I bought 30 x 2016 Pandas for over $1000Aud imported from overseas. Now FedEx want me to pay GST... I thought silver coins with a denomination were considered currency and therefore no gst was payable. Can somebody please explain. Thank you.
You'll be okay, just need to fill out a form and get a private ruling. Check this link for advice http://forums.silverstackers.com/to...ly-for-a-private-gst-ruling-from-the-ato.html
Customs should have seen heaps of things like this come through and already know that no GST is applicable. I have heard warnings about using FedEx and tacked on charges when this occurs.
The problem is you bought something over AUD$1000 including postage. That means that every courier company like Fedex, DHL, UPS etc is legally bound to hold it and inspect the paperwork and collect any GST or duty etc. Doesn't mean they can collect GST though, they shouldn't in this case, but once it's flagged you are at the mercy of whoever human is checking it. Under $1k and it would have sailed right though.
You can pay the GST and get your coins or fight them over the GST exemption but your coins could get held up for many years with them in the process. Customs are hit and miss and they make up there own rules, they may let them through if you tell them they are a GST exempt item or they may tell you that doesn't apply to personal individual imports and ask you for your ABN to prove you have a business established that is claiming the exemption.
Whatever happened to privacy with mail deliveries? If I tamper with mail it's a criminal matter, and I may end up in jail. Somehow if the government does it, its OK.
If invoice indicates value of items 1000 or more, you are by law need to pay duties not GST. If invoice is for $A1100 i.e. or equivalent foreign currency you will have to pay duty on them. If you have them send you privately you could have avoid it.
That's why we don't (at least) I don't trust any government. Laws written and changed accordingly for the elite. The rest of the population assured they have been looked after
I've had a spurious 'customs and inspection bill' delivered along with some low-value souvenirs shipped with Fed-Ex while on holiday. The total value was only a few hundred dollars. The whole thing smelt like a scam and since I already had the goods I completely ignored it and never heard anything more about it. Seems like this may be a common type of stupidity tax levied by dodgy operators 'just in case.'
They call them all sort of thing Gst, levy, duty, tax, surcharge , and so on Plus plus where ever possible they can.
The implication was it was a legitimate govt charge but since it wasn't on govt letterhead I felt safe ignoring it. That and the knowledge there was lo lawful basis for any fees of charges..
