car parts in checked baggage....?

[shaun.paddy]

Heading to aussie shortly, plan on buying some bits for the safari. Will I still need to pay gst and customs duty if the parts are in my checked baggage? If I have them sent here im up for a couple of hundi $.

[DaveM]

Depends on value. I've brought back suspension parts for the Safari most trips and not paid any extra at customs, but there is a limit, so if you are over that and don't declare, you will get stung by the fees if caught (must produce receipts too)

[tallsam66]

Be careful with the weight ...might cost ya heaps if they too heavy.
If you buy them all at 1 place & have GST receipt & its over $300 (i think ) you can claim back the GST at the airport.

[shaun.paddy]

Hmmm, so im planning on picking up some suspension stuff 'flexi coils', 3" lift, worth 700 aus new, possibly some drop boxes. The mrs has an empty suitcase for the return trip too so can share the load/value possibly.

[trucked]

you can still be stung gst with new goods in your baggage, take it out of packaging and make it look used then its no longer new problem solved

[shaun.paddy]

Funny you should suggest that was wondering if that could be a go.... spose the next problem would be bringing in second hand (un used condition) parts. No doubt ther will be a catch.....?

[imsohi]

The import threshold is $400 NZD you will need to pay tax on anything over this unless you get it through unnoticed

[trucked]

you need to make them look second hand while having them clean, ie no dirt for bio security. call customs and ask them for a definitive answer

[callum007]

Customs told me 2 weeks ago limit is $380 as they boned me for duty on a $600 import.
I nearly got kicked out of the airport for trying to get steering arms and link rods onto a plane in my carry on. My checked was already too heavy so I carried them on.. Apparently the arms looked like weapons, and the solid 4340 cromoly steering rod could contain drugs.

[TJ]

Customs told me 2 weeks ago limit is $380 as they boned me for duty on a $600 import.
I nearly got kicked out of the airport for trying to get steering arms and link rods onto a plane in my carry on. My checked was already too heavy so I carried them on.. Apparently the arms looked like weapons, and the solid 4340 cromoly steering rod could contain drugs.

Most airlines have a 7kg limit (in economy class) for carry on baggage. Besides, solid items like this are very dangerous carry on items (imagine the damage if they are dislodged in an emergency or the carrying case is dropped from the compartment). Similar principle as lose items in the back of a 4x4 in a rollover, but at 100x the speed.

[Twodiffs]

Having brought back with me some gear late last year, I can tell you the cutoff point is upto $700 per person once you enter NZ. Invoices or receipts are usually required but we told customs when we declared the items that the invoices were pre paid and emailed. They said since it was wifey and I they combined our allowable limit ($1400.00).

We paid $75.00 gst on items 'valued' at $1500.00. Customs informed us that we did the right thing by bringing the goods in with us. If we had had them sent over unaccompanied then we would have been liable for gst and FULL duty.

Be honest, polite and helpful and it will get you a long way with customs.
Plus I knew the stuff I was bringing back was about 38kg plus suitcase etc...so I bought a concession for extra weight, cost naf all.

[eins]

Good luck with customs etc. Let us know what you think of the flexi coils as have looked at them myself and would be keen to know how they ride.

[shaun.paddy]

Thanks for the tips n advice.... prob wont try n smuggle them on in carry on... checked baggage it is, even with the gst liable its still a cheaper option than having them sent and paying customs duty too.

They should be a good thing, let you know how they go once I suss shocks to suit.

[coxsy]

got a front arb locker through in checked baggage , no extra fee's