What’s My Duty? app takes guesswork out of online shopping

MEDIA RELEASE

12 December 2012

What’s My Duty? app takes the guesswork out of online shopping

Customs has today launched the What’s My Duty? Android app so that people buying goods online are aware of any import duty and GST charges payable on their overseas purchases.

Customs’ Group Manager Trade & Marine, Paul Campbell, said the release of the Android app follows the successful launch of the website-based duty estimator www.whatsmyduty.org.nz last month, with almost 20,000 visitors to the site since its launch. An iPhone version is in development and will be launched soon.

“Online shopping continues to grow in popularity. Many people however don’t realise that they may have to pay duty and GST when their purchases arrive in New Zealand.”

What’s My Duty? allows shoppers to choose from a list of the most common products bought online and calculates the import duty and GST to be paid. If the amount to pay is less than $60, then you don’t have to pay (the amount is waived under the de minimis provision of the Customs and Excise Act 1996).

“There is a common misconception that all goods purchased online from overseas websites for less than NZ$400 can come into New Zealand without incurring any duty, GST, or charges,” says Mr Campbell.

“This is incorrect as some of the most frequently imported items such as clothing, shoes, and accessories will have duty charged from approximately NZ$225 in value.”

Mr Campbell adds that people buying from overseas websites need to be aware that they are actually importing the goods, and the goods will not be released from Customs’ control until the import duty and GST is paid.

Customs is responsible for ensuring that goods coming into New Zealand are safe, don’t infringe on intellectual property rights, and have the correct amount of import duty and GST paid on them. Customs collected over $11.3 billion in Crown revenue in the 2011/12 financial year.

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