Expert: Marvinator - 12/31/2006

Question
i am interested in bidding for a flute on ebay. the seller has a very good reputation. and i understand the exchance rate ect. but i am not sure if there will be any other charges from the australian government for things like import taxes or customs fees or gst? Do you know anything about these things. the flute is $1100 USD i dont want to bid for it until i have all the facts. can you please help . thanks and happy new Year.. regards cathy.

Answer
There is no way to know if an individual who is selling a flute will have to pay any duties or whether any duties will be charged to you. THe duties and fees are usually charged on the RECEIVING end, not the sending end.  

Contact your local post office and ask how they work such things.  Usually, the sender has to place a customs tag on the package stating the contents as well as the value.  If the item is identified as "merchandise" then you, the recievor, may have to pay duties on the item to the post office on this end.  

I am not familiar with the duties or laws concerning purchases from Australia, so a visit to the Post Office may help you in this regard.

If this purchase is going to be problematic, I would reconsider purchasing the item internationally and concentrate on finding a similar item from a US seller.