Elsie03

We are currently planning to arrive in New Zealand on a Visitors Visa first week of April to do a Reccie and check out job opportunities in BOP and Wellington. Our heads are now confused more than ever with the news that NZ Customs will be charging us a further 12.5% GST on goods which are not accompanying us when we first enter NZ.

We are trying to see the full implication and would appreciate anybody who has experience on this.

Our goods will be placed in storage before we leave in April and one thought is that whilst on the holiday visa we could secure a job offer and then apply for a temp work permit/visa application. At that time one of us could then fly back to the UK and request our goods to be sent over when we go back to NZ – does anybody know if this would make us exempt from the GST?

Also we need to check whether it’ll be easier for us to apply for visa/permit in NZ or UK.

Thanks guys - hope this makes sense....mind is overloaded...

Kiwiprincess

No expert here...but wouldn't it refer to new items only?

Elsie03

Well..absolutely...thats we thought until our shippers told us otherwise. The customs.govt.nz website isnt too clear to us either..I feel a phone call coming on. PSS are also telling us that Customs can just review the value that you declare your goods are worth and disagree thereby requesting more tax from you....feels totally wrong to us hence we've streamed down what we want to take and also considering returning to accompany them into NZ to avoid the tax.

simonmarkellis

Unfortunately this is true! However it isn't a carte blanche 12.5% on everything. Somethings attract no GST and others attract variants upto the 12.5% max. The following link should help you work out how much your likely to pay. http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers...ms+Charges.htm

We came over last year before the new law came into effect on visitors visa's and found ourselves being caned for gst as our goods arrived after the new law came into effect, even though we had work visa's before november. We are curently appealing against it as we felt the law was being applied retrospectively in our case. If nothing else the link will help you work out whether or not to bring certain stuff.

regards

Kiwiprincess

WOW! I stand corrected. What a stupid rule.

Elsie03

Thanks for the link Simon....felt a little more relaxed reading your link as the list I found was for Customs Charges - Baggage which showed the Duty/GST rate on items no less than 12.5% peaking at 34% for apparel - I prefer the list you found I guess my list was for items you were personally bringing in with you?? Who knows, the whole thing so confusing...

Thanks for the time in responding and good luck with your appeal.

BEVS

Can someone please clarify about the new Customs rules re importing household effects.

If someone arrives on a visitors visa , finds a job and now holds a work permit for over 12 months will they still be liable for gst if they then send for their household effects .

If yes, is this triggered because at the point of entry they had a visitors visa in place ?

Does subsequently having a work permit make no difference to C&E?

Could one leave NZ for a couple of days, fly to Oz and then return into NZ under the work permit , in order to avoid gst when sending for the container.

NLSE

Has anyone had any experiences with this lately? Is there any updated information, please?

Also, does anyone know where I can obtain written confirmation of this new ruling please? I can't find anything.

Thanks in advance.

banshigirl

Blimey, what a list!

Did make me giggle that you can bring in a chainsaw for free but have to pay 7% for hair shaver!

Who makes the decisions on whether to charge or not to charge?

Nerine

http://www.customs.govt.nz/traveller...rges+Apply.htm

"Your household or other related effects (excluding motor vehicles, boats and aircraft) will qualify for concessionary entry, i.e. free of duty and exempt GST, for a reasonable time after you arrive in New Zealand, provided you can meet all of the following conditions.

Conditions

• you have arrived and on arrival hold a document authorising residence in New Zealand; and
• you have resided or lived outside New Zealand for the whole of the 21 months before the date of your arrival in New Zealand; and
• you have owned and used the goods before the date of your departure for New Zealand; and
• the goods are for your own personal use and not intended for any other person or persons or for gift, sale or exchange."

Guess it comes down to definition of "document authorising residence" AND living outside of NZ for 21 months prior to entry with that document

I had a look under FAQs and found this, which is probably relevent because of the temporary nature of a student visa?

"Question: Do I have to pay Customs charges on my computer when I come to New Zealand to study?"

Answer:
GST at 12.5 percent may be payable on the computer. The GST is assessed on the purchase price, less depreciation for the length of personal ownership and use, plus international freight and insurance. If the computer will be re-exported within 12 months, and this is identified at time of import, there is provision for a cash deposit to be taken and refunded when evidence of export is produced."

Steve and Julie

Hi
My parents who brought a holiday home out here, shipped a 20 foot container with oak furniture and all house hold items in. They did have to pay Customs GST. It wasnt alot, a few hundred dollars.

Also we came out on a work to residency visa, brought a 40 foot container with a lot of new furniture in, and didnt pay any Custom GST. Maybe its a new thing, just another way of getting more money out us Brits !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

simonmarkellis

http://www.customs.govt.nz/about/New...lease91107.htm

UPDATE OF TARIFF, PART II Reference 80 Concessions – Passengers Baggage and Effects, Household effects, Vehicles Aircraft and Ships

With effect from 15 November 2007 the Reference 80 concessions which cover the duty free entry of passenger's baggage and effects including, ships aircraft, motor vehicles and household effects have been amended.

The amendment aligns the concessions with current immigration categories and includes a redraft for clarity. The redraft has resulted in a renumbering of the concessions as follows:

Old Concession New Concession number
80(A) 80(a) Wearing apparel and personal effects
80(B) 80(b) Aircraft and small ships
80(C) 80(c) Motor vehicles (including motorcycles)
80(CA) 80(d) Ships imported by first time residents
80(D) 80(e) Household and other effects

Currently, with the exception of the concession for wearing apparel and personal effects, the reference 80 concessions only cover those persons who have, along with certain other conditions (which remain unchanged), the legal authority to take-up or resume permanent residence in New Zealand.

To account for current immigration categories, 80(b) to 80(e) concessions now make reference to the following persons who have arrived in New Zealand and on arrival hold:

• a New Zealand passport
• an Australian passport
• a current New Zealand residence visa or permit, or a current returning resident's visa or permit
• a current permanent residence visa (including a resident return visa) issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia
• a current work visa or work permit that was issued for a minimum of 12 months
• a current work visa or work permit, issued under the Long Term Business Visa policy, that was issued for a minimum of 9 months
• a current visitor's visa or permit that was issued for a minimum of 3 years.

The other conditions of the concessions, such as length of residence outside New Zealand, the requirements of ownership and use, and the requirement to give a written undertaking (where it is required) remain unchanged.

Note that the concession does not cover students or guardians unless they hold one of the documents listed.
Sight entries may be used to clear goods prior to the arrival of the owner, provided that all the conditions of the concession (other than the importer having arrived) can be evidenced, and a deposit is paid.
The sight entry shall be completed on the arrival of the importer and on final evidence that all the conditions of the concession have been met.
Sight entries are not to be used pending the production issue of the appropriate document as the concession only applies to those who hold the appropriate document on arrival. Sight entries are to be completed within six months of lodgement.
A Temporary import entry facility may be used for persons visiting for less than 12 months, but officers need to be satisfied that the owner and the goods are genuinely here on a temporary basis.
Any person who enters goods on TIE will not be refunded the deposit if they subsequently produce a qualifying document, if they did not hold that document on their arrival.
Changes to the 9805 baggage tariff items will not be actioned in time for 15 November. In the interim the existing tariff items, and associated passenger Arrival Status on the NZCS218 declaration, should continue to be used with the importer fitted into the most appropriate heading.

Nerine

WTR visas normally allow the importation of household goods free of duty. Perhaps people are getting residency mixed up with permanent residency here?

Visitors visas aren't residency visas but would seem to be ok for importation of goods if they're 3 years or longer

NLSE

Thanks all for the replies and pm Simon.

I suggest to anyone coming out on a Visitor’s Visa and shipping their used personal effects later, think about what price you state on your inventory for insurance purposes. If by some small chance your container falls off the ship and is lost forever, you’d want to be able to replace those lost items and they are more expensive here. If they arrive in your container as planned and you have entered on a Visitor’s Visa you’ll get charged GST on the value stated, not the value they are worth. :curse: