How to import laptops to Australia

Hi everyone, I have had more than 10 people ask me how, So I thought I would write a quick guide.

Step 1. Choose your reseller, This is important make sure you get one that has great after purchase support, As to be honest, your in another country, RMA's back to the US is going to be difficult so you want a company that will do everything they can to help, I strongly recommend ExcaliberPC.com for this.

Step 2. Place your order on the website, ExcaliberPC was very good as an international seller as they accept PayPal which made paying quick and easy, Be careful when you pay though, The exchange rate will change day to day, Pick a good one, At the moment the Australian dollar is doing brilliantly so it is a good time to buy.

Step 3. Get your tracking number, When you see your item has arrived at customs wait half a day at least then call Australia post and get a Customs reference number.

Step 4. Fill out these forms
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/CMR_20040722_Registering_as_client_ICS1.pdf
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/b374.pdf

You will need to fill out the B319 twice, Once with your information and as an importer, And the second time with your resellers information and as an exporter.

Fax or post these forms along with your Invoice from your reseller, and your reciept from however you sent the money, Place a cover note asking for the credit card authorization form to be emailed to you and include your email.

Step 5. You will receive customs bill, This is 10% + a $49 processing fee, Print it off, fill it out, And Fax or Post it to Customs.

Step 6. Enjoy your laptop.

Other notes.
Customs usually takes around 2 weeks, I got mine in 3 days by ringing regularly, and using the steps outlined above, If you dont have a fax machine you can use a scanner and a free (For one month) service called Efax which lets you send faxes via the internet.

 

Thank you for that - I am planning to buy a few (one of me, one for boyfriend) from the states soonish, and that guide is going to be useful.

Interesting though - I thought you would get charged import tax

 

You do, As mentioned in step 5, You are charged 10% import tax, there is no duty on laptops though.

 

Thanks Matt,

I ordered a V1S-B1 from ExcaliberPC on Wednesday and now my next step should be Step 4.

 

With the laptop charger, do I just need to buy an adapter to connect it to the wall socket?

Americans have different wall sockets than us

 

exactly what i did last two weeks.
Ordered Asus U3s from excaliberpc, but the custom got my notebook for 5 days and the international post mail me a notice and many paperworks to do... but it was a really good experience...

I didn't use paypal..but used TT, and transaction fees apply...

I think only USPS will have custom issues... if using UPS, FedEx or DHL they will help us do the paperwork...

10% GST is nothing but i hate paying $48.85 for the custom processing fees..

for those who is importing good luck

cheers Kenny

 

Kenny,
How did you go about the notebook charger connecting to the wall socket?

 

Multi adapter or you can get the cable from dick smith

 

Kenny,

How much do those solutions cost?

 

Hey, I've got a question. My status currently says.

--
SYDNEY,
AU 17/10/2007 4:51 IN TRANSIT
SYDNEY,
AU 17/10/2007 3:20 PACKAGE DATA PROCESSED BY BROKERAGE. WAITING FOR CLEARANCE / SHIPMENT SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY, AWAITING FINAL RELEASE
17/10/2007 3:20 REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / SHIPMENT SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY
17/10/2007 3:20 REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / RELEASED BY CLR AGENCY. NOW IN-TRANSIT
--

Is this what yours said before it got to you?

Thanks Matt.

 

Do you happen to know about NZ customs? I think VAT is 12%, but I don't know if there is a processing fee...anyone know?

 

Thanks for the info Matt,

My situations a bit different. I'm a student in Adelaide right now, and my laptop just crapped out on me. My parents back in the US bought me a new one and want to ship it over to me with some other care-package kind of things.

Will I still have to pay for customs tax?

Since I'm not buying it, and I'll only be here through May of this year I think I'm waived from paying the fees, but I just wanted to confirm.

Thanks so much!

 

Sorry Adaptive, I dont know NZ importation laws at all.

No, Unfortunately you will have to pay customs fees, The only way to get around it is for your parents to fly over with the notebook. Its a common myth that sending an item as a gift means you dont have to pay customs, you do.

The one way you _might_ be able to get around this, is to import it on a temporary basis, if your leaving the country within the next 12 months with the imported item you may be able to get out of paying customs, more info can be found here.
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4370

 

Excellent guide, thank you very much.

 

You could always just take a holiday and pick one up or find someone you trust who is going on holiday. But 10% isn't bad.

 

Or if you can order a barebones system that together with postage comes to less than AU$1,000, then that would be GST/duty free.

 

What is the credit card authorization?
What is the difference between the B374 and B650 http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/B650.pdf (I read on another forum to fill out the B650, but its a lot longer and more complicated)

What is the Customs Tariff Classification No. and stat. code?

 

Can anyone help me with these questions? I really need to order a laptop asap and don't know if its worth the trouble and delay of ordering from the USA.

 

You can get your questions answered by emailing customs via their website (I did and received a prompt response).

The Tariff Classification for laptop computers is 8471.30.00 and the statistical code is 20

 

I am planning to import a Sony from the states, the company I'm planing to buy from is Portableone. This is my first time I'm trying to buy and import somthing from overseas.

If Portableone were to send me the laptop by shipment, would it arrive at my address or will It end up in the customs waiting for me to pay up and fill in the custom docs?

Furthermore, i don't really get the tracking number. How do I use it?

 

If the value of your laptop and shipping is over AU$1000, then customs will hold it while they await your payment of GST on the amount. Follow matt_h1's guide as to how to go about getting your laptop unimpounded.

By tracking number, he means the company where you buy it from should send you a confirmation email or notice stating when the item has been shipped, with which courier company and give you a tracking number (I know of no mailing service these days that doesn't have at least some sort of rudimentary tracking system). Go to their website, punch in the number and it should let you know when it has arrived in Australia. Then follow the above steps for clearing it through customs.

 

So this wouldn't matter if the value is less than 1000 aud correct? My parents are sending me a laptop that won't arrive before I leave and its retail is less than 500. All I would need to do is put down the value/declare it as a notebook and it should be ok with no extra fees?

 

Get them to take it out of the box and put it in a laptop case. Customs didn't even grab it.

 

my cousin shipped a laptop from the US last week through usps express mail. it was supposed to arrive at my doorstep today but it didn't. i checked tracking and it says "Your item arrived at the international processing centre in SYDNEY at 14:11 on 22 Jun 2009, and is awaiting clearance for delivery processing." is this supposed to happen? why is it being held up? i want to get it asap