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Thread: Customs Charges - Australia

  1. #1
    Senior Member tearstearstears's Avatar
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    Default Customs Charges - Australia

    I want to buy some items from America but i'm a bit concerned about custom charges. I know sometimes things can slip buy but if they dont how much would i have to pay. Does anyone know how the charges are caculated? Is it percentage based, weight based ...?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    God/dess GoldCoastGirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    Well.... if the items can be delivered to you via "normal" mail... generally there are no custom's charges as such. I've bought quite a few items internationally (usually ebay.com items) without attracting customs.

    On the other hand, I did attract a nice "charge" of quite a few hundred dollars (let me tell you I was shocked and surprised at this unknown charge) when I had to get someone (I've forgotten what the job title is) to collect my "Slave Leia" outfit (in the end incl. the customs charge I paid near $2000). So I'm thinking it is weight based.... and if it is a heavy package... they might hold it back and you might have to "hire" someone to collect it for you.

    This is definately one area I do not know much about... I'm hoping someone with more knowledge than me will be able to aid you.


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  3. #3
    Senior Member tearstearstears's Avatar
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    I went on another forum and asked and this is what i got told by someone:

    "Depending on where you are buying eg website or ebay etc. If it is a purchase off of ebay the sellers generally tend to downplay the price of the item but if it is from a website they will put the exact amount paid.

    Clothing is charged at 25% of total value plus GST, handbags/shoes etc are only charged at 5% therefore if the total value in customs fees is under $50 then they will not charge you anything.

    Example if you bought a handbag from the US for $400 AUD, the customs charge is 5% which is $10 plus 10% GST which includes the cost of shipping too = $40, so your grand total in fees would be $50 which is around the mark where they will ask you to pay.

    Try to keep it under this amount and you will be fine unless it is clothing of course.

    Also bear in mind if it is being shipped via courier eg DHL, Fedex etc then the rules are a little different and you don't get the same subsidies that postal give you.

    I bought an item off a website which was shipped via DHL for $200 and got charged $90 so if you can make sure it comes through the postal system.
    "

    And this is from the Shop The States website:

    "

    http://www.shopthestates.com/AustralianShipping.html
    Footwear - 15%

    Clothing - 25%

    Handbags, Jewelry - 5%

    Books, DVDs, CDs - FREE

    Digital Cameras - 5%
    "

    And then there's the customs site - http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4376

  4. #4
    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    ahhhh this is the shitty thing about importing!!

    i imported clothing and shoes via and was charged i think it was 20% for clothing, and 10% on the shoes. so spending $100 on clothing will incur a $20 customs fee.
    this is according to the customs guy i spoke to on the phone, but i remember the bill being slightly higher then that.

    pain in the BUTT.

  5. #5
    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    oops, just read the above post, and realised you already addressed the whole percentages thing. sorry.

    your %s sound more correct then mine.

    i forgot about the GST thing being added.

  6. #6
    Senior Member tearstearstears's Avatar
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    It's so depressing that it's so high.

    But i think if you have someone in the states who can buy it online and then send it to you seperately you can have it declared as a "gift" and not incur any charges.

  7. #7
    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    heh or declare the item purchased as "gift" ok not possible....but if it was.....

  8. #8
    Senior Member tearstearstears's Avatar
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    Default Re: Customs Charges - Australia

    They can do that sometimes on www.shopthestates.com/ doot di dooo...

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