Beware..
As I was talking to my boss about travelling and buying goods overseas, he brought up the issue of buying things in the USA and bringing them back here, and tax on those items. I was a little confused as to why he would tell me about that, after all, why would there be a problem with the amount of items I buy over in the USA and bring back to Australia?
Apparently there is a problem (if you're planning to do a bit of shopping overseas!). If you go to the Australia Duty Free website, they have what is called an allowance on how much residents can bring back to our country.
Check this out: http://www.firstdutyfree.com.au/105-allowances-on-return-to-australia
What they're saying is (for those who can't be bothered clicking the link):
======Travellers entering Australia (whether return home or visiting from overseas) are entitled to the following limits:
ALCOHOL: Inbound allowance for adult travellers 18 years or over
Each adult is permitted to enter Australia with 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages (liquor, wine and champagne).
+
TOBACCO PRODUCTS : Inbound allowance for adult travellers 18 years or over
Each adult is permitted to enter Australia with 250 cigarettes, or 250 grams of cigars or tobacco products.
+
GENERAL GOODS: Inbound allowance for all travellers.
Each person is permitted to enter Australia with: A$900 (for adult travellers 18 years or over), or A$450 (for travellers under 18 years and aircrew) worth of goods (including gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, jewellery, watches and perfume concentrate, sporting goods, but excluding alcohol and cigarettes)
obtained overseas or purchased in Australia on a duty/tax free basis. ======
How interesting...and quite a shock for me! I'm planning on buying a camera when I get there, and possibly an iPad, as well as clothes/beauty shopping. And just the camera would be over that amount! The amount we are taxed, I've been told, is about 10%, which adds up if you're planning to buy technology, and perfume. ($2500 worth of goods = $250 tax)
Luckily, there are a few sneaky ways around this...
- When going through customs, hopefully they wont ask about the camera I'll have tucked neatly around my waist, and where I got it from. They generally just assume you already had one when you left for your holiday.
- Also, they're more likely to take notice of multiple items that are the same, so if when you are buying gifts for family and friends, try to buy different things for each person.
- I'm still exploring this possibility, but posting certain items over may be cheaper than tax, you'll have to figure that out for yourself, like I am.
Anyways, I thought this might be a useful piece of information for anyone looking to travel soon!
-A.
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