Import Duties on Personal Watches

Tiredman on 19/12/2021 - 21:28
Last edited 20/12/2021 - 10:12

Hi guys,

I want to get some of my watches sent over from Singapore/Malaysia but unsure if they will incur any duties on such personal items that i have owned for a long time. I would love to go there and wear it back but don't want to risk bringing my young kids onto the plane at this moment.

Not overly fancy watches, just a couple of grand each. What's the best way to bring them over? Assume i need to declare a value or something? Thanks for the help.

P.S. Just called up Home Affairs. No tax on them. Just need to include some form of evidence i have owned them for a long time if i'm getting them shipped over. Either an old invoice, some service history etc… Just to show it has been owned for a considerable amount of time. Quite a hassle to gather these items up so i might just wait till the next time i go back to bring them over.

General Discussion GST Watch

closed Comments

  • Hybroid on 19/12/2021 - 21:40

    There shouldn't be any import GST on personal items you have owned for over 12 months. Receipts will help.

    ​​​GST Exemptions (Non Taxable Importations)
    ITEM 15 – Goods that are Personal effects

    https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing…

    Send them via tracked international courier with appropriate insurance in place.

    • Tiredman on 19/12/2021 - 21:44
      +2

      Thanks mate. Reciept.. that could be hard. lol some are more than 20 years old. Hmm.. thanks for the link, i will have a look through.

  • Abang Tukang Bakso on 19/12/2021 - 23:50

    "I would love to go there and wear it back but don't want to risk bringing my young kids onto the plane at this moment", you do realize the import duty wont cost as much as a ticket return for a family right? i see these questions come up very often, usually people trying to find a loophole on the system.. if you dont mind paying for a family ticket including quarantine, why dont you just pay the duties

    • pharkurnell on 20/12/2021 - 08:37
      -1

      yea, that sentence blew my mind too

    • Tiredman on 20/12/2021 - 09:17
      +1

      This is very odd take. Some of these watches are close to 20 years old. Most not even bought by me. I'm not sure what sort of duties am i liable for? What sort of loopholes are you talking about? We used to go back twice a year now we have 2 kids under 5 unvaccinated and it's a long flight home and if the border decides to shut again, we will be in trouble.

      If there are import duties on old used items, i will just bring it back next time i visit the family (wear them back). If the Aus gov wants to charge me at the airport, so be it.

  • Adredocto on 20/12/2021 - 06:52

    Not fancy, just a couple grand each…

    We live in very different worlds 😆.
    I get that's not much when looking at luxury watches tho.

    • rektrading on 20/12/2021 - 07:52
      +1

      A couple of grand is on the low low end of timepieces.

      They're probably not even worth that much when they're referred to as watches.

      • SBOB on 20/12/2021 - 08:49
        +1

        They're probably not even worth that much when they're referred to as watches.

        Might want to let a few of those cheap brands know they are using the wrong term to describe their 'watches'
        https://www.rolex.com/watches.html
        https://www.panerai.com/en/home.html
        https://www.patek.com/en/home

        all listed as 'watches'

        • rektrading on 20/12/2021 - 08:54

          They use watches because non-English speakers don't know the differences between a watch and a timepiece.

          • Tiredman on 20/12/2021 - 09:23
            +1

            @rektrading: Honestly, you are right. It's not my first language so we just call all of them a watch. lol

      • rektrading on 20/12/2021 - 08:50

        A couple of grand is on the low low end of timepieces.

        They're probably not even worth that much when they're referred to as watches.

        Wait. I take that comment back.

        I've seen how much hodlers spend on timepieces and other luxury goods.

        • Tiredman on 20/12/2021 - 09:50
          +1

          I prefer to spend on Bitcoin.

      • pharkurnell on 20/12/2021 - 11:15
        -1

        A couple of grand is on the low low end of timepieces.

        Saw some for $30 yesterday

    • Tiredman on 20/12/2021 - 09:25
      +1

      A couple of them are Tissots so really only $1k plus a bit. Not exactly luxury! Some others are much older ones that were passed down. Not even luxury brands. If we need to pay duties when sending them back to Aus, i will just leave it there and wear them back next time i visit.

  • mini2 on 20/12/2021 - 10:11

    https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing…

    Looks like it's just GST on the watch's declared value and postage.

    • Tiredman on 20/12/2021 - 10:13

      Cheers. Will have a look through.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2021 - 11:20
    +1

    No, if you've owned them for a long time not buying from a shop in Malaysia

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