So you want a level playing field Mr. Harvey?

[Rod Speed]

fritz wrote

Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
fritz wrote
Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
fritz wrote
Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
Tom wrote
Don McKenzie wrote

You can sell to the European Union and save them 20% VAT.
You can sell to New Zealand and save them 15% GST.

Don't know about NZ but most EU countries will charge the
receiver with VAT/duties.

No they dont.

Yes they do.
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm

No they dont in the sense of charging that on all transactions,
regardless of how low value they are.

They dont for example charge that in stuff you bring in with you on
a plane flight etc.

They have exemptions, just like we do.

I thought the thread topic was buying on the internet, not
passenger allowances.

Passenger allowances are completely different from the import regulations.

Nope, just another example of what doesnt get charge the GST or equivalent.

You are hardly going to fly overseas just to buy something duty-free though,

But plenty do take the opportunity when on a trip to buy stuff more cheaply
than they can get it at home.

so it isn't relevant.

Wrong.

And you just ignored my point that even with internet transactions, EVERYONE has exemption levels, its just the level
that varys between countrys.

NO ONE charges GST or its equivalent on all stuff received from outside the country.

I used the Rigol DSO as a relevant example.

No it is not, because you pay GST on something like that when you import that into this country.

AFAIK all electronic goods attract the 19% VAT.

Thats just plain wrong with the cheapest stuff.

(I am in Germany, and am referring to importing from non-EU countries like USA, China etc.)

For example, to buy a Rigol LCD-based DSO from China or the USA,
you have to pay VAT but no duty. To import a real CRO (with a
CRT), you have to pay VAT plus 4% duty.

Not on every transaction.

You will have to pay 19% VAT on any oscilloscope imported into the EU. The extra 4% duty is just for CRT CRO's.

Pity about other cheaper stuff that comes in VAT free.

Like nappies or food, maybe ? They are untaxed.

So are the cheaper electronics items too.

AFAIK all electronic imports from non-EU countries attract the full VAT,

Nope, it doesnt apply to the cheapest stuff.

and that is what most people here would be interested in importing.

Wrong.

In Germany the VAT is 19%.

I've sent a few presents there, kids toys and clothes went ok but a $100 laptop style DVD player attracted VAT
and duty before the
parcel was delivered. On other hand $50 RC helicopter was free
from government greed.

So clearly most dont incur VAT and duty.

Only if they are below about 50 Euro in declared value.

Same with us. The only thing that varys is the value below which
they dont bother.

And it isnt universally 50 euro either.

No, that's a ballpark figure. The exemptions kick in when the duty payable would be less than a certain amount,
which varies according to the goods.

And we used to have that system ourselves, and then got a clue
and have the more easily administered system we now have instead.

I can tell you with absolute certainty that you will pay 19% VAT on
an item like a Rigol DSO, which comes from outside the EU because I
have asked Customs that exact question, based on a value of USD400.

And plenty of other stuff doesnt see you pay any VAT when its imported.

Like nappies ?

Nope, the cheaper stuff.

Electronic stuff does attract VAT if it exceeds the minimum value.

Does here too.

AND you pay GST if you import that Rigol DSO into australia, ANYWAY.

Because it costs more than the minimum set for exemption. Same as here.

So that example isnt relevant, we pay GST when we import that, like I said.

One exemption is if you are a salesman and you are importing
samples - special allowances apply. But if you try that as a scam
and they find out you could get a 50k fine.

We have the same thing.

http://www.zoll.de/english_version/faq/b0_customs_procedures/index.html#customs_procedures15
http://www.zoll.de/english_version/faq/a0_passenger_traffic/b0_non_ec_countries/index.html#non_ec_countries1

And that says that lower value items dont get charged VAT, just like we dont.

Exactly, if you buy a DSO or something that costs a few hundred, you pay VAT.

And we pay GST when we import one of those too.

If you buy a few LEDs etc. you don't pay any VAT.

So there is no fundamental difference at all, just a different minimum value, like I said.

And in the case of germany, different rules apply to imports from EU countrys too.