Buying an engagement ring in the US and bringing it to Australia
I am from Australia and going on a holiday to LA. I am ordering an engagement ring from the USA and having it shipped to the hotel where I am staying in LA. The ring is not a diamond (it's a moissanite) and its value is around US$1,300 (I am buying it $995 on sale).
Is the ring going to be OK to come back on my fiancés finger through Security and Customs or do we need to pay extra to bring it in back in Australia?
Do I need to declare it coming in or can she just wear it on her finger?
Best Answer
According to https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Duty-Free-concessions you can bring in AU$900 worth of "general goods" (which includes jewelry) without duty. Since the ring is worth more than that, you (or she) will have to declare it and pay the appropriate customs duty.
The rules for determining how much duty is owed (and other taxes) are typically complicated, so it may be hard to know in advance how much it will cost. https://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-Australia/ says that duty rates vary between 0 and 10%, and GST is an additional 10%.
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Can I take a diamond ring through customs?
Do I need to declare the ring at customs? If you purchased the ring in the U.S. and plan on bringing it abroad and back with modifications, there is no need to declare the ring as it is considered a personal good.Can I bring diamonds into Australia?
Upon arrival in Australia, you may be required to declare your goods and pay import duties. Diamonds only carry a 10% GST (Goods and Service Tax) while on jewelry carry 10% GST (Goods and Service Tax) plus a 5% import duty.Do you have to declare jewelry at customs Australia?
You will need a carnet for temporary duty/tax-free entry of goods such as commercial samples, jewellery, goods for international exhibitions, equipment for sporting events, professional television and film equipment. There are different types of carnets. Check which type you will need to bring goods into Australia.How do I import jewelry into Australia?
The Australian Border Force / Customs requires an N10 form for Formal Entry into Australia. You should find that most oversea's jewellers will have this filled out for you with their Air Way Bill when they schedule your import. The fee's however are the purchasers responsibility.10 Things to Know BEFORE YOU BUY an Engagement Ring
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