GST on mufflers

[minhdung1911]

Hi guys,

I recently brought a pair of mufflers valued at AUD410 into Aus via Gold Coast airport. And i was held up and being told that car parts attracted GST regardless of value. I was like WTF but didnt want to argue after a long flight plus it was only $40 so i paid up.

I'm pretty sure that we dont pay Tax for goods under $1k incl car parts. Can someone please correct me? I just want to get to the bottom of this.

Thank you

Tommy

[I CU2]

I bought plenty of car parts on eBay from the US and have never been hit with tax (more than $410 worth too).

[amant02]

oh u got rotted. Report to Ebay.

[Hondarally]

What's ebay going to do? the way I read the post, he brought the parts in with him in his checked luggage and had nought to do with ebay.

I've never heard of car parts attracting GST regardless of the price. Plenty of guys order from overseas all the time, and the threshold is $1k.

I know there has been recent talk about lowering that threshold to offer some protection to our ailing retail industry (not going to get into that discussion here) but I wasn't aware of anything being pushed through yet.

[HunterZero]

You were robbed. The only products that don't qualify for the $1000 import threshold are tobacco and alcohol products.

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/DocImpDecGuide.pdf

Lodge a complaint.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4231.asp

- HZ

[curtis265]

TIme to kick up a stink. Have you got an invoice?

[mocchi]

hang on, is this gst or import tax.
who did you pay this extra fees to?

why you mixing two together?

[minhdung1911]

I'll have a look at the receipt after work but the custom officer told me that "you are lucky because you don't have to pay duty on these mufflers, just GST". Think i'm gonna lodge a complaint online as i'm too lazy to go down to Gold Coast airport.

Thanks guys!!!

[curtis265]

I wouldn't go back, they'r enot going to do anything and i don't think they have the authority

[minhdung1911]

:-(. Lesson learnt.

[minhdung1911]

Guys,

Update on this. I decided to follow this matter and just received a response from Duty Manager of Gold Coast airport.

Here what he says:

"These concessions are set under the Customs Act 1901 which outlines set requirements that need to be met for goods to be considered part of the general concession.

There requirements are:

• the goods must be imported as the accompanied baggage of an arriving person or purchased by an arriving person at an inwards duty free shop;

• the goods must not be commercial goods;

• the goods must not be motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts; and

• the goods are not in excess of the concession for the category of goods to which the concession applies.

In this case due to mufflers being classified as car parts they are not included in the general passenger concessions which means that Duty / GST is payable.

This means that the $40.81 charged at the time was appropriate and therefore I am unable to authorise a refund of this amount."

I am under impression that you WILL be liable for Duty/GST when bring car parts WITH you into Australia.

[minhdung1911]

The guy also provided the link which might be useful for travellers:

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/GuideforTravellers-KBYGFinalAccessible.pdf