Alcohol duty free concession

[NoName]

Does anyone have any recent experience with bringing more than the allowance through BNE? Likely to have up to say 6.75L of wine split across 2 people. Will be arriving separately (approx 5:30am & 7:30am on a Tuesday morning if that’s relevant) so really 2 individual people bringing up to 3.375L each. Anyone want to help out a layman and estimate what would be payable if they insist on charging for the whole 6.75L? Wine looks to be around the 10% alcohol mark.

 

[serfty]

Does anyone have any recent experience with bringing more than the allowance through BNE? Likely to have up to say 6.75L of wine split across 2 people. Will be arriving separately (approx 5:30am & 7:30am on a Tuesday morning if that’s relevant) so really 2 individual people bringing up to 3.375L each. Anyone want to help out a layman and estimate what would be payable if they insist on charging for the whole 6.75L? Wine looks to be around the 10% alcohol mark.

Pooling won't help as if over the allowance then duty and excise has to be paid on the lot.

But one using the DF allowance for the three most expensive 750ml bottles could help.

That leaves 4.5L for just one of you and the calculation would be based on that.

I have not checked things in some years, but from memory the following may be in the ballpark.

Start with duty (GST) being 10% of the cost of the remaining six bottles.

If 10% alcohol by volume that means .45 liters of alcohol to base the excise on.

There are likely some nuances to that I may be not aware of so do not take it as gospel.

In reality the amount is unlikely to be onerous.

 

[markis10]

WET would be payable at 29% of the value being the nominated wholesale value plus a formal entry fee of circa $80, declare it and I would not be surprised if it’s a case of “ok to go”. Customs appreciate honesty.

 

[serfty]

Does anyone have any recent experience with bringing more than the allowance through BNE? Likely to have up to say 6.75L of wine split across 2 people. Will be arriving separately (approx 5:30am & 7:30am on a Tuesday morning if that’s relevant) so really 2 individual people bringing up to 3.375L each. Anyone want to help out a layman and estimate what would be payable if they insist on charging for the whole 6.75L? Wine looks to be around the 10% alcohol mark.

There is further information here:

https://secure.toolkitfiles.co.uk/clients/12556/sitedata/files/Australian-Liquor-Tariffs.pdf

 

[markis10]

Actually, cracking open a bottle is probably a good way to get waived thru! Can’t be resold once opened.

Open bottles are counted as full (100% of capacity) even if they are not.

As for alcohol, plastic bottles and savings to be made, a 2l bottle of Black Nikka Clear can be had at many 7-11s for $15 in Japan, vs Dans where a 700ml bottle is circa $80.


Ballentines for $9.80 vs $48 at Dans from your local Japanese drug store is another data point.

 

[justinbrett]

Pooling won't help as if over the allowance then duty and excise has to be paid on the lot.

No that’s not how this would play out.

The best method is to declare together and state the total amount you have. You’re much more likely to be waived through as together you’re only slightly over.

If it comes time to have to collect, customs will automatically exclude an allowance for one person and the other will pay the duty on the rest.

Source: I have been in this exact situation at BNE and this is what happened.

 

[justinbrett]

WET would be payable at 29% of the value being the nominated wholesale value plus a formal entry fee of circa $80, declare it and I would not be surprised if it’s a case of “ok to go”. Customs appreciate honesty.

I’m almost certain WET is not payable for personal imports.

The tariff is 5% of the RETAIL value, and $103.89/L of alcohol.

The 5% does not apply to wine from NZ/PG/FI/DC/LDC/SG due to free trade agreements.

The tarrifs are listed here: https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-ex...rrent-tariff/schedule-3/section-iv/chapter-22

They will add GST on top. There is no entry fee at the airport.

Charges are different if arriving by mail.

 

[markis10]

WET is payable as a personal import for wines, see Serftys link or this

The Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) administers and collects WET payable on wine imported into Australia, including wine that is part of your personal effects and wine sent to you as a gift from overseas.

WET is payable at the time of importation unless you're entitled to defer the WET by quoting your ABN, or certain other import-related exemptions apply.

Imported wine | Australian Taxation Office

WET is payable on wine imported into Australia.

www.ato.gov.au

There is an entry fee if over $1000

 

[justinbrett]

WET is payable as a personal import for wines, see Serftys link or this

Imported wine | Australian Taxation Office

WET is payable on wine imported into Australia.

www.ato.gov.au

There is an entry fee if over $1000

If arriving at the airport I very much doubt they will charge you this. It’s far too complex.

I’ve got through with 10L of spirits because it was “all too hard” (said the guy).

 

[NoName]

No that’s not how this would play out.

The best method is to declare together and state the total amount you have. You’re much more likely to be waived through as together you’re only slightly over.

If it comes time to have to collect, customs will automatically exclude an allowance for one person and the other will pay the duty on the rest.

Source: I have been in this exact situation at BNE and this is what happened.

These will all be 375ml bottles of Canadian ice wine.

We are travelling on different flights arriving approx 2hrs apart so we are not pooling as such. Just the wine will need to be split between us in some way. Looks like we will likely have the allowance for 3 people between the 2 of us (so 50% more). In your opinion do we:

- split it 50/50 so that both of us are 50% over (9x375ml each) or
- one person takes their allowance (6x375ml) and the other takes twice as much as allowed (12x375ml)

Obviously will declare that I have more and just cross the fingers.

 

[markis10]

My suggestion would be to split it 50%

 

[justinbrett]

I would go 6/12 myself. Really just as likely to get away with 12 as you are 9. If you don’t at least you’re only paying for 12 and not 18.