[lockstock]

I just spent half an hour writing out the story in full and then lost it.

So a potted version because I'm fed up.

I phoned Auckland customs today and spoke to a very nice man who said he could see why I thought having to pay GST on our container stuff (even though we had applied for PR but it wasn't through yet) was unfair but there are no mitigating circumstances. Tough basically. And even if the PR visa came through today it wouldn't matter because it is based on the visa you come in on - and in our case that's the visitor visa.


So our calculated risk to get here in time to start the new school year will cost us GST. But, apparently, it doesn't have to be a massive bill. I'll let you know when it happens on Friday.

[victoria]

Sorry but could you clarify something please? Is your stuff in storage? If it is then I would seriously dispute what the friendly helpful person at customs told you about the visa. We came in on visitor visas & had to have our stuff stored until OH got his WP. Once that was in place, our stuff was released ... end of matter. In fact, the shippers arranged customs clearance for us after I telephoned them to say we had a WP. We had to go in to show the shippers the visa & then signed the forms for release. By the way, I did speak to someone at Auckland customs first regarding this & got a different response from you. The custom clearance was done by Wellington though. Hope this helps you.

[lockstock]

Thanks for the information there. Obviously we have a left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. I did press the Auckland guy on that aspect and he insisted he was right. I hope I haven't given wrong information here - I have a sneaky feeling the legislation is so new they don't know the facts themselves.

We've arranged to have it kept unopened until the last possible moment anyway. I'm so fed up with the whole situation now. Trouble is, as with everything involved in the immigration process - you can't get as assertive as you would like (ie throw all your toys out of the pram at once) for obvious reasons.

And the exchange rate gets worse and worse.

[Björnsdotter]

I came here as a tourist and extended 3 months and 3 months again, my container came and I had to pay a fee on value. I did then apply for a work visa while getting up to getting married, when married I got my residency.
I do now not remember if I got my fee back when I got my work visa or when I got my residency.
(there was a time frame from when container arrived and until workvisa/residency (?) was approved, used to be a year and was suddenly shortened down to 6 months(?) if no visa/residency before this time then I could kiss the fee bye-bye) I did get my papers ready and got the fee back. I was told that if I did leave the country before this time frame they would also pay this money back.
(I arrived 6-7 years ago so things can have changed many times)

[victoria]

Following on from the above, If you pay a bond (sometimes requested but not always) you will get that back but not any gst paid. The latter can work out very pricey! We arrived May 2007 & as I've said previously, didn't have to pay anything as we'd changed to a WP. Now of course if the legislation has changed, that is a new one on me. Lockstock, have you spoken to your shippers about this? They are normally up on the latest rules & regs. I'm also hoping for you that there is a forumite that can bump in with an update if there has been a change.In the meantime, hang in there & hopefully together we'll get a resolve for you.

[lockstock]

Yes we are in contact with the shippers. There is no more bond system. It's GST without the correct visa, like it or not.

[mike&stef]

Really feel for you Lockstock.
How frustrating and inflexible the system seems!:mad:

We've just emailed customs 2x regarding GST and received 2 different answers.

1. Liability for GST is determined by the visa/permit when the goods are cleared.

2. The concession [not paying GST] is based on the permit you have in your passport at the time of your arrival not what subsequent permit you may have when the goods arrive. So you will need to have one of the following permits stamped in your passport at the time of your first arrival to New Zealand

(1) A current visa or work permit that was issued for a minimum of 12 months

(2) Permanent Residence Permit

(3) A current work visa or work permit, issued under the Long Term Business Visa Policy of the New Zealand Immigration Service that was issued for minimum of 9 months.

The second email was rather curt and in response to us seeking confirmation that the first email was correct.:(

Talk about Left hand/right hand!

Looking at the customs website answer 2 seems likely.

As we hope to be sneaking in on a deferred decision on PR giving us a 9 month window to find work before PR could be approved, then we will be liable for this too.

Has anyone actually paid GST on their entire contents?
How do they work out "new value" ? [insurance value?]
What allowance will they make for "wear and tear" ? (ours has seen better days but can't afford to replace it!)
Sounds like it could run into thousands?
Any further info. would be much appreciated.

Regards Mike

[lockstock]

Tuesday...still no news.

[gpbenton]

And even if the PR visa came through today it wouldn't matter because it is based on the visa you come in on - and in our case that's the visitor visa.


I don't know the amounts involved, but would it be worth taking a quick trip and re-entering the country on a new visa?

[lockstock]

We've thought of that but there's no-one here to look after the dogs and what would happen if they didn't let us back in. There comes a point where you have to sit back and chalk it up to experience - and hope you can alert others to the problem.

I still feel a tad peeved that the goal posts were changed whilst the container was in storage and also that we sent it off before we found out the changes had been made. (Part of me keeps wondering why White's Shipping company didn't warn us) After all, we could have held it up for...hang on, how long for? We still don't officially have the visas.:roll

[IanW99]

We've thought of that but there's no-one here to look after the dogs and what would happen if they didn't let us back in. There comes a point where you have to sit back and chalk it up to experience - and hope you can alert others to the problem.

I still feel a tad peeved that the goal posts were changed whilst the container was in storage and also that we sent it off before we found out the changes had been made. (Part of me keeps wondering why White's Shipping company didn't warn us) After all, we could have held it up for...hang on, how long for? We still don't officially have the visas.:roll

I'm sure that you have already checked, but when there is a legislation change they normally provide transitional rules for those that are already in the process. Of course, you are likely to have also missed the transitional period but it's always worth a look to see what the legislation actually says about this and how it affects you.

I'm sure that the legislation will be online somewhere, but the question of the day would be which legislation was passed or amended? If you don't know then maybe you could ask your shipper or customs the next time that you talk to them?

Ian

[lockstock]

We have asked that and he (the Auckland guy) admitted there had been no 'run-in time' for the legislation. Still waiting to hear from the shipping agent. Still sitting on camp chairs.