I flying to Sydney next week to spend Christmas with my sister and cousins and taking along some Christmas gifts as well as some of my own belongings.

Gifts - Ipad2, Iphone 4, some childrens toys.

My stuff -Phone, laptop, Camera all of which I will be taking home with me

Will I have to pay anything when I go through customs.

To some extent it will depend on the Christmas spirit of the Customs officer checking you through. They don't worry about small value stuff but your gifts are probably worth over $900 and as such are theoretically liable for duty.

Your own stuff will not be a problem as long as it is a year old or you are re-exporting it later. Just don't make a false declaration on the customs card - if you do and they find out you won't have a Merry Christmas!

Are you travelling with someone else that you could give one of them the iPad2 present to bring in?

That way you should be able to get in under the $1000 limit.

Other option, send one of them by mail.


Plus, can I be a relative of yours?

You fancy a childrens toy then?

My experience of coming through customs many times with way too much electronics, gadgets etc is that they don't give a shit.

Try and bring a banana through though.............

Haha

Check the Customs website - the limit is $900, not $1000. The $1000 limit applies to goods imported from overseas by mail.

Declare everything on your form and then look shocked when they mention that you're liable for GST. Thats what I did with a laptop valued at $1500 and they said 'well you were clearly being honest with us as you marked it all on your form so I'll let you off on the GST'.

But be sure to declare it as otherwise they will make you pay it.

I too am planning to bring over my toys - PS3, Wii, Laptop, Bose lifestyle, 2 camcorders. However, all these are used ones (1-3 years old). Should I be worried about customs ??

No.

So do uk electricals work ok in OZ then is the voltage the same?? Do they need a different plug?

They work, same voltage and frequency. Need to change plugs.

Thanks for the replies. I think my best option is to declare everything and hope for the best.