Sending Cigarettes to Australia From Japan

pat0809 on 04/03/2017 - 00:25

Sorry if this is in the wrong section of the forums but I wasn't quite sure where to post it.

I'm living in Japan and a friend wants me to send some cigarettes to her in Melbourne. I am not quite sure what the laws are regarding this and I have read a lot of different contradicting information. Does anyone know what the deal is with sending smokes to Australia? How many can I send? Does the receiver need to pay GST on them? etc. Or if you could even point me in the right direction that would be great.

Thanks.

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 00:34
    +1

    "beverages, tobacco and tobacco products
    If you import alcoholic beverages, tobacco or tobacco products by mail with a value equal to or less than AUD1000 we will send you an invoice advising the duty and taxes payable. You need to pay this invoice before your goods will be delivered to you. If the goods have a value of more than AUD1000 you must lodge an Import Declaration"

    • altomic on 04/03/2017 - 00:36

      how do they determine the value? from the receipt/invoice? declared value? equivalent value in Auslandia? curious to that.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 00:49

        I presume the sniffer dogs, scales and x-rays are used to cross check the declaration. Looks like the tobacco excise is about 61 cents per cigarette. I don't smoke, but wow. Add GST and shipping….tell the friend to quit and shop bargains on the internet instead :p

        • altomic on 04/03/2017 - 01:16

          not so much inferring a "smuggling" scenerio. more of "If the goods have a value of more than AUD1000" - how do they determine the value of AUD1000? what is AUD1000 of cigarettes?

        • holdenmg on 04/03/2017 - 07:55

          I knew the sniffer dogs were smart, but getting them to weigh stuff, e-ray it and check declarations is incredible… lol

        • pat0809 on 04/03/2017 - 10:54

          My friend wants a particular brand of smokes that aren't available in Australia lol

        • MeesusEff on 04/03/2017 - 16:42

          @pat0809: Mevius?

  • 2jzzzz on 04/03/2017 - 10:02
    +1

    You have don't have any sort of concession on cigarettes when you import them. If you come through the airport you are allowed 50, but zero in the cargo area. The duty and taxes are around $130 per 200 cigarettes (carton).

  • pat0809 on 04/03/2017 - 10:55

    Thanks for all of the help guys

  • Cluster on 04/03/2017 - 11:40
    +2

    Somewhat related to the topic, you're actually allowed 75 duty free cigarettes instead of just 50.

    http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Brin/Can-I-bring-it-back/…

    Just make sure the third box is open and contains 25 or less. Tick the box saying you have more than 50 cigarettes. The Customs agent will ask you about them and then leave you alone when you say the last one is opened.

    • bobbified on 04/03/2017 - 17:30

      Didn't know this - but now I do! Thanks!

  • Daabido on 04/03/2017 - 13:33
    -3

    I hope she is paying you for the privilege of finding the time to go to Japan Post, fill in all the appropriate forms, buy the small packet envelope and send them off? Yes, cigarettes are inexpensive in Japan, but make sure this doesn't become a habit on her behalf (too late probably).

    As for taxes, two packets will probably not get taxed. Probably but not necessarily. The cost of recovery is too high versus the amount raised.

    • bobbified on 04/03/2017 - 17:33
      +1

      I hope she is paying you for the privilege of finding the time to go to Japan Post, fill in all the appropriate forms, buy the small packet envelope and send them off?

      Umm.. when your friends ask you to help them out with something, do you try to charge your friends for your time? (if you have any friends, that is…)

      • Daabido on 05/03/2017 - 07:00

        If it was a one off deal, then of course not, but if it became a habit, then it would quickly become annoying. Given the working hours of most Japanese people, getting to the post office is not always an easy thing and would intrude into what little weekend time they have. It happened to my son when he moved to Japan. "Friends" he hadn't heard from in years would get in contact wanting him to send this or that. Meanwhile he was trying to establish himself in a new country. My point was somewhat inelegant, but still stands. True friends (and you never really find out who your true friends are until a crisis hits, when you will be left with two or three) wouldn't expect you to become a defacto buying service for them. I'm not saying this is the case here, but at some point you would have to draw the line.

        • pat0809 on 05/03/2017 - 16:12

          I appreciate the concern but it's definitely not the case here. Actually, my friends and family don't usually ask me to send them anything from Japan, and if a friend I hadn't heard from in years asked me to do it I would just say no lol

  • bobbified on 05/03/2017 - 12:08
    +1

    "Friends" he hadn't heard from in years

    I was a little "wtf?" when I read originally read your post but I see what you're referring to now.
    I wouldn't exactly call the people you're referring to "friends".

    For those people, if they're not worth the effort, t'd be much easier to just say "no" than to try work out a way to charge.

    True friends (and you never really find out who your true friends are until a crisis hits…

    This, I totally agree with. It's your ability to assess (I didn't want to use the word "judge") people that makes all the difference here.

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