Confused about Import Duties Regarding an Imported Laptop

LBenR31415 on 24/02/2018 - 17:48
Last edited 24/02/2018 - 18:23 by 1 other user

Hello,

I'm looking at purchasing a laptop for uni and the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro looks like a good option. The cheapest one when on sale at lightinthebox.com just meets the tax free threshold.
However, I really need 16GB of ram, and that model when on sale is around $1300, which obviously breaks the threshold.

I'm a bit confused about charges. I am evaluating the purchase based on pricing, and obviously taxes are going to make that significantly more expensive. The issue is that I can't find out how much extra customs and import duties I will have to pay on top of it.

A search only gave me this which I don't particularly trust considering it's not a government website or anything, and I can't find a straight answer as a percentage or a price calculator on this website

The $130 GST makes sense, but how much are import duties? Who do I pay them to? Do grey import ebay sellers pretending to be based out of Australia apply? Will customs hold my package and wait for a payment, or will it get delivered with an extra bill? Do I pay at the time of the purchase to the retailer? I can't find any of this from my research, looking at government websites, lightinthebox or gearbest, forums or anything like that.

I'm just considering buying something like an Asus UX430UN on a 20% off ebay sale as it's like $1600 for a similar specced one (got a bigger SSD), although I'm not super keen because the battery isn't as big and my biggest complaints (not touchscreen, only 1080p) are present on the asus as well, not to mention a worse keyboard and trackpad.

Is there an easy way for me to calculate this, and would anyone be able to offer some advice about the laptops?

Computing

Comments

  • ascorbic on 24/02/2018 - 18:11
    -4

    Member Since
    55 min ago
    Statistics
    1 posts / 0 comments

    Thanks for your contribution to OzB.

    • JimmyF on 24/02/2018 - 18:11

      and?

      • ascorbic on 24/02/2018 - 18:14

        Would be nice if they commented on other forum topics/deals as well instead of just posting their own.

        • JimmyF on 24/02/2018 - 18:16
          +7

          again… and?

          You didn't have to reply, so what, they are new here. It's a valid question, not sockpuppeting or selling something. Everyone has to start somewhere!

        • Baysew on 24/02/2018 - 18:31
          +1

          @JimmyF: Like this person did.

          Find Me A Bargain

          ascorbic on 28/06/2015 - 14:11

          Weatherproof and durable messenger bag <$100

        • JimmyF on 24/02/2018 - 18:33

          @Baysew: haha yeah that looks like a sockpuppet post indeed!

        • ascorbic on 24/02/2018 - 19:00

          Edit: reply to wrong comment

        • ascorbic on 24/02/2018 - 19:01
          +4

          @Baysew: Well I'm an idiot - pot calling the kettle black. Been on OzB for 2.5 years and completely forgot that I posted that before contributing anything.

        • mskeggs on 24/02/2018 - 19:46
          +4

          @ascorbic:
          Haha, but good on you for copping it in good humour!

  • JimmyF on 24/02/2018 - 18:11
    +1

    The $130 GST makes sense, but how much are import duties? Who do I pay them to?

    if your item is flagged for import duties etc, you'll receive a bill instead of the item to pay before the item is released. You pay the shipping company who pays the gov etc.

    Its normally the GST + import duties if applied (some items have an extra tax on them) + handling fee.

    Notebooks are normally just GST + handling fee that can vary from $30-60 dollars.

    That said, you can be lucky and it'll go straight through. But don't always count on it. In your case, factor in for $150-200 extra if flagged.

  • ascorbic on 24/02/2018 - 19:37

    The calculator in the first link is correct. GST is calculated based on the price you paid + duty + shipping & insurance so it'll be more than $130 assuming the laptop costs $1300.

    First, duty (usually 5%, varies by type of good) is calculated on the Customs Value (price you paid for the item). Add the cost of shipping and insurance to get the Value of Taxable Import (VoTI). This amount + GST + customs fee is what you'll end up paying to clear the package into Australia.

    Also, note a reviewer's experience with Xiaomi's customer service and be prepared to take the risk if anything goes wrong with the laptop.

  • mskeggs on 24/02/2018 - 19:49

    Would it not be cheaper to buy the one that is tax free, and upgrade the memory once it arrives?

    • JimmyF on 24/02/2018 - 20:20

      more and more of these units have soldered RAM, so not really an option these days.

  • JadaJ on 24/02/2018 - 20:23

    Not sure whether you can view the (email only) link for Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro i7 8GB 256GB for AUD 999.99, which is not subjected to taxing.

    If you insisted on the 16GB variant, then get from this link, which is about AUD 1145.

    • MT2010 on 24/02/2018 - 21:25

      Mate, that is USD not AUD.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2018 - 23:49
    +2

    not sure sorry

  • dasher86 on 26/02/2018 - 09:03

    don't forget to take into account Forex movement from the time you order it to the time it is declared…

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join