Thread: The New - Amazon Tax - comments and future facts for us

Originally Posted by Fireflite

Some Chinese already offer options - example, brother in law buy's a remote helicopter off the net (nz 2K+) and in the "note to seller box" is an option to add a purchase price for the invoice. $275 seems fair he thinks and guess what, "it flew under the radar".

Only issue there is when it goes missing or is damaged in transit and the courier company pays out on what is on the invoice and your bro is out $1725

One of the most telling parts of the discussion document was when discussing cross border services tax (Netflix tax):
"it was estimated the government was foregoing approx $40m a year in revenue.......revenue from gst returns filed by offshore suppliers since the introduction of the rules (oct 16) totals $162m"
Im sure the discussion went something like "shit that went alright, what else can we do this to?"

Originally Posted by Fireflite

Some Chinese already offer options - example, brother in law buy's a remote helicopter off the net (nz 2K+) and in the "note to seller box" is an option to add a purchase price for the invoice. $275 seems fair he thinks and guess what, "it flew under the radar".

I've had US and Aussie retailers significantly undervalue items on shipping documentation, as in $427 becomes $42.70! I didn't ask them to do this. I suspect it is to encourage further business.

....looks like we will have fewer overseas options willing to send to NZ - too much paperwork and any contract is between the purchaser/seller; now they have to act as a tax collection point for the NZ government...

Nash was claiming last night that they expect about 70% of overseas big retailers to agree to being unpaid tax collectors for the NZ Gov't.
The saying "Mate, he's dreamin' " comes to mind

Originally Posted by Nickoli

....looks like we will have fewer overseas options willing to send to NZ - too much paperwork and any contract is between the purchaser/seller; now they have to act as a tax collection point for the NZ government...

There is that. I've tried to order from a few overseas stores that don't even have NZ on their shipping drop down menus and emails have been ignored. We're just not worth the hassle I suppose.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Taxinder and her lot are desperate for cash - this has nothing to do with fairness for retailers. GST on items under $100 will cost more to fleecy & administer than $ recovered! Go figure

To be fair, this tax was introduced and proposed by national too. It's a complex subject and has been a point of contention for quite some time. I don't mind the idea, especially if they drop that retarded bio security levy. But I think making oversees vendors have to charge and pay it is pretty short sighted. That is what will severely punish the consumer here. We will lose access to alot of boutique and smaller companies products

The business only needs to collect it if they send more than $60,000 worth of goods to NZ, so for some smaller businesses it won't make any difference. The bigger businesses will do it if they want the business, look at what Kuiu did.

I don't mind paying an extra 15% if they dropped that stupid bio security levy fee!

Originally Posted by stug

The business only needs to collect it if they send more than $60,000 worth of goods to NZ, so for some smaller businesses it won't make any difference. The bigger businesses will do it if they want the business, look at what Kuiu did.

I just caught the tail end of interview with Minister on Mike Hosking ZB Radio this morning
It sounds like items under $400 will pass through with nothing added here - as the GST will be collected and paid by overseas Seller

So - if for example you were to buy a pair of $300 boots - you will get them landed here for 345NZ$$ (and maybe some shipping)

But - under the present system you would have a 10% duty added - freight calculation added - so we up to lets say 340NZ$ and then a GST calculation on that would be $51
So with the the Duty and the GST added together - would mean they would pursue the collection as it is over their $60 trigger to collect
Then you would have Customs charges of approx $55NZ for Import Transaction & disbursement Fees added
So the item in total will end up costing an additional $135 approximately on top of the original online purchase cost

But - under the new system - the item will only cost you the $300 for item + $45 for GST and its shipping, which you will pay up front to the seller, and nothing more.
So you are way better off - and Retailers will be further down and out

Maybe I have not got it right ??

Originally Posted by Sarvo

I just caught the tail end of interview with Minister on Mike Hosking ZB Radio this morning
It sounds like items under $400 will pass through with nothing added here - as the GST will be collected and paid by overseas Seller

So - if for example you were to buy a pair of $300 boots - you will get them landed here for 345NZ$$ (and maybe some shipping)

But - under the present system you would have a 10% duty added - freight calculation added - so we up to lets say 340NZ$ and then a GST calculation on that would be $51
So with the the Duty and the GST added together - would mean they would pursue the collection as it is over their $60 trigger to collect
Then you would have Customs charges of approx $55NZ for Import Transaction & disbursement Fees added
So the item in total will end up costing an additional $135 approximately on top of the original online purchase cost

But - under the new system - the item will only cost you the $300 for item + $45 for GST and its shipping, which you will pay up front to the seller, and nothing more.
So you are way better off - and Retailers will be further down and out

Maybe I have not got it right ??

You got it right - while there will be 15% on all items under $400, it will work out better for those items that previously fell into the magic band of under $400 in value but exceed $60 in fees (tarrifs +gst +bio fee + customs fee).

Yes, that’s correct Sarvo. So in some cases we’ll be better off ��

Wait! What? You can buy stuff without going to a shop?

Yep @Rushy just a modern spin of the old days. Make a call and then by magic there's a temptress standing on your door step asking for a bed for an hour!

Originally Posted by stug

The business only needs to collect it if they send more than $60,000 worth of goods to NZ, so for some smaller businesses it won't make any difference. The bigger businesses will do it if they want the business, look at what Kuiu did.

Doesn't take much to hit the $60k turnover threshold - and the onus is being placed on businesses without a permanent establishment in NZ (a normal test for establishing tax liability in any jurisdiction) to determine whether they have an obligation to collect tax for little old NZ? There will be a few boutique businesses (and others) who will simply say "Nup, can't be bothered"