Beer Import in Australia

[TimEspin]

I am in Vancouver, and I have had 3 seperate 6-pack Beer Requests from mates at home in Sydney. Can't work out Duty Free alowances on beer; appears 2.25 Ltrs of beer (about 6) treated like 2.25 ltrs of Vodka?

So, I have 2 questions I can't get from the Customs site.

1. Am I really limited to 2.25 Liters of beer in my Duty Free Allowance?
2. Approximately how much duty and tax would I pay; and would it involve hours of filling out forms upon arrival?

Thanks in advance.

 

[serfty]

Welcome to AFF.

The limit is 2.25 Litres, anything over the limit and you are liable to pay excise/duty/tax on the full amount, not just that over the limit. However, with beer it may not be that much.

Here are the current rates:

Schedule - (1 July 2010)

On top of that there's also 10% GST payable; both on the excise and on the purchase price. Lets assume a six-pack has 2 litres of beer (6x333ml) at 4.5% alcohol by volume.

If this 2 litres of beer was all you had no duty or excise would be payable.

If you had 3 such six packs (6 litres of beer) the excise would be calculated according to this:

Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume of alcohol packaged in an individual container not exceeding 48 litres:

$41.68 per litre of alcohol calculated on that alcohol content by which the percentage by volume of alcohol of the goods exceeds 1.15

The first 1.15% of Alcohol per litre is not charged for, but the amount over that (3.35%=4.50%-1.15%) is.

So 6 litres of this beer has 6 x 3.35% or 0.201 Liters of excisable alcohol, so that cost is $41.86 x .201 or $8.41.

Now GST is payable on that, so add 84¢ to get $9.26.

We have not finished yet. GST is also payable on the purchase price. Lets say the special beer you are importing cost USD8.50 per six pack which may be considered worth AUD10.

So another $3 in GST on that $30 must be paid giving a total of $12.26.

Seriously, if you declare such a quantity of beer, they may just waive you though not wanting to go to the hassle of calculating the excise/tax for such a paltry amount. Then again, it may be considered good practice for someone.

 

[newformula]

serfty's knowledge blows my mind again. The chap deserves a medal, seriously.

 

[ejb]

Serfty,

After reading that I need a beer

ejb

 

[markis10]

Serfty,

After reading that I need a beer

ejb

Make sure its in a container >48L, better tax rates

 

[JetStarSux]

Another thing to remember is that the duty free allowance only applies if you don't exceed it. 2.25litres are duty free. 2.26litres and you pay excise and GST on the lot. As long as you declare it you might get lucky as it is a lot of paperwork for Customs for a pretty small return.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Just go to Dan Murphy's and tell them you bought it in CAN....................

 

[WilliamMc]

Sorry if this is a stupid question.
Do these fees apply, if you are importing large quantities?
if not, does anybody know what fees are relevant?

thank you.

 

[serfty]

These fees, excises are relevant. If you intend to be importing large quantities of Beer into Australia and wish for advice on that, then this is probably not the correct forum/website for such requests.

 

[jaztech99]

I've been bringing beer back into Australia every few months for the past couple of years, and I've had varying experiences. I normally don't declare it and haven't had any problems. Hand in your form, nothing to declare, "oh, I've got half a dozen bottles of beer for my mates", "no worries, on you go".

The time before last entering into Australia I thought I'd push my luck and bring in 9 or 10 bottles (including a couple of 750ml bottles) and as a result decided to declare them. The problem was, I was then diverted into the customs declaration line where I stood for half an hour before spending a further three quarters of an hour going through this rigmarole where the customs offer had to try and convert all the amounts from fluid ounces into litres and then work out the duties. She only charged me for the amount OVER 2.25 litres, took my own estimates of the prices of the beers, and I ended up paying about $8 or some such pitiful amount. BUT, I almost missed my connecting flight such was the delay it all caused. I vowed to never declare it again!

So, last time coming into Australia in April 11, I didn't declare it, spread my 10-11 beers across my three suitcases, went through the scanners, got asked about the bottles in my bags, I responded that there was some beer plus some BBQ sauces from the US, and I got straight through. The moral to me is if you're not over by a lot, don't declare the beer and the worst that can happen is that you get pulled up on it and then you plead ignorance and pay a few extra bob.

For the record, I live in the Seattle area and am bringing back some of the many wonderful micro brews (much better beer than in Aus) for a couple of huge tasting parties with my mates some time.

 

[Mal]

So, last time coming into Australia in April 11, I didn't declare it, spread my 10-11 beers across my three suitcases, went through the scanners, got asked about the bottles in my bags, I responded that there was some beer plus some BBQ sauces from the US, and I got straight through. The moral to me is if you're not over by a lot, don't declare the beer and the worst that can happen is that you get pulled up on it and then you plead ignorance and pay a few extra bob.

My recommendation is *not* to do that. If the person doing the scanner calls your bluff and wants to see the "BBQ sauces", then you're stuffed as you made a false declaration. And, "BBQ sauce" should be declared as a foodstuff so they may want to see the bottles (to ensure there's no unwanted ingredients and it's been professionally manufactured).


Seriously, I know it's $10 (wow), and half an hour of mucking around - but is it worth the potential $250(?) fine if you meet a very pedantic officer (And I've met a few!).

 

[jaztech99]

And, "BBQ sauce" should be declared as a foodstuff so they may want to see the bottles (to ensure there's no unwanted ingredients and it's been professionally manufactured).

Seriously, I know it's $10 (wow), and half an hour of mucking around - but is it worth the potential $250(?) fine if you meet a very pedantic officer (And I've met a few!).

Next there'll be recommendations to declare chewing gum, chocolate bars etc. There's no benefit to customs or travelers in declaring processed, packaged foodstuffs such as sauces - it's a big waste of everybody's time. I often tell customs as I'm coming through what I've got, WITHOUT declaring it on the form, and they tell me not to worry about it. One time they weren't quite sure, they just adjusted the card and sent me to the inspection line. Worry, worry, worry...

 

[Mal]

Worry, worry, worry...

That's your job, not mine!

(PS, 80% of the time I'm allowed to leave without x-ray - the most I get is a sniffer dog going over my bags).

 

[jaztech99]

That's your job, not mine!

I think the fitting response to this is: "No worries!"

 

[Archphoto]

Remember being reprimanded for having a box of Cadburys Roses chocolate in my carry-on, when I flew in from the UK - a gift that I totally forgot about when filling in the declaration card.

I had inadvertently ticked "nothing to declare" and as a result almost missed the last connecting flight to ADL.:shock:

Thankfully they held the plane for me realising I was held up in Customs, but seriously, what gives with something so simple causing them so much aggravation that you need to declare it??

Fresh food, I fully understand, but processed food? Wouldn't any bugs etc be dead from the process involved?

 

[straitman]

Next there'll be recommendations to declare chewing gum, chocolate bars etc.

Chocolate bars are supposed to be declared.

 

[oz_mark]

Chocolate bars are supposed to be declared.

I always do, and they normally just send me on my way....

(Of course sometimes they decide to do a full inspection - but that has happened even when I have nothing to declare!)

 

[NM]

Chocolate bars are supposed to be declared.

Absolutely correct. Anything that is intended to be consumed as food should be declared.

I always do, and they normally just send me on my way....

(Of course sometimes they decide to do a full inspection - but that has happened even when I have nothing to declare!)

My experience also. These days its often quicker to tick "Yes" to food and when asked at the head of customs queue I tell then "just me travel jar of Vegemite" or "a Mars bar" etc. I usually write it onto the card next to the check box.

I once forgot about a pack of Smarties in my bag and it was seen in the x-ray and I was asked to take it out. I was told off for not declaring it. Was told that ANYTHING that can be considered food MUST be declared. Its not up to me to decide it its ok, it up to the Quarantine inspector to determine.

 

[Warks]

Some toothpastes from some countries reportedly have enough sugar in them to be declared 'food'.:mrgreen:

 

[Archphoto]

I'm actually going to go the opposite route soon - Coopers in my luggage when I return to BKK. :mrgreen: