Bringing shopping back into Australia

[High Horse]

After a recent very successful shopping trip to New York, my friend and I were packing our cases for the return to Australia. On her husband's advice, she removed the tags and threw out the receipts for her clothes (would probably have totalled about $2,000).

Having referred her to this page duty free concession she inferred that the clothing must be more than 12 months old. Anyway she didn't want the risk so removed everything.

Does anyone have a definitive answer please? The customs website is a little bit vague skipping from personal items to personal goods.

 

[markis10]

Customs normally assign a value to effects because they are used, the amount varies but at the end of the day they are looking for obvious cheats or commercial imports, I have never been questioned about my personal effects.

 

[simongr]

I am sure I read recently that clothes weren't assessed anyway...

 

[NM]

I am sure I read recently that clothes weren't assessed anyway...

Unless they are deemed to be not for personal use - i.e. commercial quantities etc

 

[zzyss]

I've never heard of anybody in Australian Customs being busted for clothes, but I know my cousins in Canada have been... they seem a lot more strict over there.

 

[Mal]

I am sure I read recently that clothes weren't assessed anyway...

Unless they are deemed to be not for personal use - i.e. commercial quantities etc

Indeed. Per duty free concession

Most personal items such as new clothing, footwear, and articles for personal hygiene and grooming (excluding fur and perfume concentrates) may be brought into Australia in your accompanied baggage, free from duty and tax.

 

[Keith009]

I can confirm that clothing isn't assessed. They're more worried about accessories such as bags, however I declare these everytime and have never been dinged. If Customs is convinced that all declared items are for personal use and aren't in any way commercial imports, you won't be hit with tax.

Never had a problem shipping stuff home either.

 

[markis10]

Indeed. Per duty free concession

You did miss the confusing part:

"Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:

owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more
imported temporarily (a security may be required by Customs)"

 

[drron]

And the last time mrsdrron returned from the States she had an extra 13 pairs of shoes and a whole suitcase of new gear.not a word from customs.

 

[Mal]

"Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:

owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more
imported temporarily (a security may be required by Customs)"

I see them as two separate statements. Something like

1. <SOME> personal items such as new clothing, footwear, and articles for personal hygiene and grooming (excluding fur and perfume concentrates) may be brought into Australia in your accompanied baggage, free from duty and tax.

2. <ALL, including items not above> Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:
• owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more
• imported temporarily (a security may be required by Customs and Border Protection)

Anyways, as is always the case, an individual needs to confirm any information given with the official source of that information!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

How do they prove your clothes/shoes are less than 12 months old?

Silly....

 

[Sprucegoose]

And the last time mrsdrron returned from the States she had an extra 13 pairs of shoes and a whole suitcase of new gear.not a word from customs.

one word - IMMELDA!!!!

 

[Keith009]

And the last time mrsdrron returned from the States she had an extra 13 pairs of shoes and a whole suitcase of new gear.not a word from customs.

My personal experiences certainly corroborate this post.

 

[markis10]

My personal experiences certainly corroborate this post.

+1, usually get a lot of clothes O/S! Cannot help but think the wording is deliberately confusing.

 

[NM]

How do they prove your clothes/shoes are less than 12 months old?

Silly....

The price tags still attached can be a give-away

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

10 years ago I left SYD with 12KG of luggage, 8KG of which was a giant stuffed wombat for a close friend who think's they're better than koala's.

I came home with 35KG, had to buy 1 of those "bag lady" tartan bags to fit the stuff in.

Was lucky that TG didn't charge me excess.

Customs didn't query me on any of it. I suppose they knew it was so cheap it wasn't worth chasing up.

I think if you had say 30 iof the same size shorts they might get a bit sus

 

[rwatts]

I think if you had say 30 iof the same size shorts they might get a bit sus

Certainly if not my size
30 shorts in different sizes might be even more suss !

Richard

 

[simongr]

Hmm it's a shame electronics aren't counted as personal items - I could bring in an ipad for me as a personal item and one on request from someone as my tax free item...