NZ Customs: $700 limit goods / Declaration

[haydensydney]

Hi Everyone - Quick question:

I'm off to NZ next weekend and am bringing a few gifts with me. I am aware that there is a question on the NZ customs form that asks if you are bringing goods worth over $700. I am taking through a Mont Blanc pen ($1200) + a new camera ($1500) which I will be claiming the GST from when I pass through immigration in Sydney. Does this mean that I need to tick "Yes" to the $700 question on the form?

 

[Hvr]

Have no experience of NZ but based on what you've written I reckon you would have to answer yes. Especially since I wouldn't put it past the AU authorities to share information from departing pax with the NZ authorities.

Always simplest to tell the truth and go with the flow.

 

[Mal]

Hi Everyone - Quick question:

I'm off to NZ next weekend and am bringing a few gifts with me. I am aware that there is a question on the NZ customs form that asks if you are bringing goods worth over $700. I am taking through a Mont Blanc pen ($1200) + a new camera ($1500) which I will be claiming the GST from when I pass through immigration in Sydney. Does this mean that I need to tick "Yes" to the $700 question on the form?

Are they gifts that you intend to leave in NZ, or are they your own personal items? How new are they - ie are they in a box, or have they been used a little bit.

The answers to those questions would affect how I handled the situation... but of course how I would handle the situation may be different to the pure legal perspective.

 

[harvyk]

It depends if your planning on leaving the goods in NZ or not.

I'd suggest ticking yes (that way you can't get in trouble), but explaining to a customs officer that you'll be taking the goods back out of NZ (which I assume you are), otherwise they may want to charge you import tax \ duty.

 

[haydensydney]

Yeah - the pen is a gift for my partner who will receive it in NZ, but will bring it back to Sydney. Camera too will also be bought back to Sydney.

Will tick the box to be on the safe side

 

[markis10]

Tell NZ customs that the gifts will be both leaving the country again, on arrival back in Australia declare them if you have claimed the GST, if you are travelling as a couple then they will be counted against your allowance as used goods, so should not be an issue. Do the right thing and often you get extra credit for being honest, do the wrong thing and there is no leverage.

 

[harvyk]

Yeah - the pen is a gift for my partner who will receive it in NZ, but will bring it back to Sydney. Camera too will also be bought back to Sydney.

Will tick the box to be on the safe side

Provided it leaves the country again, they won't care. Also I doubt that they will really care about a pen despite it's value, as most travellers take pens (and in some cases, like myself) nice pens with them. The photographic equipment is the thing that's likely to get questioned. But again, your taking it out of the country.

Also be careful re: claiming the tax as you leave AU, as they are likely to charge you the tax again as you reenter AU. (Unless everything depriciates below $900 whilst your away).

See http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/tourist-refund-scheme-7836-5.html.

 

[munitalP]

You don't need to declear them, they are personal items which are not for business purpose and will be returning to Australia with you.

Don't stir up a hornets nest unnecessary H

Mr!

 

[haydensydney]

Don't stir up a hornets nest unnecessary H

Indeed. After checking out the link that harveyk posted i'm really not going to worry about declaring the item. It's not like i'm trawling tens of thousands of dollars worth Louis Vuitton with me (a-la QF009 ) hehehe