Customs

[Pedro]

I think you have been done over Trout. Can you appeal the GST charge?

Pedro

[JeffH]

If an Australian entity exports products or services then GST does not apply. Conversely any overseas provided service or product attracts GST when it arrives in Australia. However, if the value of the transaction is less than $1,000 then GST is not levied -the Government is considering substantially reducing this exemption level.
So, from that perspective, best to keep submission cost to under $1000.

Fair? Probably not but that's how it is.

I recently purchased a newspaper at Sydney airport departure area, after passing customs. Cover price $2.50; less GST $2.27 and rounded down at the register to $2.50. Post customs is considered to be exported.

Logical? Well sort off but perfectly, if you are a bureaucrat.

[Nevol]

I just paid my bill from Customs $199.80, they charged me $150.95 GST

So what service did Customs provide that was $1509.50?  Looks like a rip-off to me.

Get in touch with the Ombudsman, if you haven't already. Barry might also be able to assist with some info.

[JeffH]

Nancy, I don't think Jim made it clear. The GST was levied by customs on the PCGS transaction as I understand it.

[humpybong]

Nancy, I don't think Jim made it clear. The GST was levied by customs on the PCGS transaction as I understand it.

GST (Goods ans Sevivices Tax) is levied on ALL imported items and services where the valueexceeds A$1000.  If it is your own property exported and re=imported, the GST not applicable to the value of theose goos BUT if there is an added service then GST applicable to the added value.

As I have said before ensure any imports are valued less that $1000 and you will not have any problems.

I am a retired Customs Broker (Agent) so if you need more information, email or PM me.

[trout]

I have a package from NGC that has been stuck in Melbourne since 15th and it is starting to look like another Customs problem.
It is only a 18 coin submission and the grading fees were only $300-$400 so I cant see why it is being held?
I am hoping it is just a scanning issue But it is starting to look suspiciously like the coins are stuck at customs AGAIN :dash1:

[trout]

All is good it was just a case of the package not being scanned on it's journey.
I have the coins now "in hand" :yahoo:

[Fulvio]

I have yet another submission from PCGS held by Customs in Melbourne.

Did you see the news tonight?

Thanks to the staffing cuts and the fact mail centres are no longer 24/7, thieves have all night to make off with truckloads of parcels. The videos show them calmly making themselves at home, moving pallets of random goodies onto trucks and absconding when they're full. If I heard right, Clayton South was robbed four times recently. :shok:

[trout]

That is quite worrying, Maybe they could at least employ someone to be there when they are not working to keep an eye on the joint :good:

[Fulvio]

That is quite worrying, Maybe they could at least employ someone to be there when they are not working to keep an eye on the joint :good:

I'd rather they employ someone to, you know, work? Like they used to.

[autocoupler]

Seriously running a country is like running a household, if you have so much to spend you don't spend more than you have and if you are, you reduce your excess spending first rather than lag the economy with increased taxes.

:agreed: IMHO, all Governments state and Federal are broke for this very reason, and they're tearing their hair out dreaming up ways to raise revenue without spooking the natives. It all gets back to what OMF said, if you ain't got it, don't spend it. The problem is there are too many politicians who allow their often misplaced agenda's and ideologies to get in the way, and end up wasting billions not to mention the opportunities.

It's not just Governments either, big business, trade unions and a desire by a minority of ordinary and able Aussies to basically dodge it, is who must share the blame for the spiral this country is currently entering. We've actually been hovering at the edge of the whirl pool since the seventies, and have slowly become a nation of service providers who don't really produce anything too much of worth that the rest of the world wants apart from minerals, agricultural products and some education. At the same time we've become addicted to cheap imports and through greed and incompetence have just about lost our secondary industry.  

Panic abounds whenever unfavorable news arrives from the stock markets, all because we've put our eggs in the one basket. God help us if anyone ever comes up with free energy, but even if a new technology like that did come from within this country we'd be too stupid to develope it ourselves, just look at the opposition renewables are attracting. You only have to look at the array of ideas that go off shore, and the public assets sold to foreign interests over the years, yes we're broke and the dumb clowns we put in place to look after the farm have their heads up their proverbial.

We just sell houses to each other and hope the stock market is doing well enough to give the superannuation a boost, and this is exactly what governments of all persuasions are after. They would love nothing better than to have a significant section of the community, made up of the many who have been successful, those who have a good job as well as the very happy self funded grey army who are all  doing quite well thanks very much. And why would that be hmmm, because that's who in ALL our governments eyes will vote the bastards back in.

Then these scheming mongrels and movers will be able to happily continue on with their main agenda of filling the country with millions of unskilled migrants whom they hope will provide a nice substantial labour pool for the future. Ít's never been about humanitarianism, it's all about selling toilet rolls and motor cars to the masses. The problem with bringing in so many unskilled migrants is that they live on centre link payments for five years or longer before they or their offspring are starting to think about being productive and able to enter the work force where they will be used to work for less, and generally make life tougher for those who are already under pressure, including pensioners. So where do we find the money for that , oh that's right, bung on a mining tax whoops, increase taxes etc etc.

If all else fails just dream up some fancy scheme that allows low paid so called skilled workers with an equally fancifully named work visa to fly in from all far flung third world corners of the earth to get our wheels of industry turning.

And just when all appears lost after further decades of incompetence, and we're about to complete our spiral to oblivion, guess what, our fearless leaders will do what they've always wanted but never had the guts, they'll finally pluck up the courage to dip their grubby hands into the superannuation billions and that should just about complete the debacle.

Rant over, sorry about that, think I'll go and have a lie down :diablo::blush:

Originally slightly off topic, just thought I would bump this discussion considering how our nation / world is facing ever more issues and turmoil. Also, it's taken nearly another seven years, but the grubby hand of government is clutching closer to the superannuation honey pot.

[gweidion]

Unfortunately, and I think it is probably because schooling is lacking, most people from about half way through Generation X onward (and yes I know I'm generalizing) didn't get taught that you can't have everything you want all at once.