BluePoppy Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 We'll be packing up to leave soon and I notice that for shipping personal effects you have to declare to AQIS all items less than 12 months old. How detailed or thourough do you have to be regarding this declaration? Is it best to declare a few token items or can we just say nothing is new? Do we really have to check every single thing that might be less than 12 months old? Will we be charged duty/GST on everything we declare? We have kids, so there are definitely toys and the odd bits and pieces that are less than 12 months old. It's not as if we've bought a load of new stuff intentionally to ship out to either avoid Australian tax or pay a cheaper price! I'm thinking of things like toys the kids received for birthdays in the past year - so I might not even know the price of the items. Any advice/tips appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I wouldn't worry about it, unless you have some high-value items (such as 50 inch TVs still in their boxes) or flat pack furniture that isn't assembled, customs won't bat an eyelid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest31881 Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I would agree with Peach, do not worry about it. They are not after your kids toys, they are looking for the people who buy brand new furniture and stuff to bring over. I have never heard of anyone being questioned about the age of the goods brought over. ( That's not to say it does not happen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrammies Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 we never declared anything and had no problems the other posters are right its high value items that you could make money on i wouldn't worry about it at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GoldCoastMag Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 We declared a couple of items that were new, but they must have been under the limit as we were not charged. Me, I had watched too much Border Patrol and freaked myself out!!! Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernbird Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 They are mainly looking for people who are trying to bring stuff in to make money. Generally home contents will not be scrutinised too much with regard to length of ownership. Just make sure it isn't in it's original packaging and you will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libbysmummy Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Me, I had watched too much Border Patrol and freaked myself out!!! Good Luck :biglaugh:thats what i've been doing, had to stop watching it all i'll be taking nothing over lol! Have picked up a few hints and tips from the forum though as need to buy new dyson and a few other bits that need replacing!:wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernbird Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 :biglaugh:thats what i've been doing, had to stop watching it all i'll be taking nothing over lol! Have picked up a few hints and tips from the forum though as need to buy new dyson and a few other bits that need replacing!:wink: Deffo buy a Dyson, just use it a few times so it looks used. I bought one here and it cost me $850!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FatCats Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 We were given a new vacuum cleaner about two weeks before the move..... So we took it out of the original packaging and the movers put it in a box. They made sure it was the first thing onto the container, as this would maybe deter customs from searching for the box at the back.... Don't know if it works but they didn't check it and it was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest simmo50 Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 im thinking of buying new power tools before we go, saws, drills, e.t.c could end up costing about £1300, how is the best way to get these over, cheapest will i be charged, cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrammies Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 im thinking of buying new power tools before we go, saws, drills, e.t.c could end up costing about £1300, how is the best way to get these over, cheapest will i be charged, cheers just take the package of i brought new tools just bring em over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest suzannah Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I listed a few things. Nothing much - just things that were obviously new. I bought the kids some coats, we have a new computer. That's it. I did put playdoh down though as it's still in the packaging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Beth101 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 We didn't put anything on the form - our removal company advised us they are just looking for people bringing in large items that you may resell once in Australia, without paying import tax on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike 6r4 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Unless it's packaged in a new unopened box don't worry about declaring anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 I agree with everything the others have said. They're not overly worried about household items you actually use--they're only after big-ticket items that have a re-sale value. As others have said, just don't rub their noses in it by packing brand new things in their original boxes. They ARE pretty thorough about looking through your stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flybyknight Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Deffo buy a Dyson, just use it a few times so it looks used. I bought one here and it cost me $850!! jumpin jesus! think i might bring ours too then! careful with the ball one, its the first dyson developed not to be easily fixed, if the motor goes its £115 to mr dyson all the ones before can be reconditioned for next to nothing. still awake? lol thanks for listening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flybyknight Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 do they dig thru the container at customs then? or is it a paperwork exercise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 They went through my shipment in enough detail to find a single wooden Christmas decoration that I thought would be okay because it was commercially produced and fully painted.... It might be they use X-rays to find stuff like that but it certainly goes beyond a paperwork exercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluePoppy Posted November 2, 2011 Author Share Posted November 2, 2011 So I'm curious now. What was the outcome of the Christmas decoration? I assume the problem was that it was a wooden item, not declared. Did they just tick you off for not declaring it? Did they fine you? Did they destroy/confiscate it? I'll be filling in out our AQIS declaration tomorrow. Makes me think I've got to be very thorough! They went through my shipment in enough detail to find a single wooden Christmas decoration that I thought would be okay because it was commercially produced and fully painted.... It might be they use X-rays to find stuff like that but it certainly goes beyond a paperwork exercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 They offered us the choice of them treating it (which would have cost about $250 for a decoration that cost us a couple of quid) or them destroying it. It had no great significance so it's gone to the great Christmas tree in the sky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FatCats Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 They went through my shipment in enough detail to find a single wooden Christmas decoration that I thought would be okay because it was commercially produced and fully painted.... It might be they use X-rays to find stuff like that but it certainly goes beyond a paperwork exercise. They do 5 kinds of x-ray, or so our movers told us! And yes, they check boxes that may be suspect. Rooted through my xmas decs, shoes and cats bowls. Nothing was confiscated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabo Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Deffo buy a Dyson, just use it a few times so it looks used. I bought one here and it cost me $850!! We got a Dyson two weeks before the shippers came - it shipped in the box as new. We are now a three Dyson family for goodness sake.:arghh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I don't think it hurts to declare one or two low value items. We declared a couple of items that would have been obvious if inspected (eg brand new boxed dyson hoover). Tax and Duty was only $68 on the lot but I think it was worth it because we had a lot of electricals in the original boxes that could have been challenged if they felt like being petty. I think the main aim of the declaration is to stop anyone bringing over loads of brand new high value items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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