Shipping New Purchases to Aus - Import Tax queries

**daveg1980** · 18-05-2012, 01:48 PM

Hi Everyone,

Over the past 6 months I have replaced various items of my household including -
Washing Machine
Fridge Freezer
Sofa (2&3 seater)
Lawmower

These items are currently unused, but don't wish to declare them when moving to Aus.
Whats the norm to make these look used? Remove original packaging? Etc etc..
Any more advice for this, I don't want to get pulled by Aus Customs nor do I want large amount of import tax

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks,
Dave

**calNgary** · 19-05-2012, 12:26 PM

I dont think you will have an issue as you dont have multiples of one item .I would remove as much 'new' packaging as you can but if you only have a few new items in a container load of stuff i dont think you need worry.

Cal x

**daveg1980** · 29-05-2012, 10:30 AM

Thanks Cal, just a worry incase I get hit by a large fine etc and charges from Aus. The sofa and washing machine will be unused x

Originally Posted by calNgary

I dont think you will have an issue as you dont have multiples of one item .I would remove as much 'new' packaging as you can but if you only have a few new items in a container load of stuff i dont think you need worry.

Cal x

**kentkids** · 29-05-2012, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by daveg1980

Hi Everyone,

Over the past 6 months I have replaced various items of my household including -
Washing Machine
Fridge Freezer
Sofa (2&3 seater)
Lawmower

These items are currently unused, but don't wish to declare them when moving to Aus.
Whats the norm to make these look used? Remove original packaging? Etc etc..
Any more advice for this, I don't want to get pulled by Aus Customs nor do I want large amount of import tax

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks,
Dave

Should have no problem with washing machine, sofas and fridge. As per previous poster, just make sure all the new packaging is removed. Highly unlikely DIAC will bother to open your shippers packaging around these items. DIAC will almost definitely want to inspect the lawn mower so may well spot it is brand new - may be worth declaring this to avoid them investigating further, or give the lawn mower a once over with a hammer before packing!

S

**daveg1980** · 29-05-2012, 12:56 PM

Hi,

Thanks! hard to think of a way to make it look used, and clean at the same time!

Cheers,
Dave

Originally Posted by kentkids

Should have no problem with washing machine, sofas and fridge. As per previous poster, just make sure all the new packaging is removed. Highly unlikely DIAC will bother to open your shippers packaging around these items. DIAC will almost definitely want to inspect the lawn mower so may well spot it is brand new - may be worth declaring this to avoid them investigating further, or give the lawn mower a once over with a hammer before packing!

S

**fleabo** · 29-05-2012, 01:03 PM

Paint it with Hammerite (I'm assuming you've bought a petrol mower). If its plastic, use it a few times when it is dry, and rub the wheels along the kerb.

**daveg1980** · 29-05-2012, 01:27 PM

Thats great! Yeah I got a - Hayter 619 Spirit 41 Self-Propelled Rear Roller 41cm Petrol Mower

Hammerite.. Ok! then just roll it up and down the grass somewhere.. I dont have a lawn in Edinburgh. Might get some hedge cuttings and some grass from somewhere!

Cheers Fleabo!

Originally Posted by daveg1980

Hi,

Thanks! hard to think of a way to make it look used, and clean at the same time!

Cheers,
Dave

**MishunImp** · 29-05-2012, 02:40 PM

I recently moved back to WA after 8 months in UK. We had sold everything when we went over to UK & rented furnished but bought things like tv, dvd player etc while there. I was advised to declare anything that I hadn't owned for more than 12 months but there was no other way for us as I had no shipping manifest or anything to prove that we had brought stuff with us.

Just had to pay $150 duty on the stuff that I declared which worked out at about 10% of the purchase price of the items (tv, dvd player, coffee maker & toaster!). I'd heard they might not bother at all as I wasn't trying to bring in 1/2 dozen new tv's but seems they thought it was worth bothering. Bit puzzled why it works differently to buying $1000 worth of goods online from overseas & not having to pay anything when it arrives but maybe I've confused duty/GST etc.

Anyway hopefully your one or two new items won't ping their radar, especially if you do declare the lawnmower?

Good luck.

**Danny&Em** · 29-05-2012, 07:05 PM

Haha... Just picturing you taking your lawn mower for 'walkies' bashing it into kerbs.... You might well add a beer can in hand to complete the look. I've been looking at oz stores to do a dummy shop to see what's cheap to replace, with the non cheap items making a name for themselves in the shipping lane. Good luck.

**fleabo** · 29-05-2012, 11:19 PM

daveg - 'You don't have a lawn'

What ya doin buying a nice lawn mower like that?

Originally Posted by daveg1980

Thats great! Yeah I got a - Hayter 619 Spirit 41 Self-Propelled Rear Roller 41cm Petrol Mower

Hammerite.. Ok! then just roll it up and down the grass somewhere.. I dont have a lawn in Edinburgh. Might get some hedge cuttings and some grass from somewhere!

Cheers Fleabo!