importing costs

[168 Derek S]

NZ $600 to sea freight a box of bits from the UK.
Personal effects so these should not be subject to GST at the border, but we will wait and see.
Was surprised to see this bundled in a pile of paperwork I need to complete before the box will clear customs, when I talked to the the shipping agent here in NZ she intimated that I could also be up for GST on the contents and the shipping cost.
Seems that even after taking my personal effects with me in 1995 and having returned to the UK for a week in 2011 there is no way of proving that i am not simply "importing" these items.
We are not talking a huge box either, the problem I had was two or three of the items were too long to FEDEX and there is one item in there that probably would not be allowed on a plane.

[127 Gordo]

GST will be due on the freight and associated costs*, but the used and personal affects should be GST free, as it's only supposed to apply to new things over $400, IIRC.
If they tried charging on the used parts, I'd suggest you offer to open it for their inspection.

*I don't have a problem with that if it's being charged to the New Zealand purchaser, but it shouldn't, IMO, be due if someone overseas is paying for it without the NZ person re-imbursing them, eg. gifts from family.

[168 Derek S]

Yes I think your right. By the sound of it the box will be opend for inspection. Part of the paperwork was around cleaning....but any costs associated with that are extra to the quoted amount above.
I think it's outrageous that they are charging almost $600 in clearance fees for 1.1 m3 / 40kgs.
I don't think this will be the final cost somehow.
Watch this space

[168 Derek S]

Now the government want to know when my personnel effects were taken into nz, seems there is a 5 year time limit on what can be taken in as personal effects.

[168 Derek S]

Drives me nuts, boat arrives tomorrow.