Receiving a gift guitar from overseas

[Anton]

Hey gasheads,

I'll be receiving a guitar soon in the post, and I can't figure out whether I'll have to pay tax or duties. The govt website says you don't have to pay on gifts valued under $110, but doesn't clarify what happens above that. I'm not getting an Ashton, so I guess there'll be something to pay - it all seems crazy. Anyone experienced wanna chime in?

[JustMatt]

As it stands, anything declared at over NZ$1000 will be assessed for GST.

[vinylguy]

I have had a few expensive guitars slip through. A letter attached saying" Dear Bob, here is the old guitar that your late uncle Jim left you in his will, hope you enjoy it as much as he did Love Aunty Mary" I found works.

No one on here that works for the IRD I hope ?

[foal30]

Pay your taxes as required

[NippleWrestler]

If it's declared with a vakue over $1000 nzd including shipping you're liable to pay. If you can prove you owned it prior to shipping they might let you off. Your package might skip through unchecked.

But the law is over $1k and you pay import duties. Best keep a few hundred back to cover any costs that crop up.

[vinylguy]

Pay your taxes as required

Mate I am 61 years old and have been working and paying taxes since I was 16 1/2. Never had anything back from the govt in terms of unemployment benefits or SFA. Moreover I have worked for companies that have made close on half a mil in turnover and paid $1.59 in tax. Yes its only a matter of time before they get cleaned out but in the meantime....

Dont get me started about Santarium either..

[jeremyb]

You will need to pay GST even if its a gift if its declared as over $1000, unless its labelled as a warranty replacement

[Molly]

Pay your taxes as required

Mate I am 61 years old and have been working and paying taxes since I was 16 1/2. Never had anything back from the govt in terms of unemployment benefits or SFA. Moreover I have worked for companies that have made close on half a mil in turnover and paid $1.59 in tax. Yes its only a matter of time before they get cleaned out but in the meantime....

Dont get me started about Santarium either..

It's more a question of possibly losing it altogether if they discover you're trying to avoid duty.

Personally, I love paying tax and hope one day to meet the other family I'm supporting...

[bender]

Count on having to pay customs duty and GST, then if it slips through without getting pinged, you can consider it a bonus.

[synchromesh]

I have had a few expensive guitars slip through. A letter attached saying" Dear Bob, here is the old guitar that your late uncle Jim left you in his will, hope you enjoy it as much as he did Love Aunty Mary" I found works.

I actually have a bass (a Sunn Mustang P-Bass, nice enough but not worth all that much I suspect) that an ex-bandmate has gifted me, that has been waiting on the price of shipping from England to here to come down a bit. Cue Putin spiking the price of oil, ha ha hum.

So when the time comes I'll follow your suggestion and get him to include a letter to that effect. Thanks!

[GrantB]

Count on having to pay customs duty and GST, then if it slips through without getting pinged, you can consider it a bonus.

I’ve had good luck over the years with this. But on should never bank on luck.

[Molly]

I have had a few expensive guitars slip through. A letter attached saying" Dear Bob, here is the old guitar that your late uncle Jim left you in his will, hope you enjoy it as much as he did Love Aunty Mary" I found works.

I actually have a bass (a Sunn Mustang P-Bass, nice enough but not worth all that much I suspect) that an ex-bandmate has gifted me, that has been waiting on the price of shipping from England to here to come down a bit. Cue Putin spiking the price of oil, ha ha hum.

Trivial, relatively speaking.