ordering from overseas

[Luigi]

can someone please tell me how much you are allowed to order before you get taxed by customs, and does the total include or exclude shipping costs. thanks.

[atlkiwi]

Last I heard it was NZ$400 including postage. They will also combine the value of multiple packages to the same person if passing through customs at the same time.

[Gasp]

The minimum Customs will collect is $50 so its sometimes assumed that $400 worth of goods would therefore attract $50 gst.

Thats not quite the case.

Certain goods including clothing and some supplements are subject to both duty and gst payment and you sometimes will incur over $50 in combined duty/gst charges for a far lesser value than $400.

GST is also payable on the cost,insurance and freight of the goods.

[Luigi]

stupid. so if i wanted to order stuff worth over $400 what is the best way to do it ?

[Gasp]

Hmmm...you could split the shipment but then the extra freight may be the equivalent of what you would pay in Customs charges anyway.

Sometimes they dont get held up if they are marginal or the value is not shown but you have to take pot luck on that one.

[Thunderhorse]

I guess our "Free Trade" is only valid for businesses. What a f***ing joke.

[atlkiwi]

some shippers will under declare the value, but doing that you will be screwed if something happens to the package and have to make an insurance claim

[Draft]

Get it shipped as a "gift" - no GST then.