Buying from Ali-Express

[RugbyRene]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if import duty & taxes are payable on purchases from Ali-Express?

Rene

[notoriousnick]

Aliexpress will add ten percent GST at the checkout on behalf of the Australian government, but that's about it.

[RugbyRene]

Any import duties?

[Nikolas]

No import duties on articles under $1000
However even some articles over this sometimes slip through customs and no import duties get put on.

[notoriousnick]

Even over a thousand dollars, telescope stuff generally doesn't attract import duties.


Ebay and Aliexpress charge GST on behalf of the Australian government. However, businesses overseas that don't have high volume sales to Australia are not required to charge GST for the Australian government. So if for example you were to buy a filter from say, Astronomik in Germany, no GST gets charged, nor will customs here hold the item and charge GST (or import duty).


If the item is worth $1000 or more, then Customs (Australian Border Force) will hold the item and charge you 10% GST. It's possible some $1000+ items slip through, but maybe best not to count on that.

[Nikolas]

I'd like to know id anyone recently ordered from Aliexpress how it went in regards to postage time getting here.

[sunslayr]

I had the first thing I ordered on 11-11 arrive today, I imagine it would take a lot longer If you were to order over christmas and new years.

[wasyoungonce]

And here is the catch.....like ebay shops adding 10%....it will not be forwarded to the Australian government. If anyone thinks a Chinese supplier is doing the accounting saving and forwarding the money.....then think again! Its a con. Sure companies like Amazon will forward it but mostly the little places....just pocket it. Its the Harvey Norman Tax


But despite that...I buy from Aliexpress no problems over last 3 years. Sometimes its slow though especially over new years and Chinese new years.

[mura_gadi]

Hello,

If the overseas company earns more than $75,000 AUD p/a, they are required to collect GST. The GST applies to cost of item and cost of postage from memory.

Custom imports taxes should not include the 5% tariff fee, as per listed as item/s 9005 (Chapter 90) of the tariff classifications.


Steve

GST
https://www.ato.gov.au/business/international-tax-for-business/gst-on-low-value-imported-goods/information-for-consumers/


Tarrifs
https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/tariff-classification/current-tariff/schedule-3/section-xviii/chapter-90#tele]

Ps. 9005-xx items are listed as "BINOCULARS, MONOCULARS, OTHER OPTICAL TELESCOPES, AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR; OTHER ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR, BUT NOT INCLUDING INSTRUMENTS FOR RADIO-ASTRONOMY:"