CUSTOMS
International customers who are already familiar with their country’s customs laws may like to skip to the ‘FAQs’ section further below. Otherwise, please take the time to read the following relevant sections on customs.
TAX-FREE LIMIT for international customers
The tax-free limit on buying from Australia varies by country. Although I have done my best to provide as much information as possible (last updated 12 March 2016) to assist first-time international customers buying from Australia, please check with your country’s customs office, for the latest information.
If you have any trouble with finding the relevant websites or have questions about customs taxes such as VAT, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. I fully understand how important it is for international customers to have an idea of whether they would need to pay any customs taxes and how much.
*****UNITED STATES: TAX-FREE UP TO $800 USD (roughly = $1,000 AUD)
Excellent news! Effective from March 2016, USA customers only pay customs taxes (duty) on Australian goods if the product value is over $800 US dollars. The postage fee is not included in the $USD 800 value limit.
UPS Announcement: https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/about/news/service_updates/20160224_us_de_minimis.html
There is, however, a small merchandise processing fee of only $2 USD payable to the US government via your local post office.
However, customers who do purchase over USD $800 will pay preferential duty rates, according to the Australia-United States free trade agreement (AUSFTA). The duty rates on the import of Australian-made women’s clothing into the USA is usually less than 10% of the purchase price (for instance, skirts attract a duty rate of only 8.2% of the purchase price)
Take advantage of the currently low Australian dollar and order a unique garment today!
For information about the $2 USD merchandise processing fee, see: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/334/~/user-fee—merchandise-processing-fees
*****UK: TAX-FREE UP TO £15
UK customers only pay VAT import on Australian goods with a total product value exceeding £15 (the product value excludes shipping costs).
The current VAT rate is 20% calculated on the total product value + international shipping.
For instance, if UK customers purchase a blouse costing $99 AUD (= around £45) and let us say that the postage is $16 AUD (= £6), they would pay a VAT rate of 20% of £45 + £6 = £10 (which is about $21 AUD).
Note: UK customers will only pay VAT import (as explained directly above) + a handling fee of £8 to Royal Mail, but will never have to pay additional postage to Royal Mail when purchasing from Ventriloquist Court.
For information about how to pay customs fees, please visit Royal Mail’s website: http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/Ive-received-a-card-asking-for-a-payment
*****GERMANY: TAX-FREE UP TO €22
Customers residing in Germany only pay VAT on Australian goods with a total product value exceeding €22 (the product value excludes shipping costs).
The VAT rate is currently 19% calculated on the value of the goods + international shipping + any import duty due.
Duty tax is only charged on goods with a total product value exceeding €150 (excludes shipping costs)
For instance, if customers purchase a skirt costing $120 AUD (= around €74) and shipping is $22 AUD (= around €14), they would pay VAT only (i.e.19% of €74 + €14) but no duty. In this case, the VAT rate is around €17.
******CANADA: TAX-FREE UP TO $CA20
Canadian customers only pay customs taxes on Australian products with a product value exceeding $20 Canadian dollars.
Products over this value attract duty and sales tax, which varies by province.
For example, the purchase of a skirt costing $188 AUD with shipping at $27 AUD would attract a duty rate of 17% + 5% GST = $42 CAD by a resident of Yukon.
For more information, visit: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html
******SWEDEN: NO TAX-FREE THRESHOLD
A VAT rate of 25% (on the value of the goods + postage costs) is always payable to the Swedish government.
However, an additional import duty is waived if the value of the goods (excluding the postage fees) is under SEK1300 (which is roughly = $223 AUD). The import duty rate on cotton clothing is typically 12%
For additional information on Swedish customs, see: http://www.tullverket.se/
******FRANCE: NO TAX-FREE THRESHOLD
A VAT rate of 20% (on the value goods + postage costs) is always payable to the French government.
However, an additional import duty is waived, if the value of the goods (excluding shipping costs) are under €150 (which is roughly $240 AUD)
For example, the purchase of a skirt costing $200 AUD (= €124) with shipping at $30 AUD (= €18) would attract a VAT rate of approximately €28 (= $45 AUD) but no duty since the value of the goods is under €150.
For more information about French customs, please see: http://www.douane.gouv.fr/accueil
*******NEW ZEALAND: TAX-FREE UP TO ABOUT $225 NZD (=190-200 AUD? based on the exchange rate used by NZ Customs)
The way that customs taxes are calculated by New Zealand Customs is somewhat complicated. It seems to be the case that items with a value of up to around $225 NZD is tax-free. The New Zealand Customs website states that if the customs tax owed is less than $60 NZD, then the customs tax is waived (meaning that the purchase would be tax-free).
To check the customs tax owed (if any), refer to the link below. There is a customs tax calculator tool on the website. Alternatively, I’m more than happy to do this for you, and I’ll send you a PDF copy of the estimate given on the website shortly. Please let me know which item/items you’re thinking about purchasing.
Duty Calculator Tool: www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/whats-my-duty
Please also refer to FAQ – Customs Duty: http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/faq
******OTHER COUNTRIES – please check with your country’s customs office. If you have any trouble, please message me and I will do my best to help.
CUSTOMS TAXES (if any): Buyer’s Responsibility
International customers are responsible for paying any customs taxes (VAT, Sales tax, Duty etc) collected by their respective governments. All prices listed in Ventriloquist Court’s Etsy store does not include any taxes. Usually, if there are customs taxes payable on items, they are paid at your local post office upon collection of your package (or, in the case of Royal Mail for UK customers, online payment is available). Whilst I do not receive any customs taxes or have any control over them, I will always do my utmost best to assist customers with locating the relevant information.
AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMERS.
Australian customers do not pay additional taxes on local purchases.
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FAQs: SHIPPING
DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY?
Due to postal issues, Ventriloquist Court® ships only to the following international destinations: USA, Canada, all of Europe, East Asia, and New Zealand.
SHIPPING METHOD
I currently ship by international economy airmail (no tracking and no signature) for orders UNDER $150 AUD (= to about $105 USD), and by standard international post (with online tracking) for orders OVER $150 AUD (unless otherwise requested).
Orders over $600 AUD ship by international express post (with online tracking & signature) and is expected to arrive in 4 business days (to major cities in Europe and the USA). I will do everything on my end to help ensure quick delivery (securely packaging your garment, double checking all forms etc), but please note that the 4 business day express delivery estimate is from Australia Post’s website; I personally cannot guarantee it.
DESPATCH & DELIVERY TIME
All items are despatched from Sydney, Australia and lodged with Australia Post. Ready-made items are shipped within 2 business days; and made-to-order between 1 and 4 weeks for most designs, but up to 6-8 weeks for Victorianland gowns (please see the turnaround stated on individual listings). After you have placed your order, I will send you a confirmation message with a more precise turnaround.
Once I’ve posted your package at my local post office, I will send you notification right away. Expect your package to arrive within 1 week for Australian orders (W.A. orders may take a bit longer) and about 2 weeks for international orders, after the despatch date. Most packages to the USA take 6-10 business days. Most packages to Europe take 2 weeks, but usually 3 weeks at most. However, delivery can sometimes take longer. In the event that your package sent via regular airmail (without tracking) should go missing in the post, I offer a full refund on your purchase!
OVERPAID POSTAGE.
Please rest assured that any overpaid postage will be refunded. I have sent postage refunds on differences of as little as 50 cents! If I undercharge, however, I will pay the additional postage fees at my own expense, so that customers can enjoy hassle-free shopping!
The good news is that I charge on actual postage only, and not on packing materials and handling. The actual postage amount paid is affixed as a label on the front of the package by Australia Post staff.
POSTAGE DISCOUNT
Purchases of 2 or more items in the one transaction receive a postage discount, which is automatically calculated upon adding items to cart.
SHIPPING UPGRADE.
If you would like signature delivery for orders under $150 AUD, or express post for orders under $600 AUD, please contact me for exact costs and I can then organise a custom listing for you. International express post (EMS) takes 4 business days for packages from Australia to reach major cities in the USA and Europe, and 2-4 business days to reach major cities in New Zealand or in Asia.
Below is a general guide for EMS (packages under 1 kg):
* Zone 1 (New Zealand): $56.65 AUD
* Zone 2 (Japan, China: $60.75 AUD
* Zone 3 (Singapore): $62.50 AUD
* Zone 4 (USA, Canada): $ 67.55 AUD
* Zone 6 (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands): $73.40 AUD
* Zone 7 (Poland): $76.25 AUD
