Hi

We're moving to Perth next month and will be taking our personal laptop, dv camera and digital camera within our hand luggage. All of this has been owned for less than 12 months here in the UK and VAT was paid at the time of purchase. The value of them is way in excess of the $800 duty-free allowance (there are two of us).

My question is... has anyone had experience of taking these items through Customs in Australia? Did you declare them and have to pay tax as you'd owned them for less than 12 months?

I've been looking on the Australian Customs web site and it seems I'm going to have to pay tax on them. I think I'm going to have to go through the 'red channel' at the airport

Regards

Craig

I will be interested in this one, as i will be in the same boat. Perhaps if you have all of the receipts at hand it may be ok. Keep me posted if you have anymore info

hiya

i brought a laptop with me and a sony cam corder as hand luggage - i didnt declare then and would have said they werew older than 12 months anyway - they didnt weigh them - i simply put them in the rack at bottom of pram while checking in - and oops forgot about then tempORARILY!!!

Hi all

Just following up on my intial post in this topic. We arrived in Perth on Monday We declared on the Customs Passenger Card that we had electrical items to declare. We were asked by the Customs at passport control the value and how old they were - we were honest and said they were less than 12 months old. Anyway... passports checked and we were instructed to go through the Green Channel.

Sometimes it pays to be honest!!

Regards

Craig

Craig
Thanks for the info.
How does it feel to be a PR in perth?
We hope to follow in the new year
all the best
Jacqui

P.S. Do you do photography for a living?

Hey Jacqui

Feels great to be here, on our thrid week but it seems like alot longer. It's the middle of winter but I'm joking with Aussie friends that it's just a typical British summer to us... sunny days mixed in with some rain but still up to around 16-19 deg C daytime temps.

Not in photography for a living, we just bought stuff before we came out. Perth is a great city, you'll love it!

Good luck

Craig

Thanks Craig,
You're not kidding, I've been keeping an eye on the weather over there and you've been warmer than us for weeks
That's sunny Scotland for you. I am a wedding photographer and its been a washout for my last 3 weddings. We're waiting patiently on our TRA (sent 8 weeks ago, fingers crossed)

Jacqui

Jacqui
I'm just curious, did you apply to TRA as a wedd. photog? or another way? Just asking as I'm a semi-pro photog and saw the post.

Thanks

Malcolm