as ebay were introducing a policy on sellers that it item location is not as advertised then seller would be charged double ebay fees on the purchase
careful from any item listed as Sydney in the location as Chinese sellers often use Sydney as a location, they aeven lie straight out when you ask item if it is in fact Sydney.

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

did you report that to ebay, as ebay were introducing a policy on sellers that it item location is not as advertised then seller would be charged double ebay fees on the purchase
careful from any item listed as Sydney in the location as Chinese sellers often use Sydney as a location, they aeven lie straight out when you ask item if it is in fact Sydney.

Yes I have noticed this eBay BS location behaviour also. I have sent the parts request to you Roverlord, so hopefully you can help me out locally.

Thanks.

I was thinking about reporting them. By the time the parcel arrived, they were "no longer a registered user".

I don't know why half of my previous message is in a small font. I can't figure out how to get it back to normal.

Aaron

What I dont understand is why an overseas supplier that has no presence in Australia would even comply with ATO rules and give them selves the extra work of collecting the GST on behalf of the ATO. All I can think of is they collect the 10% and pocket it themselves and it never gets back to the ATO. There is nothing the ATO can do about it.

I have asked a few of the overseas companies in the UK about this but have never got a response which leads me to think they are charging the extra 10% and keeping it.

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

What I dont understand is why an overseas supplier that has no presence in Australia would even comply with ATO rules and give them selves the extra work of collecting the GST on behalf of the ATO. All I can think of is they collect the 10% and pocket it themselves and it never gets back to the ATO. There is nothing the ATO can do about it.

I have asked a few of the overseas companies in the UK about this but have never got a response which leads me to think they are charging the extra 10% and keeping it.

Garry

they must provide you with a GST tax invoice ask for it.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Ebay for example is registered and applies GST automatically to all overseas purchases.

Including used items. What will though if say I'm looking at buying a used fishing reel from the States (which I am) that is listed on Ebay's U.S. site and hit the "buy it now" button on that site as opposed to buying it through Ebay Australia where it's listed under "items found from Ebay international sellers" ?. The U.S. site obviously doesn't mention GST and i'm not game to commit to it as the addition of the GST will take it outside of my budget.