[Genie]

OK, I'm confused now and the Pickfords representative is starting to get under my skin as he is changing his story.

Please can someone clarify for me the situation around paying gst on shipped home contents. My understanding (from Pickfords) was if we stored our home contents in the UK, ready to be shipped once we had obtained PR or WP, then because we had the 'right' visas we wouldn't pay gst.

Now he is saying that isn't the case. That we need to store our home contents in NZ to avoid paying gst. :wah

Has anyone else found a way around this yet, as I'm reaching a slow meltdown point here!!:roll

Jeannie

[peebles16]

My understanding is that GST is based on what visa you had when you entered the country.. So if you come on a tourist visa and ship your goods even if you then get WP or PR you still have to pay GST.. Apparently this has always been the case but is now being enforced fully by customs :(
There has been a few threads about this recently so maybe a wee search would throw something up :yes

Karenx

[Georgebulldog]

Sorry I don't have time to trawl their website but maybe you might find some info here
http://www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Arriving+in+New+Zealand/Customs+Charges.htm
I thought this is where I read something about GST on our belongings
Good luck

[lockstock]

Tell him he's talking rot (for want of a better word). If you've got PR there's no GST to pay. Tell him we know who is is and we know where he lives:D

[mike&stef]

Our understanding is that since November 07 it goes on the visa you first entered the country with ;

if you enter on a visitors visa then you pay varying amounts of import duty on the declared value (less a %age for depreciation) then they stick you with 12.5% GST on [this value +cost of shipping+ cost of insurance],

Seems the only way of avoiding this if you get a job offer is to leave NZ, return home and get your blue stickers there, then reenter NZ and ship your goods!!

We've been told by PSS removals that we have to work out a value for everything we ship, lol should be fun down to the last teaspoon!

If anyone knows better or has had recent experience of how to calculate the used value of their goods then I would love to hear it from the horses mouth so to speak.

Regards Mike

[kanatakiwi]

Tell him he's talking rot (for want of a better word). If you've got PR there's no GST to pay. Tell him we know who is is and we know where he lives:D

sorry lockstock, the rules HAVE changed. You now are charged according to what visa you had when you first entered the country. (very bad for anyone thinking of coming on a visitors permit and then getting a job, a WP and shipping stuff over. I think the confusion is because the change in policy or attitude or whatever is recent, but you can no longer get around this one anymore.
G

[lockstock]

sorry lockstock, the rules HAVE changed. You now are charged according to what visa you had when you first entered the country. G

Yes, I know, but this guy is trying to tell them where to keep stuff in storage which is clouding the issue.

[Genie]

:laugh I like your style Lockstock! I wonder if I could go to Australia and get blue stickers there to get around having to travel all the way back to UK?

[Destiny]

We are also finding it very hard to find out information about this issue. We plan to move in 6 weeks' time and really would appreciate any advice we can get.

Our removal company seem to think that we will only have to pay GST on items which we have bought in the last 12 months. As we are entering NZ on 2 year student visas we will definitely have to pay GST but are still unsure about how this amount is calculated. If our removal company are correct about the 12 month rule then we should be ok as we have nothing new to declare.

New Zealand house in London gave me a number to call in Brussels for New Zealand customs department. I tried this number but they are on a holiday at the moment and I will be able to s[peak to someone on Monday next week. If I manage to get anymore inforamtion from them then I will let you know.

Many thanks

Destiny

[IanW99]

We are also finding it very hard to find out information about this issue. We plan to move in 6 weeks' time and really would appreciate any advice we can get.

Our removal company seem to think that we will only have to pay GST on items which we have bought in the last 12 months. As we are entering NZ on 2 year student visas we will definitely have to pay GST but are still unsure about how this amount is calculated. If our removal company are correct about the 12 month rule then we should be ok as we have nothing new to declare.

New Zealand house in London gave me a number to call in Brussels for New Zealand customs department. I tried this number but they are on a holiday at the moment and I will be able to s[peak to someone on Monday next week. If I manage to get anymore inforamtion from them then I will let you know.

Many thanks

Destiny

If you haven't already, then you should check out this link:- When customs charges are payable (http://www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Household+Effects/When+Customs+Charges+are+Payable.htm)

There is nothing there that says that you will be fine if the goods are over 12 months old and you will certainly have to pay something as you are not eligible for duty free entry.

Ian

[mike&stef]

We received this from Harry Perkins at the NZ customs:
The Client Service would work off the purchase price of the goods if you have this less depreciation for ownership and usage usually

0-3 months 10%.

3 -6 months 20%.

6-12 months 33.3%.

12-21 momths 50%.

If not this the second hand value

Then tax usually for household goods 7% on the value.

An gst on the purchase price + the insurance and freight to get the items to New Zealand converted to New Zealand dollars + duty x 12.5%.

However it seems that different people are having different experiences re: James the mechanic and FloJo, as Ian will confirm!!:D

I hope it isn't going to be down to which customs officer you get on the day to work it out and how they're feeling!!

Regards Mike