How to Avoid Australian GST as US Citizen Buying Boat in the US and Moving to AUS?

[atoll]

Originally Posted by jm21

I read through most of it, but it was Australian citizens and I thought there might be a way to get around things as a US citizen, especially if I paid sales tax in the US.

there might be a loophole if you are immigrating to australia as a us citizen and bring it in as a personal possesion.

though not sure if this applies to boats that won't fit in a container with your furniture!!!

[jm21]

I would guess they term the boat tax as a use tax rather than a sales tax...they do that in a lot of states here...so you get taxed for using the waters not buying the boat. Here a boat has to be a certain length and/or a 10hp+ engine, then you get taxed for using Washington waters if you stay here more than 6 months in a 24 month period or something like that.

Hard to find direct comparisons on pricing for old fiberglass boats though...

So 4 Columbia 34s in AUS that I can find online, ranging from 1979-1983 in year and $50-70k AUD in price. Several in the US ranging from $15k-35k USD. So let's say you bought a boat for $25k US and paid 30% in taxes ($7.5k) that would put you at $32.5k+misc fees of maybe another $2k...so maybe 34.5k. Compared to buying the same boat for ~$60k AUD + 10% tax...still a pretty good deal I guess as long as the exchange rate stays decent.

Just thinking Columbia because there's a cheap 1968 Columbia 36 near me asking $19.5k. I went on one last time I was looking at boats and a lot of boat for your bucks....solid as hell and quite roomy below for a boat of its age.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by jm21

I read through most of it, but it was Australian citizens and I thought there might be a way to get around things as a US citizen, especially if I paid sales tax in the US.

Only two possibilities:
1. temporary import
2. bring a US built boat and pay 10% instead of 15%.

You can get a car in tax free. That might suit a Brit coming in.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by savoir

You can get a car in tax free. That might suit a Brit coming in.

only if they are 30 years old.

[jm21]

With cars, I seem to remember reading that you could import a car form the USA but you wouldn't be able to sell it in Australia unless it went through a very expensive process to meet specific AUS standards.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by hoppy

only if they are 30 years old.

It isn't quite 30 years, it is pre 1989.

A migrant to Australia can bring a car in. There are rules of course.

http://corrigan.austlii.edu.au/au/le...89354/s13.html

[Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by scubascooter

As previously mentioned the price of delivery is added into it also. Even if you sailed it here they will estimate commercial cost of delivery at add to the overall cost price.

Sorry that's not correct. If you sail it yourself, your actual cost of the trip from the last port of call is used for the calculation. There is a factsheet on the Customs website and it was covered in that long thread previously mentioned.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by savoir

It isn't quite 30 years, it is pre 1989.

A migrant to Australia can bring a car in. There are rules of course.

http://corrigan.austlii.edu.au/au/le...89354/s13.html

That has nothing to do with tax and the 1989 was when the regulation was created, not a cars age. That document is about cars that do not have a VIN plate.

I've looked at this quite a few times, never see a "migrant" clause. If you can find it, then I'd love to see it

importing a motor vehicle
Importing Vehicles to Australia - General Information

[savoir]

I did post it so feel free to take a look.

Pre 1989 rules here but it is unlikely many cruisers would want this. It is aimed at collectors.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...me_Oct2010.pdf

[scubascooter]

Originally Posted by Wanderlust

Sorry that's not correct. If you sail it yourself, your actual cost of the trip from the last port of call is used for the calculation. There is a factsheet on the Customs website and it was covered in that long thread previously mentioned.

Wanderlust,

You may be correct but this is from the Customs Website

"
Where the yacht is sailed to Australia, overseas freight will be determined having regard to essential sailing costs incurred under the most commercially viable conditions. Such costs would include sailing expenditure necessarily incurred while the vessel is actually sailing (and entering and leaving) those ports of call on the most commercially viable route. It would not include any in port expenditure related to the vessel's period of stopover
. Where supported by sufficient/reliable information, essential sailing costs would also include:

• cost of maps, charts pilot books, light/radio lists, etc.
• crew's hire/wages or forage allowance in lieu
• victualling or food costs (does not include tobacco and alcoholic beverages)
• bunkering or oil/fuel costs.

This is an indicative rather than exhaustive list, if you have any doubts or queries seek further information from a Customs Information and Support Centre 1300 363 263"

Sometimes the information can be interpreted in different ways this is why I suggested its best to call customs directly and get the info straight from the horses mouth

Scott

[savoir]

Is there something wrong with going back to the old thread and reading from people who actually did it ?

[Ontos45]

As we are in the market for a used cat have been doing some research on importing from USA to Oz and it seems fraught with problems.....gas (LPG) certification including re-fridgerant....110VAC converted to 240VAC for using a powered berth...customs (AUD$600+) and thorougher because of guns and drugs. The savings only amounted to 15% compared to buying an Oz registered vessel.
An excellent article is in the march/April issue of Australian Multi hull World on buying overseas for Ozzie's.
That may also help.

Peter and Sue

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by jm21

With cars, I seem to remember reading that you could import a car form the USA but you wouldn't be able to sell it in Australia unless it went through a very expensive process to meet specific AUS standards.

Like the entire dash board removed and the steering wheel moved to the "correct" side of the vehicle for instance.

The only Left hand Drives here are usually specialist vehicles or those of historic nature with permission to drive without a conversion.

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by savoir

Is there something wrong with going back to the old thread and reading from people who actually did it ?

No this thread is just Ground Hog "month". It will reappear in a month and an almost identical conversation will occur. Just like a Rockna, Hunter or Cat/mono threads. Although we havent had a good Cat/Mono thread in some time.

[Ontos45]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Like the entire dash board removed and the steering wheel moved to the "correct" side of the vehicle for instance.

The only Left hand Drives here are usually specialist vehicles or those of historic nature with permission to drive without a conversion.