what will my brother-in-law Down-Under have to pay?
 

I live in Canada, he lives in Australia. I want to send him a camera and insure it for $200 (Canadian). I will be sending it via CAN Post. What will he have to pay to when accepting the box?

Good question. Moved from A51 to TCB.

I'm worried because when I sent back my Pana for servicing, Pana AU got charged something like $400 Aussie Dollars; and since this is my other brother-in-law, who is about to land Down-Under---as a DP---he may not have enough money to pick up the camera, and I may have to wire him some money (again).

Here ya go... A few links.. If it is under AUD$1000 then there is no duty or GST to be paid



http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5653
If you are receiving your goods via the post you are considered the importer of those goods and these may be subject to Customs duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Generally, all goods imported into Australia are subject to Customs duty and GST and are assessed for community protection risks. However, all goods (except for tobacco and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if the value of the goods is A$1000 or less.




http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/re...es/ACN0557.pdf
Entry/declaration
The Amendment Regulations prescribe a value of $1,000 for subparagraph 68(1)(f)(iii) of the Customs Act 1901. This means that goods imported other than by post, that is by sea and air cargo, that have a value not exceeding $1,000 will not have to be the subject of a formal import entry. This amendment aligns the threshold value of such goods with those imported into Australia by post.

Revenue liabilities
New Customs By-laws Numbers 0540003 and 0540004 apply the ‘Free’ duty rate under Item 32A or 32B of Schedule 4 of the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to a consignment of goods imported into Australia if the customs value does not exceed $1,000. Section 42-5 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 specifies that if these goods are duty free, they are also non-taxable importations. As with the By-laws they replace (Numbers 0040019 and 0040020, which have been revoked), the new By-laws specifically exclude consignments containing tobacco, tobacco products or alcoholic beverages. This means that duty and tax must be paid on these products, irrespective of value.

By increasing the formal entry threshold for air and sea cargo from the levels established in 1975, and directly aligning the formal entry and revenue collection thresholds, the Government intends to simplify the customs clearance process for a large number of importers of low value goods.

Only $200? Is it worth shipping it at all, versus just sending the money and him buying a camera there, especially since you're going from NTSC-land to PAL-land?

Thanks, James.

Steve, I paid $100 but I figure it's worth at least $200; and a camera like that would probably cost a lot more if purchased Down-Under. Plus he doesn't speak English.

But will he be able to use it? Remember we're NTSC and Australia is PAL

There are several shops that sell PAL camcorders in Vancouver. However, the camera I am sending is a Canon AE1 still camera.

Cool, then no problem of course. For some reason I was thinking it was a DV camera

He just arrived in AU yesterday. Once he finds a house to buy, I'll have an address to ship it too. I should put a note in the box with, "use PAL film only." That'll have him scratching his head.