Importing tyres from the states.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

I really love my Cooper Zeons but noticed in the states a size I prefer to my 285/60 18R of a 275/65 18R and LT construction. Has anyone imported tyres? Was it worth the hassle? Anyone know who I could trust?
Cheers Daz

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Tirerack, you won't save a lot of $ but at least they have stock. Quote below is for 3 tyres to keep it under $1000.

LT265/70R17 BF Goodrich MT TA KM2 RWL E at $273.00 each (3) $819.00
Shipping to Australia: $333.15 (FEDEX Economy 3-6 business days)
Total delivered: $1152.15

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

When you order the remaining 1 or 2 tyres, book it up in your wifes/brothers/fathers etc name.
Apparently "they" are cracking down on mum and dad imorters trying to avoid tax with multiple small shipments.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Sounds like it may be not really worth it. Pity as that size in a Zeon is perfect.

[Kowolski Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kowolski]

Doesn't the $1000 gst free threshold include the goods cost + freight cost?

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Doesn't the $1000 gst free threshold include the goods cost + freight cost?

No, price of goods only

[Guest Close Guest]

Duty applies to price of goods AND freight. GST applies to goods only.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

So at the end of the day really there is not too much of a saving to justify the process?

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Re the $1,000 GST free threshold,

As with anything to do with Governments and Taxation, it's not straightforward,

The A$1,000 applies to the value of the goods only, excluding shipping. This is from my own experience, I brought five tyres from the US, roughly it was, tyre value $800.00. Freight cost, $600.00, no duty, no import fees no GST payable or paid.

Had the tyre price exceeded the $1,000.00, duty of 5% is applied on value. plus GST is applied on value + shipping + duty.

In the excerpt from the Aus Customs website below the "declared or assessed value" (for goods not exceeding $1,000) is the value of the goods only, not freight.

The "transaction value" (again below) includes freight but only applies to goods that exceed the $1,000 threshold.

It's not meant to be easy, the best advice I can offer is to call Customs yourself.

As to whether it's worth it or not, I saved about $400 plus got a size not available locally. It was worth it for me.


From Aus Customs site,

Goods with a declared or assessed value not exceeding A$1,000

If your goods arrive in Australia by mail and have a declared or assessed value of A$1,000 or less, the goods may be imported free of duty, taxes and Customs and Border Protection charges, unless they are alcohol products or tobacco products. Apart from alcohol and tobacco products those goods will be cleared by Customs and Border Protection and delivered by Australia Post without you doing anything.

How is duty and GST calculated?

The Customs value of goods imported into Australia is known as the ‘transaction value’. It is usually the amount you paid for your goods, converted to Australian currency. The exchange rate that is used is the rate applied on the day the goods were posted (exported).

When the goods you import are valued at more than A$1000, or include alcohol or tobacco products of any value, a Customs value is used as the basis for calculating the amount of any duty and/or GST and other taxes payable.

Duty payable is calculated on the Customs value of the goods. Relevant duty rates are determined by the Customs Tariff Act 1995 and are applicable at the time an import declaration is made.

GST is paid on the Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI). The VoTI is the sum of the Customs value, transport and insurance costs (or postage and insurance) plus any duty payable and WET payable.

Below is an example calculation for an electric sound amplifier with a duty rate of 5%. The purchase price was US$1,274 and the exchange rate on the day it was exported was 0.9100 (A$1 = US$0.91). The postage and insurance was US$118.30

Customs value converted to Australian currency = US$1274/0.9100 = A$1,400.00

Postage and insurance converted = US$118.30/0.9100 = A$130.00

Duty (amount payable) = 5% of A$1,400 = A$70.00

VoTI = (customs value + duty + postage and insurance)

= A$1,400 + A$70 + A$130 = A$1600.00

GST = 10% of VoTI (amount payable)

= 10% of A$1,600 = A$160.00

Amount payable to Customs and Border Protection

Duty + GST = A$70.00 + A$160 = A$230.00

Plus import declaration (lodged by document) processing charge of A$48.85
Total payable = A$230.00 + A$48.85 = A$278.85

[katrx7 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close katrx7]

gday, i looked into it, can be done relatively easy, like davros said, but by the tme you get 5 tyres in, and then have someone here fit and balance (and some tyre places wont do it now for insurance reasons due to the tyre not being sold here in aust) in comes pretty close to buying them here. for me id rather buy here, keep a small business going by supporting them and knowing if i have a problem i can go back to them for help.......just my thoughts after alot of research
cheers kym

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello Kakadaz,

Importing a non Aust. size and saving money looks good until you destroy one on an outback track. You then have real trouble with a constant 4 wd vehicle with different sized tyres.

Get something which is supported in Australia and you will be better off in the long run and you will keep several people employed in Aust as well.

regards

Ross

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Hello Kakadaz,

Importing a non Aust. size and saving money looks good until you destroy one on an outback track. You then have real trouble with a constant 4 wd vehicle with different sized tyres.

Get something which is supported in Australia and you will be better off in the long run and you will keep several people employed in Aust as well.

regards

Ross

Yes very true.

Thanks Ross

[WOLF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close WOLF]

I really love my Cooper Zeons but noticed in the states a size I prefer to my 285/60 18R of a 275/65 18R and LT construction. Has anyone imported tyres? Was it worth the hassle? Anyone know who I could trust?
Cheers Daz

Hey Kakadaz, what site was that? Would like to have a look! 8 years back I imported 4x37" CLAWS. And they where awsomely cheep! Around $340 each as AUS wanted $800each? Its a bit hit and miss how much you pay from what I hear?

[dogsbreakfast Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dogsbreakfast]

get a importer of classic cars to import them for you. heaps cheaper. i got some toyo open country mt's imported that way a few years ago and saved a fair bit, but definitately paid gst on the whole cost including import costs.

[dogsbreakfast Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dogsbreakfast]

most parts are duty free too if originating from america due to fta.