LTNZ/Customs advice
Discussion
Anyone from these agencies on here?
My 1985 TVR 350 arrives this week and now it seems Customs want a GST payment contrary to my UK shipping agent and the LTNZ factsheets advice.
My NZ shipping agent says Customs are 'God' and LTNZ are nothing so I shouldn't have followed their advice as its not accurate.
Do I take the hit and pay GST, and how do they work out what my car is worth?
Or is there a way around it?
My 1985 TVR 350 arrives this week and now it seems Customs want a GST payment contrary to my UK shipping agent and the LTNZ factsheets advice.
My NZ shipping agent says Customs are 'God' and LTNZ are nothing so I shouldn't have followed their advice as its not accurate.
Do I take the hit and pay GST, and how do they work out what my car is worth?
Or is there a way around it?
Kiwi XTR2 said:Thats the way I'm preceding at the moment with my partner being a Kiwi and proving defacto, which was OK for NZ Immigration but apparently not for customs! I'm just preparing for the worst with an unexpected GST amount.
I'd ask Customs to clarify in what circumstances would GST not be payable? Maybe they're just not reading your documentation correctly.
It's worth reading the related bit of the NZ customs site before you bother trying to argue...
[url]www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Motor+Vehicles/default.htm[/url]
There's a bit about how you can qualify for exemption somewhere...
I found this bit under the bit that talks about if you have to pay...
I couldn't find anything under the bit about where you don't have to pay about not having to pay for GST...
>> Edited by peterpsg on Tuesday 16th May 14:33
[url]www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Motor+Vehicles/default.htm[/url]
There's a bit about how you can qualify for exemption somewhere...
I found this bit under the bit that talks about if you have to pay...
evil_nz_customs_dept said:
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
GST is chargeable on all goods (including motor vehicles) imported into New Zealand, even though the transaction has been conducted offshore and the purchase price may already incorporate a local value-added or sales tax component. The current rate of GST is 12.5 percent. GST is calculated on the Customs value of the vehicle , plus duty (if any), plus international freight and insurance.
I couldn't find anything under the bit about where you don't have to pay about not having to pay for GST...
>> Edited by peterpsg on Tuesday 16th May 14:33
I've never seen anything in the LTSA or customs information that would indicate you wouldn't have to pay GST on your car (given your circumstances) - where did you get that from, can you point us in the right direction? I know with other personal items I had to pay the GST up front and then got it back after I had been here for a specified period but then I was here originally on a work visa/permit.
You'll need some documented proof of value, usually from an approved dealership in the UK. I guess a local registered garage here in NZ may qualify but they wouldn't have a clue as to it's current value. It may be worth asking if they'll accept current adverts for equivilent models and get printing some off of Pistonheads and purchasing copies of the Auto Trader. I guess it depends on how awkward they want to be!
I hope after all this that you have no rust on your chassis as the last guy I knew who brought a Chimaera in was forced to do a complete chassis resto' before it was allowed on the road!
Good luck. It'll be good to see another TVR on NZ roads.
You'll need some documented proof of value, usually from an approved dealership in the UK. I guess a local registered garage here in NZ may qualify but they wouldn't have a clue as to it's current value. It may be worth asking if they'll accept current adverts for equivilent models and get printing some off of Pistonheads and purchasing copies of the Auto Trader. I guess it depends on how awkward they want to be!
I hope after all this that you have no rust on your chassis as the last guy I knew who brought a Chimaera in was forced to do a complete chassis resto' before it was allowed on the road!
Good luck. It'll be good to see another TVR on NZ roads.
www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Motor+Vehicles/When+No+Customs+Charges+Apply.htm
There are concessionary entries where GST isn't payable but with Immigration, Land Transport and Customs working separately this now muddies the waters with advice previously given, as now I know only Customs advice is to be followed! Customs say I don't have the legal authority for permanent residency although it says as long as I have the intention to take up permanent residency I'm OK - this is where Immigration said a partner work visa converting to permanent is the way to proceed.
As for rust, I did have my chassis restored but it is 21 yrs old so may have some surface rust.
With hindsight I should've done plan A which was storing the car in the UK in a mates garage.
>> Edited by mark387mw on Wednesday 17th May 01:59
There are concessionary entries where GST isn't payable but with Immigration, Land Transport and Customs working separately this now muddies the waters with advice previously given, as now I know only Customs advice is to be followed! Customs say I don't have the legal authority for permanent residency although it says as long as I have the intention to take up permanent residency I'm OK - this is where Immigration said a partner work visa converting to permanent is the way to proceed.
As for rust, I did have my chassis restored but it is 21 yrs old so may have some surface rust.
With hindsight I should've done plan A which was storing the car in the UK in a mates garage.
>> Edited by mark387mw on Wednesday 17th May 01:59
You cheeky sod, my car gets used several times a week for the run to work, sharing the duty with the WRX! It's not a pampered garage ornament you know!
OK, I put my hand up and confess that I seldomn get to go out just for a drive at the weekends but then I've got a five-acre property to look after. If the weathers good I'm out cutting grass or digging up gorse, chopping down trees, catching sheep (no dirty comments) or building chook houses!
I wouldn't mind getting along to Meremere this weekend though.
OK, I put my hand up and confess that I seldomn get to go out just for a drive at the weekends but then I've got a five-acre property to look after. If the weathers good I'm out cutting grass or digging up gorse, chopping down trees, catching sheep (no dirty comments) or building chook houses!
I wouldn't mind getting along to Meremere this weekend though.
I'm sure a Friend just brought a Merc 4x4 over and didn't have to pay GST if he agreed not to sell within 2yrs. Think he had to write a letter saying he wouldn't or he'd accept having to pay the charge later. (I was the one who read the leaflet for him, but can't remember who produced it!!)
alex.tvr said:I'll try that option as well...
I'm sure a Friend just brought a Merc 4x4 over and didn't have to pay GST if he agreed not to sell within 2yrs. Think he had to write a letter saying he wouldn't or he'd accept having to pay the charge later. (I was the one who read the leaflet for him, but can't remember who produced it!!)
Hi
I just imported my Caterham and had to pay no tax. I did have to sign a piece of paper saying I would pay then $x if I sold it within 2 years. If you have residency then my understanding is that you can import personal effects for your own use tax free.
Once you get the TVR here I think that is when your troubles start...
Good luck
I just imported my Caterham and had to pay no tax. I did have to sign a piece of paper saying I would pay then $x if I sold it within 2 years. If you have residency then my understanding is that you can import personal effects for your own use tax free.
Once you get the TVR here I think that is when your troubles start...
Good luck
If it's under about 20 years old, and it hasn't passed the frontal impact regs, you won't be able to drive it on the road - as TVR make more than 200 (which is the low volume/kit car limit) cars a year...
Having just seen that it's an '85 model, you should probably be ok, but you'll might still have to talk to a kit car/low volume vehicle certifier...
Here's the list of them, I'd deal with Neil Fraser (7's replicas) if you anywhere near Auckland
www.lvvta.org.nz/LVVCertifiersList-current.pdf
>> Edited by peterpsg on Thursday 18th May 11:58
Having just seen that it's an '85 model, you should probably be ok, but you'll might still have to talk to a kit car/low volume vehicle certifier...
Here's the list of them, I'd deal with Neil Fraser (7's replicas) if you anywhere near Auckland
www.lvvta.org.nz/LVVCertifiersList-current.pdf
>> Edited by peterpsg on Thursday 18th May 11:58
I think some of the other guys had to get their older TVR's done via a LVVTA certifier, though I could be wrong, there's probably some past threads in this forum about it, as I'm sure I've seen talk of it before...
I'll definately have to use one, if I can ever convice the other half that NZ could do with an Ult on the road!
I'll definately have to use one, if I can ever convice the other half that NZ could do with an Ult on the road!
Does the not paying tax rule apply only if you are a returning resident or someone taking up residence for the first time? I suspect that's where I got it wrong as it never applied to me and when I came over here eight years ago the GST and tax situation was much different. Obviously once you're living back in NZ full time you'll have to pay tax on any imports just like anyone else.
Is there a minimum length of time you need to own the vehicle overseas before it becomes tax exempt?
Is there a minimum length of time you need to own the vehicle overseas before it becomes tax exempt?
Can't remember how it works. But I returned in November of last year and picked up my Elise in January. I'd been away 14 years and did the customs clearance myself (takes about 10 mins). I paid nothing, except a $90 charge for MAF vacuuming the car, which made me laugh it's an Elise for gods sake, 10 secs and it's done! If I remember rightly the rules go along the lines of having to own the car for x number of years to get an excemption.
Its my visa status that seems to be a problem, I'm not yet permanent residency - thats in hand - so despite the website saying that as long as I intend to be permanent, thats not actually the case. Although my partner is a Kiwi and I've invested a large amount of money here already, it appears I'm temporary and I'm to pay tax on a car I bought 17 years ago. How can it be valued? I'll find out tomorrow hopefully so fingers crossed...
Visa problems ??? they're easy to fix... just pop down to your local registry office, and "duh duh da duh..." and you're away... I knew several 'couples' that did that just to get a better allowance while studying... 
Then again, even though I have dual cit, my wife's only got her NZ PP, so she's on 'limited leave to remain' for another year or so over here in the UK, so I guess the same arrangements would apply for newly wed's in NZ as well.
Then again, even though I have dual cit, my wife's only got her NZ PP, so she's on 'limited leave to remain' for another year or so over here in the UK, so I guess the same arrangements would apply for newly wed's in NZ as well.
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