Any Way To Avoid GST On Imported Auction Items?

Auction houses like Spink tend to declare the full value of the goods sent by courier which results in overseas buyers paying import taxes like GST. Is there any way to avoid this and do auction houses usually assist? Depending on the hammer price, a 7% GST can be a hefty amount.

I can't imagine that any reputable auction house would fiddle the values of items to save a customer tax. Years ago, when buying records from the US, I'd ask the sellers to put a lower value on the discs to cut my VAT bill, and they were happy to do it, but they weren't Spink or Siegel.

You also have to consider insurance. If they declare a lower than actual value would they be covered for loss?

I won a large lot through Kelleher a while back and was charged GST & Import Duty. The lot was couriered and arrived in THREE business days to country NSW.

Meanwhile, I can't get a letter delivered from Sydney in 3 days. Hopeless.

There's no way to avoid GST and nor there should be. It's something every potential bidder should factor in to their maximum bid.

Cakeism -- wanting to have your cake and eat it, too.

The more the legitimate the business, the more they will follow the rules. You don't get much more legit than Spink. If you want to avoid tax try ebay.

I know one auction house, no longer in business, that reduced the purchase price on the customs declaration, at the buyers request, on a shipment from the United States to Canada. The auctioneer received a phone call from Canadian Revenue and when he attempted to confirm the lowered prices, the agent responded by citing the prices realized published by him showing a much greater selling price than declared. Neediness to say there were no winners except for Canadian Revenue snd the auctioneer became extremely accurate in his declarations.

In this community we remove links to pirated material, hacker sites, and other things that are unlawful. This thread is not really much different; so let's move on.
Thanks
Don

Not telling any auction house to break the law, I was just wondering if there is a way to get round this in a legal way like sending it other than using a courier so that value does not have to be declared.

There is no legal way to get around taxes if you are an individual purchasing for yourself, personal consumption or use. Depending what you import and what country your in you can be charged with customs fees, GST- Goods and services tax; or HST which is harmonized sales tax consisting of GST and provincial tax, and then there is the fee charged to collect that tax by the Post Office. Here in N.Scotia if I buy from U.S. auction house the US value, including postage cost and buyers premium gets changed to Canadian which is 25% more, then add 15% HST, and then a 10 dollar post office fee for collecting the money. So if you think you pay a lot, how do you think I feel. But you have to respect the fact it pays for our hospital, medical and other government services that we depend on if and when required.

Trying to attempt to import goods from one country to another and trying to avoid tax will get you and the person sending them in trouble with the authorties. And dont think they dont read or use bots to check for this sort of thing online. Once put out on the web in any form, email or otherwise, it can be found. It is not worth considering or attempting and should be avoided at all cost as it could cost you more than you know in the end. And no, I am not a government employee, I just respect the laws. And as Don stated, lets talk stamps.

Ps. Don, I think you should lock this thread.

Mike

Scott Trepel always states at the beginning of every auction session as does David Coogle at Kelleher that they will declare the full amount "and do not ask!".

Opinion:
Your first post seemed to me, to avoid paying an impost.

The second quote above, I can understand, if you are concerned
the value of a parcel may encourage theft.

I buy IT and stationery from a vendor, who plasters my phone number
on the parcels. That has concerned me.

At one point Spink UK did suggest Royal Mail tracking but they later changed their mind and decided to send by DHL.

I was hoping that I would not have to...
The 'work-around' is to solicit your the government to change the tax laws.
Don