Will i get hit with tax if i buy tobacco from another country and the post it here?

Question

Will i get hit with tax if i buy tobacco from another country and the post it here?

Answer 1

Yes, no maybe :-)

In UK small packages under £18 in value will get through (as will packages from EU ) .. I guess Australia must have similar 'small value' rules and perhaps concessions from some trading partners ?

(In UK, Customs are swamped with packages coming in from abroad = mainly because British consumers are fed up with paying through the nose for everything in UK, so we now buy on eBay and pay half the UK price (even after the cost of postage) .... however our 'Glorious Leader' can't have that can he ? = so everything coming in from outside EU is charged Import Duty PLUS VAT PLUS handling charge...)

Answer 2

As the Australian Government levies excise duty on tobacco you are liabile to pay this duty. Also you need to be aware that there are laws governing what you may or may not import and quantities that you may import. For instance: Tobacco - unmanufactured leaf is a restricted import. If you are going to import tobacco for commercial purposes (reselling) then you should discuss this with the Australian Customs Service (ACS). You may also need to get a licence to do so.  If you have the tobacco posted to you and the sender correctly fills in the documentation on the package, it most likely will be sent to the ACS who will hold it until you pay them the excise duty and their handling charges and any other charges applicable. If the sender makes a false statement on the Customs declaration, and the package is opened by the ACS, then as the addressee on the package you could be charged  with a customs violation. Play it safe, make enquiries from the ACS first.