Importing an M6 into Australia

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Drewus

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Hey guys,

I'm looking to upgrade my IIIc to an M6 and was wondering what kind of customs fees I should expect if I import from the US into Aus?

Cheers.
 
Provided the camera's stated value doesn't exceed $1000.00 AUD there are no charges. Above that GST of 10% applies and you have to fill in a heap of paperwork and they charge you a processing fee as well from memory.

The trick is to get the seller to declare the camera's value appropriately if they're willing ... some are some aren't! If they won't you're stuck with the extras.
 
The GST is a kick in the head if they levy it. There are no guarantees they won't even if the declared value is <$1000 AUD - it just makes it less likely they'll look at it. Another thing which sometimes helps is to make sure it's described as a second hand camera and the wrapping and labelling doesn't look like it came new from a camera store. All that aside, you could still get caught - or get lucky. You never know!
 
In my experience, if it's under $1000 including shipping etc then you don't pay GST. (Refer to the ATO web site). If it's over $1000 (including shipping) then you are most likely going to get charged GST.

No GST is payable if the total value is under $1000, the only way that could happen (legally) is if they don't believe the declared value is correct. With new items this is highly unlikely, but I suppose it's possible with used items.

As to the paperwork/process involved, it depends on how the goods are imported. If it is posted eg via USPS then you have more running around to do, but if it is via (eg) UPS, then you just pay them the GST (plus their handling fees), which is much easier.

Don't forget to shop around; it is usually cheaper to import camera-related stuff, but occasionally you can get lucky and find things locally for good prices. If it's only a little bit more cost locally then it's better to buy here and save the hassle.
 
croweater said:
...

As to the paperwork/process involved, it depends on how the goods are imported. If it is posted eg via USPS then you have more running around to do, but if it is via (eg) UPS, then you just pay them the GST (plus their handling fees), which is much easier.

...
Click to expand...

On the other hand, when I once bought a Canon P ($400) from Adorama, UPS went out of their way to ensure that the importation incurred the maximum possible Customs and GST charges, then put their brokerage fees on top. Their actions cost me an extra ~$150 on the purchase, and delayed delivery by about ten days. I would never again purchase from any seller who insists on using UPS.
 
From my own experiences, all the camera and lens equipments that I bought, I never got any problems when the value was declared less than 1000 AUD. Otherwise, the GST + custom fees were imposed.

Thanks also to Chris for his feedback about UPS. I'll keep that in mind.
 
A small hijack. Sorry.
Does not Australia has some free trade agreements with some countries in Asia? I have a friend who bought a couple of new canons 5Ds from Hong Kong, and he did not pay any GST. Maybe he was only lucky......
 
I did the exact thing a couple of years ago - bought an M6 from the US. Stated value was very close to $1000AUD. Shipping took a couple of days longer than I expected and when I received the package it had customs tape all over it - ie. they had a good look before releasing it.

Important to remember that the $1000AUD limit includes shipping and any packaging fees, so factor this into your declared limit, as well as accounting for potential fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Good luck!
 
When I was living in South Korea three years ago I received a high GST tariff due to what would be best described as a zealous customs official.

The parcel (a M6) was posted to me with the amount declared on the outer postage stamp as $500. $1000 is also the limit when they starting charging GST like most countries. It was opened so the official could confirm that it was under $1000.

I later learnt that the official had a sound knowledge of camera prices after sorting through numerous ebay sales etc They knew that Leica meant invariably an expensive product. So, in essence they had a good idea that it was deliberately undervalued to save on the GST, as so many other people importing cameras and other electrical items do this. It basically amounts to millions of dollars of lost revenue.

So, when I got the note to pick it up, I had to meet this particular official as they had a query as to the correct price. Then in front of me they typed in the name of the seller which was on the package then looked up ebay for that sellers record. They then guessed the approximate date that the camera was sold and quickly found the camera model with serial number. All of this was done within minutes.

So, it was really worth $1600 and I was made to pay that %10 on the total plus a processing fee and given a warning not to falsely declare the price of an import item in the future.

Leica, you sure gotta love it.
 
I've not had any problems with UPS, but I have everything delivered to my work address addressed to my work and we have a large international corporate account. UPS have always been great to deal with, no handling charges or GST and have contacted me to confim delivery times for delayed parcels. I have had a Leica IIIc, M4-P, M3 and lenses sent out and a few parcels have been close to the $1,000 mark but never over.
 
Siluro said:
I did the exact thing a couple of years ago - bought an M6 from the US. Stated value was very close to $1000AUD. Shipping took a couple of days longer than I expected and when I received the package it had customs tape all over it - ie. they had a good look before releasing it.

Important to remember that the $1000AUD limit includes shipping and any packaging fees, so factor this into your declared limit, as well as accounting for potential fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Good luck!
Click to expand...


Where did you get this info because to my knowledge that's not true. Whether or not the item is subject to extra charges is based purely on the value of the item itself and freight costs etc don't come into the equation.

I was told this by a customs official when I enquired about the $1000.00 AUD ceiling for imported goods for personal use via Australia Post.
 
Keith said:
Where did you get this info because to my knowledge that's not true. Whether or not the item is subject to extra charges is based purely on the value of the item itself and freight costs etc don't come into the equation.

I was told this by a customs official when I enquired about the $1000.00 AUD ceiling for imported goods for personal use via Australia Post.
Click to expand...

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5549.asp

Calculating duty and taxes
Example 1: Import of multiple low value packages of goods (for example, six packages each valued at $200)

AUD$
Customs value (6 x $200) (Cval) 1200.00
Customs duty (Duty) @ 5% of Cval 60.00 (Payable)
International transport and insurance or postage (T&I) 150.00
Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI) (Cval+Duty+T&I) 1410.00
Goods and Services Tax (GST) @ 10 per cent of the VoTI 141.00 (Payable)
Total payable Duty + GST 201.00
 
hunghang said:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5549.asp

Calculating duty and taxes
Example 1: Import of multiple low value packages of goods (for example, six packages each valued at $200)

AUD$
Customs value (6 x $200) (Cval) 1200.00
Customs duty (Duty) @ 5% of Cval 60.00 (Payable)
International transport and insurance or postage (T&I) 150.00
Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI) (Cval+Duty+T&I) 1410.00
Goods and Services Tax (GST) @ 10 per cent of the VoTI 141.00 (Payable)
Total payable Duty + GST 201.00
Click to expand...


There must be some very fuzzy logic going on with this sytem then because I've had items valued at just under $1000.00 come straight to me with no interest from customs at all inspite of the fact that the freight charges took it to well over that mark.

Remind me to never trust information given on the phone! 😀
 
I've purchased gear valued at over $1000 from outside of Australia before and have never been stung with taxes etc.

You could always try and find an M6 in Australia... I've bought two on eBay, still have one of them and it is a beauty.
 
Keith said:
There must be some very fuzzy logic going on with this sytem then because I've had items valued at just under $1000.00 come straight to me with no interest from customs at all inspite of the fact that the freight charges took it to well over that mark.

Remind me to never trust information given on the phone! 😀
Click to expand...

You were lucky, Keith. You can download the customs form "Nature 10" that shows clearly the freight, insurance, packing are all "Valuation Elements". This form is a bit tricky to complete if you haven't done it before.

If it was fairly close to $1000 you might have got them on a good day. They are not totally consistent. I received by post an expensive and heavy camera which was correctly labelled as over $2000 but it arrived in Oz on Boxing Day and presumably the staff at the customs were a bit tired that day.

However, I totally agree with above posts about UPS: they have an obligation to charge the max because they have undertaken to do the government's work. I prefer the postal system because you can be lucky and have the goods slip through unnoticed, and if you're not home, you can collect at the local post office.

Sometimes the description might help. A camera body without lens could conceivably be called "camera parts" which would not attract attention.
 
I've found that chrome M6's on Ebay Aus are pretty rare, and i'm not sure where else to look in order to get one within Australia 🙁
 
Yes, it's a pot luck thing. I bought a brand new M6ttl about 3 years ago and it went straight to the post office even though the declared value was Euro1400's. My understanding is if the item is over A$1000 GST is payable plus on the postage. On lenses I've bought over a grand, I've asked the seller to mark the value under $1000 and so far have never been slugged GST. But as I've said it just depends on luck.
 
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