Australian Resident Importing Australian Reg Boat

[garrytas]

Has anyone had recent experience sailing a boat purchased in se asia with australian reg back into australia do you still have to pay import duty and GST


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[cwjohm]

Australian registration is irrelevant as you can do an Aus registration on any boat built anywhere.

If it was built in Australia then GST is already paid.

If it was built elsewhere then GST is payable.

If it was built in Australia or any country with FTA then no duty is payable, otherwise duty is payable.

Also if not built in Australia you have to consider local electrical and gas registration before local registration and insurance can be obtained.

Hope that helps.

[StuM]

> If it was built elsewhere then GST is payable.

Unless it has previously been in Australia and GST was paid then.

[cwjohm]

Yes, of course. You are not required to pay GST and duty if it has already been assessed previously.

[garrytas]

Thanks for the reply
The reason i asked if any body has done this recently is because i asked the customs dept whether an australian registered and built boat left and returned with a change of owner would they be liable to pay import duty and GST they said yes

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by garrytas

Thanks for the reply
The reason i asked if any body has done this recently is because i asked the customs dept whether an australian registered and built boat left and returned with a change of owner would they be liable to pay import duty and GST they said yes

You didnt say that in your post.

If the boat was Australian built and Australian commissioned to an Australian owner, i.e. GST was paid, and then went out of Australia, sold to another Australian and brought back then GST would be applicable in the same way as it would have been in Australia. That is NIL in a second hand boat. Duty to be paid is NIL too.

Speak to an Australian Accountant instead of a Customs dude. If speaking to customs ring or go to see the Small Boat Section, Customs, at kingsford Smith airport, Sydney. Thats where the head honchos hang out.

Mark

[garrytas]

thanks Mark for the info
I will give them a call
cheers
Garry

[savoir]

It's a bit like taking legal advice from cops

[aclmck]

Originally Posted by garrytas

Thanks for the reply
The reason i asked if any body has done this recently is because i asked the customs dept whether an australian registered and built boat left and returned with a change of owner would they be liable to pay import duty and GST they said yes

you haven't told us enough yet on ALL the facts is the boat coming back to aus by an oz owner or coming in with a non resident, has the boat been sold o'seas without aud involved and has the boat ever been assessed with gst,has gst ever been claimed on the boat,??????????????

lots of options exist where tax(gst) may not apply but you will need your accountant to work it out if your not up to it.

like others have said don't ask customs for advice get the actual facts first, tax may be payable but the amount depends on the boats value as well, so its hard to get the facts of what you have to pay unless you tell us what your circumstances are, most people only want to discuss this with their accountant, but the seller may also have to repay gst if it was also claimed

[savoir]

Fair comment aclmick. So far we don't know whether GST was paid in the first place nor where the boat was built.

[garrytas]

Thanks guys
yep iam oz resident
boat oz built and owned
left 2 years ago to go cruising
decided not to sail back
would have been built pre GST
not a commercial vessel
would be a private sale
over to the forum!!!!!:
cheers Garry

[SimonV]

If the vessel had been previously imported then a D Notice would exist. It should not be to difficult to find previous state Rego. and prior owners. You may just need to prove it's Australian origin.

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[Wannabe-007]

Does Australian residency matter?
ie. if A Kiwi were to buy a boat in the states, and sell it in Aus a little over a year later... presumably all the same rules apply?

...or am I missing something? (I usually am).

[cwjohm]

Australian residency is irrelevant. It is the fact that it was built in Australia that is relevant.

I think the confusion here is that any Australian built boat which leaves the country and returns has to be resurveyed so that any modifications to the boat attract duty and GST.

Theoretically you could build a base boat, sail it to Asia, get hundreds of thousands of dollars of fitout and then bring it back. This fitout requires duty and GST paid.

One assumes that this has happened previously as I understand that customs are very vigilant on this issue.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Wannabe-007

Does Australian residency matter?
ie. if A Kiwi were to buy a boat in the states, and sell it in Aus a little over a year later... presumably all the same rules apply?

...or am I missing something? (I usually am).

A Kiwi can claim an Australian cruising permit ( I forget the proper name of the thing ) and defer payment of GST and duty until the boat is sold or the permit expires. An Australian is liable for these taxes on arrival.