Thread: Parts from UK

Originally Posted by gromit

Out of interest did the $1006 include the freight charge ?
Looks like keep it below $1000 to save the brokers fee !!!

Just had a look at the Bearmach site and some parts are a lot more expensive than Paddocks.
I know some components are dubious but a big difference in price.


Colin

Yes the 1006AUD was everything including the parts, freight & GST.
I think Customs also hit me up for 100% GST again as there was a currency shift between when I paid the GST at time of purchase vs when they calculated it at time of entry, in their favour obviously.

I got caught out a couple of years ago with a shipment of parts sent by myself from Johannesburg via Qantas. Even though the order was under $1000 and was not liable for duty Qantas wouldn’t release it without formal Customs clearance. Customs won’t deal with private individuals but only goes through brokers - that’s the fee that was probably referred to several posts back ~$250-350.

Further problem is that once the parcel was with Qantas at the receiving depot and you had received their notification you only had something like 48 hours to collect it before an exhorbitant daily storage fee was applied.

Better to have it all tied up at the vendor’s end with a dedicated freight handler from go to wo.

Cheers,

Neil

Well now i am more confused than before i posted , think i will just forget about getting stuff from oversease , thanks all .

Originally Posted by gromit

OK I'm confused.
The $1000 threshold stopped some time back so I don't understand how it's cheaper to split the order.

Is it somehow cheaper if they take the GST rather than it being done this end ?

Colin

Hello again.

There is a bit in the various threads to get confused about.

The main thing needing clarification is the difference between the GST liability - now applying to everything but previously only for imports worth more than $1000 freight included - and customs duties which generally cut in over $1000.

The first is pretty well handled now by most of the main parts vendors in the UK and USA. You order the part as before and the vendor should apply the relevant GST to the payable invoice.

The customs duty that kicks in over $1000 is more complicated because it depends on what the imported parts are. Again the larger vendors probably know that, but it is easier to keep the purchase below $1000. Where I got caught (earlier post) was that the Customs site suggests that it ‘might’ be useful to seek the services of an official agent (min fee ~$250) to sort out the paperwork. However, at Brisbane Airport they mandate that you use an agent even though your purchase might be below the dutiable $1000 limit.

Anyway, for most smaller parts purchases the system works just fine - forgetting for the moment the silliness of the GST imposte which seems to have achieved little to help the retail sector and probably costs more to enforce than collects. Plus ****ed off a few international vendors who simply won’t ship to Australia these days.

Cheers,

Neil

Originally Posted by Fatso

Well now i am more confused than before i posted , think i will just forget about getting stuff from oversease , thanks all .

It's very simple and I will keep it simple.

If you buy something from OS you pay GST regardless of value. (there are requirements for the OS company to justify charging GST though .e.g annual sales to OZ greater than a certain amount, might be $75k)

If you buy something (one part or many parts) from OS and the value is $1000 AUD or greater you are required to pay GST plus Import Duties.

Example. I buy a Windescreen for $700 and a spare tyre for $500. Collectively it is $1200. To get it into OZ you need to pay GST plus import duties. If I buy the Windscreen only I pay just the GST. Two weeks later or even two hours later I buy the spare tyre I pay $500 plus GST. Two items in two transactions therefore not liable for import duties as all transactions are under $1k.

I have bought stuff from OS and no GST was charged at either end. May have got lucky.

Originally Posted by Fatso

Well now i am more confused than before i posted , think i will just forget about getting stuff from oversease , thanks all .

No problem because the majority of the parts will be from the same manufacturer in India/China. You just pay extra for someone else to buy and stock it locally.

Buying from the UK isn't an issue, just understanding the thresholds etc. Keep total under $1000 and you'll save between 25 & 30% compared to buying locally (that includes freight).

Colin

I just order normally and the GST is included in what I pay and it arrives 1-2 weeks later, no worries. Don't over-complicate it. It's simple.

Right , got it good people , Keep under $1000 as ordering before and avoid import duties , GST will sort itself out one way another .

My problem was i looked at all the gobledegook on the ATO & Gove Sites re duties and tax,s , worse than Centrelink .