Attorney-General’s
Customs duty — alignment of import entry level thresholds for courier and postal imports
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | -8.0 | -12.0 | -13.0 | -13.0 |
| Related expense ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | -2.0 | -2.0 | -2.1 | -2.1 |
The Government has aligned the import entry level threshold for postal and courier imports at $1,000, with effect from 12 October 2005.
Previously, the threshold for air and sea consignments and postal consignments carried by private couriers was $250, while the threshold for postal consignments carried by Australia Post was $1,000.
The alignment of these thresholds at $1,000 will promote competitive neutrality and simplify the customs clearance process for a large number of importers.
The Australian Customs Service’s administration costs will be reduced by $8.2 million over four years as a result of the lower number of declared items being assessed.
Further information can be found in Australian Customs Notice No. 2005/57 of 7 October 2005.
Indirect tax — customs duty concession for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | -1.0 | - | - | - |
The Government has agreed to allow certain goods of a non-commercial nature to be imported free of customs duty by ‘Commonwealth Games Family’ members for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The concession will take effect from 1 January 2006 and run until 30 June 2006.
A similar concession was provided for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tariff concessions — abolishing the three per cent tariff on certain machinery
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | -2.0 | -2.0 | -2.0 | -2.0 |
The Government will remove the three per cent tariff applying to machinery imported as part of a complete package where the main component is eligible for a Tariff Concession Order (TCO), but the package includes items which would otherwise make the package ineligible for a TCO, with effect from 11 May 2005.
Removing the tariff will ensure consistency with the Government’s decision, announced in the 2005-06 Budget, to remove the three per cent tariff on business inputs imported under a TCO.
Taxation of imported wine-based beverages — alignment with locally produced wine based beverages
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | .. | .. | .. | .. |
The Government has aligned the tax treatment of certain imported wine-based beverages with that of equivalent locally made product, with effect from 23 June 2005.
Previously, certain imported wine-based beverages were subject to customs duty at an excise equivalent rate. The measure is a technical correction to ensure that these wine-based beverages are subject to wine equalisation tax when imported.