Bringing iPhones into nz from overseas

[qube 3568]

My friend is currently using two iPhone 4 and bought two iPhone 5 for herself and for me.

Is it possible to bring all four into nz without paying gst and customs fees?

Thanks

[NZ BMW 368]

If you don't get caught it is... I regularly carry multiple tablets phones etc via the airport as I have ones for both business and personal use and have never even been questioned.

My understanding is that the $400 limit applied to gifts too, so pretty much anything that is new. I know some people remove laptop, iPads etc from their boxes and claim they're not new/purchased outside NZ but I don't know if that would wash for a bag full of iPhones.

[Allanw 1052]

GST and Customs is not charged on personal effects

[*Glenn* 854]

GST and Customs is not charged on personal effects

The average person doesn't have 4 brand new phones though Allan. Customs may not see it as personal use

[Etwenty1 45]

GST and Customs is not charged on personal effects

http://www.customs.govt.nz/inprivate/charg...es/default.aspx

Accompanied goods are goods (excluding your clothing and other personal effects) that are travelling with you on the same flight or ship, and that are for your own personal use. When you travel with your goods you have a personal concession of NZ$700. If you are over this amount then you may have some Customs charges to pay.

Your charges will be worked out using the:

Customs value of the goods – the purchase price for the goods.

Customs duty – the duty rate applied to each good based on the tariff classification which comes from The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand.

Goods and services tax (GST) – calculated on the total of the value of the goods, plus the duty.

Your personal concession will be deducted from the transaction value of your goods prior to the calculation of duty and/or GST.

If the total you owe us in duty and GST charges is less than NZ$60, then no money will be collected. This does not apply if you are importing alcohol and tobacco products.

[qube 3568]

The average person doesn't have 4 brand new phones though Allan. Customs may not see it as personal use

2 old phones 2 new phones, either way, customs wont see it as personal use but it is... (except my one )

[cliffdunedin 8]

I would doubt she will even be stopped by customs for having a few electronic devices.

I have been overseas at least 3 times in the past couple of years and brought back updated laptops, ipads and phones (all at the same time and still with my old gear in my luggage) and were never stopped (even with packaging) also my brother brought back 4 iphone 4s' for some of my family from the States last Christmas and was not stopped either... maybe if they stopped her and searched her gear, they may question her but i doubt they would.

[Allanw 1052]

On the other hand... most of the calibration test gear we use at work has to be sent to Aus for calibration, annually.

We get charged duty and customs every year on USED goods. One last week one cost $480 to calibrate, and $550 in shipping and customs (mostly customs).

If they charge it each time it comes in, surely they should have to refund it going out? Yeah right.

That's thousands of your tax dollars being spent on tax..... oh. Never mind.

[efirty 0]

Allan, you shouldn't have too..

When I worked in freight forwarding our Customs broker used to get return goods like that through on a temporary export/import permit.

Might pay to have a word to whoever does your shipping/customs clearance and see if there still is that option (may have been a loophole that has now been closed)

[Allanw 1052]

Allan, you shouldn't have too..

When I worked in freight forwarding our Customs broker used to get return goods like that through on a temporary export/import permit.

Might pay to have a word to whoever does your shipping/customs clearance and see if there still is that option (may have been a loophole that has now been closed)

Cheers, we've tried to avoid it, but haven't been lucky so far - I'll mention what you said next time they're sending stuff

Cheers,

[tmase 19]

My company use a document called a Carnet de passage to avoid customs charges when we import and export specialist equipment between NZ and Australia on a temporary basis. They can be valid for up to a year. Your local chamber of commerce is usually where you'd get one issued.

[Allanw 1052]

Cheers! I'll make a note of that! They're usually only gone a few weeks, but can be up to 20 or 30K new value.

Sorry for sending (another!) thread off topic

[efirty 0]

Thanks Tim, Carnet was what I was thinking of !