 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-05-21 03:26
Some of you may remember I posted a while ago asking details about visiting the Buffet factory outside of Paris in France. Well it is all organised and a retailer in Paris has booked me in at the factory for a visit. I'll be there mid july, but what concerns me is customs back in Australia. Has anybody had any experience carrying back 2 sets of instruments... I'll have my old Festivals with me, as well as my new pair (won't be Festivals). I was thinking of telling them that one set is for chamber music and another is for orchestral music, as I do alot of both. Does anyone have any other ways around it? Also, I have to stop over in Kuala Lumpur In Malaysia on the way back. I won't get hit for customs charges there too will I?
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-05-21 05:27
If it was me I'd make the case of the new clarinet look (temporarily!) not new by rubbing something on it to take off the immaculate look - and remove any documents from inside the case, perhaps put in a half-used pot/stick of cork grease etc - anything that'll make it look as if it's been with you for ages! And then try the "I need 2 sets for different types of music" argument.
On a slightly different note, I find the customs and VAT charges for importing clarinets from the USA to here in England absolutely horrific. I've bought several clarinets from the USA on ebay for very reasonable prices, but the fees I've had to pay before they were released for delivery here have varied from about £80 to £135, which seems really unfair, especially considering that, lovely as these instruments are, they are second-hand items!
Joanna Brown
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Author: Karel
Date: 2004-05-21 07:12
Nick,
since the GST I believe that there is no import duty on musical instruments, but Customs and Excise will almost certainly extract 10% GST. You should be able to check this by phoning Customs, or finding their website. If it ceases to be a new item in your eyes, you may be able to get it through free.
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Author: graham
Date: 2004-05-21 08:12
May be this should now also be called the fraud and smugglers' bulletin board. Perhaps participants would now like to inform everyone how to inflate insurance claims when their instruments are stolen.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-05-21 14:18
Touchy, touchy...
You really must wonder why any government feels entitled to apply a tax to something individuals procure on their own... if the government in question does nothing to arrange for the delivery of the item, what service does the fee support?
You pay a tax to travel using the airport, do you not?
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Author: William Hughes ★2017
Date: 2004-05-21 15:09
According to the Australian Customs Service Tariff Schedules, clarinets are not subject to import duties.
http://www.customs.gov.au/resources/Tariff_Docs/HT92AW.pdf
Australian Customs will collect GST on taxable importations. The GST is 10 per cent of the value of the taxable importation. The value of the taxable importation is based on the customs value of the goods, not on the purchase price.
Warning: This information is from Australian government websites. I am not licensed to advise regarding Australian law.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-05-21 17:38
Hmmm,
I have an australian colleague at college, he purchased a new e flat whilst here in the UK, and then had trouble when he tried to take it home. So more checking may be in order, despite what it says on the customs website (I'm only saying what I know...)
I know that Luis Rossi has played silly buggers with the system by writing receipts for a single instrument only (i.e. half the price) and has then mailed a receipt for the second instrument later. That was for a pair imported into this country (hope I've got that right...Studioline will know, they were his clarinets!) Maybe you could persuade Buffet to do the same??
Just a suggestion!!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-05-21 20:42
The cost of getting caught trying to smuggle any item by any means far outweighs the saving you might incur.
It's far better to read up on the customs & excise tax law and/or talk to an import/export expert and let them handle it. There may be some very legal way around your (possible) dilemma.
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Author: JamesE
Date: 2004-05-22 00:50
Do I read correctly that you are taking your current Festivals out of the country with you, then bringing them and a new set back?
You would want to be sure to register your current set with your local customs before leaving to prove they are also not being imported. I did this with my German cameras one year prior to touring Europe.
Regards,
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2004-05-22 13:34
There is no duty payable for imports of clarinets. The customs value of the clarinets should be close to the actual price in $AUD. You can get an idea of GST from this.
Check this part of the ACS website. I think it gives you the advice you need. If not, you may find it elsewhere on the site. As William H. and Mark C. say, then clarify it with an expert.
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/index.cfm?nav_id=670&area_id=5
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-05-23 01:37
You take pot luck with this sort of situation.
[ post edited. no more suggestions on how to break laws, please. Mark C. ]
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