Buying iPhone 15 at Sydney airport Duty Free

[OZDUCK]

Once you import something over $1k (whether in person or in the post) your in the realms of import duty. Which I believe is a flat rate of 5% plus 10% GST on the ‘transaction value’, “which is the price the importer actually paid” (that would include local taxes?).

https://www.abf.gov.au/imports/files/fact-sheets/fs-value-imported-goods.pdf

I’m certainly not an expert! But more than happy to be corrected.

There are a number of duty rates not just a 5% flate rate. For example a mobile phone attracts a 0% rate of duty. Customs duty is charged on the "Customs Value" which is usually based on the "Transaction Value". But there are importations when the "Transaction Value" can't be used for that purpose. And yes any local taxes would be included in the "Customs Value".

For example if the Importer and exporter are related parties and that relationship has affected the price paid the "Transaction Value" would not be used. Another example is when gooods are imported in a contra-trade deal. This is when the importer provides goods or services and the exporter then supplies some goods in exchange. I ran across this once when a mining company built some infrastructure in the exporters country and then the exporter provided equipment in exchange. There was no 'cash' payment between the two parties so I had to decide how the "Customs Value" could be obtained. The various values can not be arbitrarily decided but arrived at in accord with Sect. 154 - Sect 161 of the Customs Act.

GST is charged on the sum of the "Customs Value" plus the amount of duty paid and the cost of freight and insurance to get the goods to Australia.

 

[SYD]

There are a number of duty rates not just a 5% flate rate. For example a mobile phone attracts a 0% rate of duty. Customs duty is charged on the "Customs Value" which is usually based on the "Transaction Value". But there are importations when the "Transaction Value" can't be used for that purpose. And yes any local taxes would be included in the "Customs Value".

For example if the Importer and exporter are related parties and that relationship has affected the price paid the "Transaction Value" would not be used. Another example is when gooods are imported in a contra-trade deal. This is when the importer provides goods or services and the exporter then supplies some goods in exchange. I ran across this once when a mining company built some infrastructure in the exporters country and then the exporter provided equipment in exchange. There was no 'cash' payment between the two parties so I had to decide how the "Customs Value" could be obtained. The various values can not be arbitrarily decided but arrived at in accord with Sect. 154 - Sect 161 of the Customs Act.

GST is charged on the sum of the "Customs Value" plus the amount of duty paid and the cost of freight and insurance to get the goods to Australia.

So the OP was correctly advised that the phone was subject to GST on the original purchase price.

 

[OZDUCK]

So the OP was correctly advised that the phone was subject to GST on the original purchase price.

She was certainly correct to say that the Singapore taxes had to be taken into account when working out the value of the phone which I thought was the main concern of the original poster. The fact that she said that it came close enough to the duty free allowance of $1,800 indicates to me that she had, quite reasonably, made an allowance for it being 'second hand' and reduced the value accordingly. In my day a 20% reduction in value was the ball park figure but I don't know what figure is used these days. I have been retired for 15 years now so I am obviously well and truly out of touch with the exact procedures at the border any more.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Well not necessarily. The duty free allowance is $900 per person which is doubled if travelling with your partner. No GST was payable on our return home for my iPhone purchase.

And that's prior to any depreciation?

 

[Happy Dude]

It can be even better....

As others have mentioned, can also get Apple gift cards, with the 20x points / 10% back.

If you time it right, can buy from Apple online using Cashback sites like Cashrewards, when a promo has the Cashback between 5 - 8 % (most recent was 5% on 13 June)

You can enter your trade-in there. The invoice for TRS, will be for the full amount; a refund will come later when the old phone is returned.

We should also note that JB price of $1937, is an EOFY special.

On Shopback today, a sweet deal for most but sweeter again for Westpac card holders:

 

[luckypierre]

Solution, buy Apple gift cards ( instead of JB GCs) from Cole’s or Woolworths when they have a 20 x points offer , then buy from Apple.

Next week at Coles 20 x FB points on Apple Gift Cards

20x Flybuys Points on Apple Gift Cards @ Coles

Deal: 20x Flybuys Points on Apple Gift Cards @ Coles, Store: Coles, Category: Electrical & Electronics

www.ozbargain.com.au