GST and tax on buying an aircraft in NZ and importing it to Aus

[QDMQDMQDM]

Hi,

I am sure a number of people on this forum have done this and obviously advice here doesn't constitute formal tax advice etc, etc, etc, yadda, yadda, yadda, but...

What happens if I buy an aircraft privately in NZ that has had its GST paid (i.e. it comes to me without me specifically paying GST) and I then import it into Aus as an Aus resident?

Do I get the GST back from NZ and what do I then pay in Aus? Do I just pay GST in Aus or are there aircraft import duties too?

Thanks in advance for any guidance,

David

[swh]

If you export the aircraft from NZ by flying it, you can get it zeroed, on import into Australia you need to pay GST on the purchase price. Realistically you need to pay the Oz GST before it lands, and have all the notifications and clearances in place before hand.

Get yourself a customs broker involved, they can do all the export/import paperwork for you. The best money you every spent.

[QDMQDMQDM]

Thanks. Would definitely use a broker.

'Zeroed' means you get the GST back? So that applies to both aircraft on which GSTis chargeable on purchase in NZ and ones on which it isn't?

[aldee]

I did this in reverse, oz to NZ so I believe If you buy from a NZ seller who is not gst registered you won't be able to claim any gst, you would then pay oz gst etc when imported to oz
If they are registered you buy gst exempt as it is being exported
Definitely use a broker

[onetrack]

QDMQDMQDM - Be aware there is also a 5% tariff on imported aircraft added to the GST upon entry to Australia. The import tariff regime is complex and is updated with around 150 updates per month.

Australia has an import regime that has a list of "most favoured nations" as preferential trading partners (NZ is one) - but Customs do not regard the importing country in the importation, they look at the country of manufacture of the item.

DFAT - Import tariffs - most favoured nations (http://dfat.gov.au/international-relations/international-organisations/wto/Documents/schedule.pdf) (this list does not include the U.S., which is not a "most-favoured-nation" - but aircraft import tariffs are 5% regardless of country of manufacture)

The advice re contacting a good Customs and freight-forwarding agent who specialises in machinery importation is excellent advice. They know all the ropes, and the shortcuts, and the few hundred dollars they charge, is money well spent.
Be prepared to be shafted again, by many dozens of minor, but constantly additional Customs, AQIS, security, recording, and handling charges in the importation, though.
Ensure you fly the aircraft in to Australia - the sea freight charges between NZ and Oz are among the most expensive of any shipping charges into Australia - from anywhere in the world.

[QDMQDMQDM]

Thanks very much, everyone. Really helpful. I would have thought Aus and NZ would have had a unified GST / import duty regime by now, but that is probably opening up a can of worms, so forget I said that!

[Squawk7700]

Nothing is uniform I'm afraid....

Buy a boat in the USA (eg a 40 ft one) and you're up for 10% GST plus 5% duty (calculated to include delivery costs) unless the boat was built in the USA in which then there is no import duty, just GST. If the boat was built in Europe and you bought it second hand from the USA you would be up for the full 15%.

Clear as mud... Just like a Chinese free-trade agreement.