Thread: GST for internet-bought stuff under $1000.00 ?

I guess we'll know in a few hours.
This really aggravates me I recently contacted a well known Aussie chain of booksellers.
They could get a particular book for me (it would have to come from overseas) in six weeks.Maybe.
The price would be $38.00. Same book online from U.K. was $18.00 and would arrive in two weeks
with free shipping !!

The rather long-winded point I'm trying to make is that if Aussie bricks and mortar shops can't
or won't compete with online businesses, they go to the government and demand they introduce
what is to me, a tarriff on imported goods.

If this new piece of legislation is introduced, I guess it will affect all of us.
I pay enough for my shaving soaps and colognes, the shipping cost is a killer for Aussies.
What say you ?

IIRC, here you were always liable to pay the sales tax due on imported goods along with whatever tariffs/duties were also owing. It hurts when you have never had to do that before but I don't think it is too uncommon a practice. The big difference is in how the customs and excise people choose to enforce things.

Bob

So the government is raising revenue again... Not much of a surprise

Originally Posted by onimaru55

So the government is raising revenue again... Not much of a surprise

Yea, that is the nature of the beast no matter where you find it.

Bob

The government charges for everything related to business is the reason they aren't able to compete in the first place. I do a lot of work in various business and they all say it gets harder each year with all the cost increases

Sounds like Atlas is shifting. I don't see how y'all put up with that type of criminality, at least a gunman has the decency not to tell you "it's for your own good" when he robs you. But fear not as you are not alone in the world when it comes to criminal government (cough, cough).

Maybe the revolution will come before it takes effect in 2017.
Plenty of time to stock up.

Yeah , imagine a revolution here

Not sure how it's going to work. I guess that they're going to rely on the big companies like Amazon adding it to the bill. If I order a $2 cable from a company in China I can't see how the Gov't are going to get their 20 cents out of me.

It'll probably be Paypal or your bank that will become the tax collector rather than an overseas seller.