Paying Customs- Aus Post

[Cúl-Báire]

Howdy Howdy,

I know this whole "buying online" thing has been done to death, I done a bit of a search and couldnt come up with anything... So here goes.


I have a bike frame which I presume just arrived in the country, as USPS has stopped tracking it, as they said they would after it entered Customs. SO this was expected...

I have imported a fair bit of stuff into the country be it second hand or new, but this is the first time I have imported something using the postal system that is well over $1000AUD in value... I have delt with customs before while usising Fedex and UPS, but never with USPS / Australia Post.

The frame is declaired around $1600AUD including shipping so I expect to pay roughly:

10% GST on the frame: $160AUD
5% Customs Duty: %80AUD

I was just wondering if thats all I will have to pay- Fedex and UPS often have these hidden "fees" they dont like telling you about. I am also wondering how you pay the customs with Australia Post- do they send you an invoice with the package, or do you have to pay before the item is cleared as with Fedex and UPS?

Thanx
-Cul

[tu plang]

First off, Australia Post Customs office will send you a notice that they have a package belonging to you via registered post. now depending on whether or not they have sand in their vagina, they may keep it at their big depot (in my case this was out at brisbane airport :mad: ) but usually if the invoice is forthcoming they will send it to a local PO for you to collect and pay the appropriate amount on.

Now the fun begins, because its over $1000 in value you will be required to fill in a customs entry which is supposed to be a lot of confusing paper work which they recommend you use a customs broker for. I avoided this fate by the skin of my teeth so i cant tell you whether or not its really that hard to do yourself.

finally, your tax will be thusly

5% duty on the $1600 value of the frame = $80

10% GST on the frame, the postage AND the duty

0.10x(1600 + postage + $80)

customs may also charge you for processing it all.

[928stu]

As tu plang said.....

Duty on the frame price ~$80 (if it is 5%)
Then add freight to total ($1600 + $80) + freight (say $100)
Then add GST to total ($1680 + $100) 10% = $178
So you pay $80 in duty AND $178 in GST total = $258

I import blenty of bike bits and shit loads of Porsche parts and this is how customs sting me each and every time.
A bloody con!!

[apsilon]

Pretty much covered but I'll add a couple of things.

Due to the FTA if the frame is made in the USA you'll only pay GST, no duty (note that shocks/forks are duty free anyway so make sure they deduct that value from the total even if the frame isn't made in the US).

You will have to fill in formal entry paperwork but it's by no means confusing or difficult nor will it take more than 5min. Basically you have one form with the details of the sender on it and another with your details on it. That's it. Paying a broker to do it is like throwing money away.

EDIT: one more thing. You'll only have a couple of days to pick it up by the time you get the notice before they start charging demurrage (basically storage fee).

[tu plang]

will have to fill in formal entry paperwork but it's by no means confusing or difficult nor will it take more than 5min. Basically you have one form with the details of the sender on it and another with your details on it. That's it.

ah sweet, thats good to know. like i said i didnt have to fill out the paperwork so i was just going on what i was told. when we called up australia post to see what the problem was they told my mum that (there was no invoice attached, which there was! and that) if it was over $1000 in value we'd need a broker to do the paperwork - wouldnt be surprised if they have some sort of referal scheme with there favourite broker by the sounds of things. :rolleyes:

[Registered Nutcase]

correct me if im wrong but if you send things registered post customs do not usually open it. and you bypass the whole thing, i know this was the case with alot of my bike parts and my old man moto parts.

blake

[apsilon]

I believe customs won't open any private parcel any longer. What they will do is if they stop it because customs are due etc is notify you that you need to come and collect it. First thing they'll have you do when you go to collect it is open it and then go through valuation etc.

In reality I think you have about a 5% chance of having a package stopped. The chance increases with the size of the box however. I've literally brought in hundreds of packages over the years and I can count on one hand the number of times I've had to pay duty or GST. I've had to go and collect things more often than that but I usually keep the value of goods under the $1000 limit anyway so just open it, they inspect, then I leave with it.

[Christo]

Dunno the maths behind it all but I bought a complete SGS last year, cost around $2400 ($USD1600) including delivery.

The GST was around $250.00 - no paperwork, FedEx did all that for me.

But I did have to call FedEx & pay the $250.00 by credit card before they'd deliver it.

[VTSS350]

Depending on where the item is made then you might not be up for any duty at all.

I imported some Boxxer World Cups a few months ago. Cost me $1400aud but paid no duty because they were made in the USA.

Australia has a free trade agreement with the USA, New Zealand, Thialand and a few other that I cant remember.

If its made in any of these countries you only pay GST

[Cúl-Báire]

Titus Ti - Hand made in the USA :D

Not getting the Ti model but the Alloy frame is also made in the USA, as is the Fox rear shock so YAY for me.:D


I am just currious how I will be notified to collect the item, and where I have to collect the item from? I emailed customs, to ask if it's there, how I will be notified etc... I am yet to get a responce.


I know with Fedex and UPS they deal with customs for you, and charge you a $65AUD fee for doing so... But I have never had to deal with customs using Australia Post.

I was told by USPS it would take upto 10days as It has to clear customs- and that they would stop tracking after it entered Australian customs. They stopped tracking it yesterday, and today is day 8... So it cant be too far away.

[Cave Dweller]

Titus Ti - Hand made in the USA :D

Not getting the Ti model but the Alloy frame is also made in the USA, as is the Fox rear shock so YAY for me.:D


I am just currious how I will be notified to collect the item, and where I have to collect the item from? I emailed customs, to ask if it's there, how I will be notified etc... I am yet to get a responce.


I know with Fedex and UPS they deal with customs for you, and charge you a $65AUD fee for doing so... But I have never had to deal with customs using Australia Post.

I was told by USPS it would take upto 10days as It has to clear customs- and that they would stop tracking after it entered Australian customs. They stopped tracking it yesterday, and today is day 8... So it cant be too far away.

What you do is ring up Australia post (1800 007 678) quote them your EMS/USPS/ICE tracking number and they will give you the customs processing number if it has been accepted by customs, then ring up customs with it and ask where the hell it is! They will also send you out a letter in the mail, but if you can't wait give them a ring.

I just went through it all 3 weeks ago, if it is over $1000 then they will hold it until you either come in with the form or fax it to them, they will also want a copy of your invoice, it would be worth your time to contact the seller and get them to fax one over and take it in with you incase it doesn't have one, without an invoice showing the cost of goods they WILL NOT let it through.

The form is not that bad to fill out, it is a "Nature 10 Entry for Home Consumption (N10) Requirements form", they will email it to you when you ring up, it has full instructions, just fill out as much as you can then go in and they will help you with the rest if you are nice to them, tell them what a dumb dumb you are and how great they are. You don't need a customs broker unless you can't read or write.

Costs are going to be:-
Approx $45 processing fee if over $1000
GST if over $200
5% duty if it is a fork, frame or stem.

[Cúl-Báire]

Ok...

Sounds all to easy. Except one bit an invoice, the frame is second hand, brought from a pirvate seller and hence does not have an invoice. It is however insured for $1200USD. There are visable use marks on the frame though.

[Cave Dweller]

Ok...

Sounds all to easy. Except one bit an invoice, the frame is second hand, brought from a pirvate seller and hence does not have an invoice. It is however insured for $1200USD. There are visable use marks on the frame though.

Hmmm... tricky. Not sure what the deal is with 2nd hand stuff.

Best to get that number from aus post and give them a ring.

[tu plang]

5% duty if it is a fork, frame or stem.

stem? thats an interesting one...

ive read the list of duties out of their big book at the main depot and it was definitely only on frames and forks.

[Cave Dweller]

stem? thats an interesting one...

ive read the list of duties out of their big book at the main depot and it was definitely only on frames and forks.

I almost got pinged for it, the first guy let it through but the lady who processed it wanted to charge me, but it was only like an extra 60 cents so i convinced her it wasn't worth her time.

So yes, it does attract 5% duty.

Seatposts may also be included as well

Don't ask why, they have some stupid rules. Like with motor bikes, the only engine part of the bike that attracts duty is the exhaust pipe.

[jakie]

Dunno the maths behind it all but I bought a complete SGS last year, cost around $2400 ($USD1600) including delivery.

The GST was around $250.00 - no paperwork, FedEx did all that for me.

But I did have to call FedEx & pay the $250.00 by credit card before they'd deliver it.

Same thing happened to me. Bought an SGS and three days later i had it from the US. FedEx are good as!

[Cúl-Báire]

Ok...

These easy forms are looking quiet hard in reality.!!!.!!>

I started filling one out just in case, and it isnt making a whole lot of sense, I cant find half the information required, like "preference code" for eg... Just stopping an item and notifying you by mail, there is a phone number on the package with both international and Australian dialing codes- why cant they call that! This is total bullshit.


Stuff like Aircraft number and such, I have no hope of knowing until I see the Airbill.

[Cúl-Báire]

Same thing happened to me. Bought an SGS and three days later i had it from the US. FedEx are good as!


FedEx are not good as... They provide a very poor service for a very high price.

[apsilon]

Suspension forks are duty free as are rear shocks (in fact most bike parts are).

If you don't have an invoice do you have anything showing the paid amount? Even an email agreement should be OK (I've presented email order confirmation before without a problem)

I think a potentially bigger issue is how clean the frame is. Any dirt and you may be up for cleaning charges.

[apsilon]

Ok...

These easy forms are looking quiet hard in reality.!!!.!!>

I started filling one out just in case, and it isnt making a whole lot of sense, I cant find half the information required, like "preference code" for eg... Just stopping an item and notifying you by mail, there is a phone number on the package with both international and Australian dialing codes- why cant they call that! This is total bullshit.


Stuff like Aircraft number and such, I have no hope of knowing until I see the Airbill.

Just turn up without the forms. They'll give you them to fill out while they inspect the goods and they'll tell you which areas not to bother with (despite what it may say on the form). Not sure which ones you have but I only had to fill out two last week and both were only a single sided A4 sheet.

[Cúl-Báire]

The frame and shock are spotless... There is a few scrathes / wear marks on the frame but one could be forgiven for thinking it was new.