Customs for electronic items

[tomleegolf]

Hey guys,

My brother is going to America in July for a golf tourney and I'm wanting to build a new computer soon. I've just compared computer part prices between American sites and NZ sites. For 5 computer hardware items, off Playtech it costs $1671.99 whereas for the exact same 5 items off Newegg.com it costs $996.95US dollars. Converted into NZ dollars it's $1247NZD. Over $400 difference so I was hoping he could pick up a few things while he was there.

My question is firstly whether he is allowed to bring those kinds of things back into NZ? Secondly, would he have to pay any duty or goods and services tax on the stuff?

I've had a quick look at Customs NZ website but couldn't find anything regarding electronic items, although I guess these could fit under the personal electronic items laptops, notebooks, accessories etc.

Thank you muchly in advance

Inb4 notsureiftroll or extremely stupid.

[pyro]

Just pointing out if you have any issues with any parts, warranty is either screwed or you have to send it all the way back to the USA while paying for the shipping yourself.

If he is bringing it back in his luggage you wont have to pay any extra. If you can't wait you can always bring in the stuff yourself from amazon and get it cheaper than you can here, just don't go over $400 per shipment otherwise you will get charged extra coming through customs.

[Ignite]

Just pointing out if you have any issues with any parts, warranty is either screwed or you have to send it all the way back to the USA while paying for the shipping yourself.

If he is bringing it back in his luggage you wont have to pay any extra. If you can't wait you can always bring in the stuff yourself from amazon and get it cheaper than you can here, just don't go over $400 per shipment otherwise you will get charged extra coming through customs.

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[Shutupandsquat]

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Also, I would figure that it would have come under things like laptop and shit? Be kinda stupid if they wouldn't allow it.

[teamfatboy]

There was a post on here a while back, which covered it.

As I understand it, on things you carry back with you, it depends on whether they incur duty and/or GST, and the rate at which duty is assessed.

The price on which the duty/gst is assessed is, I believe, still the price on the receipt.

The rate at which duty is assessed will vary, but with a bit of looking, Customs website is helpful, especially their factsheet.

There's a "deminimus" of $50 (might now be $60) which means they wont collect anything under that amount.

If the items are zero-rated for duty, then there's nothing to pay. If there is, GST is liable on the duty - but the total (of both, I think) has to be over that figure to be collected.

You would only pay GST on the duty - not on the price itself.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

not sure if this still works or not but i remember my friend avoided the taxes in the past by either opening up the boxes of new stuff which he brought for himself (so make it look 2nd hand used etc.) and gift wrapping other stuff

[teamfatboy]

Nah.... Customs learned that trick in the 1970s... that's like taking a bike apart to the wheels, frame, forks n gears, claiming they're separate components, when everyone knows you're going to put them back together in 30s anyway.

Customs will know, or be able to check (they has the internetz now!) if something's a current model, and if they think you're not being straight with them, they'll be even more careful.

Another old trick was to get the seller to give you two receipts for the total cost, but try to convince Customs you only paid what was on one receipt. That doesn't work any more - their powers, I understand, allow them to check, assess what the retail price "should have been", and calculate what you owe based on that.

But it's a moot point in the case of computers, since there's no duty payable anyway, according to that fact-sheet I pointed out.

So, if Tom can pay $USD 1000 for $NZD 1700's worth of parts, and his brother's prepared to pick them up and carry them, he should be good...

[tomleegolf]

Cheers guys. So nothing extra to pay hopefully

[drizzt]

Having come back from the states a couple of times in the past year (with lots of electronics stuff - I was building a PC the first time I came back, too), I can with complete certainty say that if the combined value of what you are bringing back is more than $700 NZD, you are expected to pay GST/Duty on it. That is to say, you can get $700 worth of duty free stuff (alcohol etc incl), over and above that you are legally obliged to declare it on the Customs Declaration form when you land and come through Customs.

You can take your chances and not declare it on your way back through (there is a question on the form asking if you are bringing more than $700 NZD worth of items purchased overseas back into the country), but that's up to you - I believe they can fine you on top of the GST/Duty they take if you get caught.

With the price difference in Computer parts over there being so large though, maybe it's worth the risk

Good luck 8)

[tomleegolf]

Do you have to keep receipts for everything u buy overseas? So if my brother buys clothes, like 6 polo shirts a few jackets and like 4 pants nike or puma brands, would they be added up in the 800 total too?

[tomleegolf]

Just had another quick squizz, said you have a personal concession of 700$ excluding clothes and personal effects. Would it be a stretch to classify computer parts as a computer accessory, therefore being an item of personal effect and not being included in the 700$ calculation?

[drizzt]

I wouldn't worry hugely about clothes, I think (and have been told) they take a reasonable stance based on how long you were away, given that clothes are a basic need. Also, unlike electronics, clothes are easier to say you had them with you when you left, so harder for them to prove otherwise (although the onus of proof is on you I guess). I probably wouldn't come back with a suitcase full of tagged stuff though, make it look worn at the very least. I've never worried about what clothes I bring back. Just how much room they take up (or if they can be used to pad my other purchases :shifty:

It is prudent to keep receipts, yes. Electronics in particular, although as mentioned above, overseas warranties can be a bit painful to deal with. Maybe see if anything you're looking at buying has a global manufacture warranty.

For electronics it would be harder to conjure up a story if you have a receipt saying otherwise, though.

Edit - true $700, not $800 :doh: and yes, that would be a stretch. By personal effects they'd be talking shoes, maybe jewellery (unless you have a few rolex watches on you :pfft:)

[dannyjay]

geekacon poast

[tomleegolf]

So say my brother had bought NZD$1500 worth of computer parts. If he takes te safe option and declares them, he would have to pay only gst on $800 (anything over 700)? There is no duty on electronics I understand? That would still be cheaper than buying here.

[mrsym0r]

is the $400 saving really worth the potential bullshit endured trying to sort out a warranty issue with the other hemisphere?

[severe]

Dude, really?

Just say it like it is, you want to bring in tazers. You better sell me one, too.

[tomleegolf]

is the $400 saving really worth the potential bullshit endured trying to sort out a warranty issue with the other hemisphere?

But what are the chances of getting a dud or the part having a fault? 1 in 100-200? And if I get 3 or 4 components, that would be 4 in 100 or 4%? Doesnt sound like too much of a risk and if I do happen to be unlucky, Ill just have to suck it I guess

[drizzt]

So say my brother had bought NZD$1500 worth of computer parts. If he takes te safe option and declares them, he would have to pay only gst on $800 (anything over 700)? There is no duty on electronics I understand? That would still be cheaper than buying here.

Sounds almost right, although I don't think they just tax you on exactly $700 worth, it's goods up to that amount.

So say you bought 4x computer parts for $200 NZD each, at a total cost of $800. You would get 3 of the parts duty free ($600 worth), but they wouldn't calculate half of the last one - so you'd end up paying GST on the remaining $200 part in full.

As I understand it, anyway.

If you're worried just flick customs an email, they're usually quite quick to get back (although haven't contacted them in a while admittedly).

[Diab0lic]

Some vendors will misrepresent the value of the goods on the packing slip/receipt but not somewhere like Newegg... You could always bring back $600 worth and post the rest back to yourself.

Also I have bought items from the US because they were much cheaper or simply not available here and have been able to RTM to the NZ agent for the product brand. Not sure how common it would be that you can do this but I have done a couple times. Otherwise it's just a case of paying for postage and waiting a few weeks. Not that much worse than dealing with locals

[pyro]

is the $400 saving really worth the potential bullshit endured trying to sort out a warranty issue with the other hemisphere?

But what are the chances of getting a dud or the part having a fault? 1 in 100-200? And if I get 3 or 4 components, that would be 4 in 100 or 4%? Doesnt sound like too much of a risk and if I do happen to be unlucky, Ill just have to suck it I guess

You would be surprised at how many people RMA graphics cards, one item that really isn't worth the risk. But up to you.

[Kalidane]

is the $400 saving really worth the potential bullshit endured trying to sort out a warranty issue with the other hemisphere?

But what are the chances of getting a dud or the part having a fault? 1 in 100-200? And if I get 3 or 4 components, that would be 4 in 100 or 4%? Doesnt sound like too much of a risk and if I do happen to be unlucky, Ill just have to suck it I guess

You would be surprised at how many people RMA graphics cards, one item that really isn't worth the risk. But up to you.

Fully that ^^

The likelihood of a motherboard fault may be around what you are thinking; CPU, RAM, PSU and disk drives way lower; GCard however is pretty high (in relative terms) and is a serious pain in the ass if you have some game time planned.

The time you've spent investigating the import option would be close to sufficient to earn you the amount of money you hope to save and would avoid the RMA risk.

Sometimes easy thing is easy.