Vinnyc Posted March 15, 2012 Posted March 15, 2012 Hi guys I am coming to Brisbanne and surfers in June for 3 weeks so how tight are they in customs on what you can carry with you and what is the limit? What's it like around surfers?
theholmesmob Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Directly from the Australian Customs site....'250 grams of cigars or tobacco products other than cigarettes. and that is per person. How tight and what are they like?... well bad enough that they can make a TV show "Border Control' ... depends on the day and the person I suppose. What you decide to do will depend on how much grief you want if they do pull you aside. I haven't been to Surfers for yonks but I'm sure you have a great time......
Fuzz Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Aussie customs can be tight. The duty free allowance is 250gm of tobacco, 2.25L of alcoho and $900 AUD worth of general goods per person. Here's a link to the Aussie Customs travel guide: http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/GuideForTravellers.pdf Failure to adhere to the rules may cause you to wind up on the next episode of Australian Border Security.
Tan1801 Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 As far as I know if your caught over your allowance of tobacco or alcohol, they can technically tax you on the whole amount (i.e. you don't get any duty free allowance). Normally they'll give you the option of discarding the remainder as long as it isn't a ridiculous amount. I don't travel that much though, so someone who travels more will be able to provide a more accurate answer.
rckymtn22 Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Do they actually get out the scale and weigh the cigars that you bring in?
Fuzz Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 As far as I know if your caught over your allowance of tobacco or alcohol, they can technically tax you on the whole amount (i.e. you don't get any duty free allowance). Normally they'll give you the option of discarding the remainder as long as it isn't a ridiculous amount. Not really. A work colleague got caught with a few boxes of cigars and they only charged him on the excess. Do they actually get out the scale and weigh the cigars that you bring in? Nah. Last time I got pulled up, I asked how they measured it and was told that if I had more than 25 sticks, I was in the custard.
thecrowder Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 I called the customs office prior to my move to Sydney and they told me that the tax rate on anything more than the 250 grams was $400 per kilogram. I ended up buying a food scale so that I could weigh everything to avoid the fine. I found that a box of lanceros (i.e., cigars only) weighed almost 250 grams. One word of advice, if you think you're going to be close/over the 250 grams make sure that you declare that you're over on the customs declaration form. A customs officer will ask you while you're in line why you checked that box, tell them that you have a box of cigars and weren't sure if it was over the limit so you just wanted to be safe. They will most likely say that you're OK and send you on your way. If you don't declare and they catch you then they are much less likely to be nice to you.
Fuzz Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Very true. Always declare if you have the slightest doubt. There's no point in ruining the start of your vacation with a hefty fine! I declare my samples even though I know they are safe.
Trevor2118 Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 I called the customs office prior to my move to Sydney and they told me that the tax rate on anything more than the 250 grams was $400 per kilogram. I ended up buying a food scale so that I could weigh everything to avoid the fine. I found that a box of lanceros (i.e., cigars only) weighed almost 250 grams. One word of advice, if you think you're going to be close/over the 250 grams make sure that you declare that you're over on the customs declaration form. A customs officer will ask you while you're in line why you checked that box, tell them that you have a box of cigars and weren't sure if it was over the limit so you just wanted to be safe. They will most likely say that you're OK and send you on your way. If you don't declare and they catch you then they are much less likely to be nice to you. This is spot on from my experience. In Sydney they usually check the declaration form while you are waiting, ask a few questions, and allow you to bypass checking (bearing in mind that all baggage is x-rayed before it hits the carrousel's) if you are reasonable, courteous, and there is no x-ray problem. Trevor.
coblos Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Nearly all my cigars come in through the airport, if you have 2 boxes or less you don't even have to declare the cigars, you will need to declare the wooden boxes they come in though.
Tashaz Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Good advice Crowder but the Duty rate is more like $462 per kilo or somewhat.
Tashaz Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Nearly all my cigars come in through the airport, if you have 2 boxes or less you don't even have to declare the cigars, you will need to declare the wooden boxes they come in though. Under the current legislation you have to declare ALL tobacco products. Am I missing something here?
rusty Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Under the current legislation you have to declare ALL tobacco products. Am I missing something here? as long as you have less than 250gm of tobacco products you're ok although all food,plant,biological items are supposed to be declared
Miner Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 I declare everything even when I know I'm below the limit. Customs tend to be more friendly when I do that. Whatever you do don't argue with them!! Oz custom officers take their work very seriously and they could ruin the start of your holiday. Cheers
Vinnyc Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 There are a few members of my family traveling together can I use their allowance but have itin my travel humidor all the tickers were paid for by me together? Realistically I'm just going to take make 15 sticks but all sigVI size really so I should be fine. Thais for the answers
jay8354 Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 My Advice is to declare everything, no matter what. Don't bring any food. If in doubt about cigars, you might as well just leave the cigars at home. If you are going to Brisbane first, pop into the Czar house and pick up some cigars. Or better yet, order them first from home, schedule with Czar crew to deliver them to where you are going to be staying (if going to Surfers first). And then pop in to the Czar house. Surfers is nice - Sun, surf and sand, nice people. You can do as much or as little as you want. Hire a car and drive around.
Vinnyc Posted March 17, 2012 Author Posted March 17, 2012 See jay I hear you on leave them at hope but I'm bring some CGR for the wedding and wont be picking them up in Brisbane or a few of the other smokes I'm bringing I have some special smokes for the wedding otherwise I would pick them all up there but yes thanks for the advise it's somthing I would normaly have followed
Vinnyc Posted March 17, 2012 Author Posted March 17, 2012 Trevor can a family put there allowance together as I only have one travel humi.
Warren Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 Trevor can a family put there allowance together as I only have one travel humi. I can just imagine the conversation at customs. Sir are all these cigars yours. No the cohibas belong to little Billy here. He's only 5 but he knows good quality when he sees it.
Trevor2118 Posted March 18, 2012 Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) Trevor can a family put there allowance together as I only have one travel humi. In short...yes, but only for persons 18 years or older. Cigars do not have to be physically split between the persons. All in one case is okay. Allowances on Return to Australia Travellers entering Australia (whether return home or visiting from overseas) are entitled to the following limits: ALCOHOL: Inbound allowance for adult travellers 18 years or over Each adult is permitted to enter Australia with 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages (liquor, wine and champagne). TOBACCO PRODUCTS : Inbound allowance for adult travellers 18 years or over Each adult is permitted to enter Australia with 250 cigarettes, or 250 grams of cigars or tobacco products. GENERAL GOODS: Inbound allowance for all travellers. Each person is permitted to enter Australia with: A$900 (for adult travellers 18 years or over), or A$450 (for travellers under 18 years and aircrew) worth of goods (including gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, jewellery, watches and perfume concentrate, sporting goods, but excluding alcohol and cigarettes) obtained overseas or purchased in Australia on a duty/tax free basis. The above three categories of concession levels apply to accompanied goods only, imported in carry-on or checked baggage, or purchased at an Arrivals Duty Free store. Provided importations and purchases stay within the maximum limits stipulated above, they may be imported free from duty and/or taxes. If the maximum limit is exceeded in a category, duty and tax is payable on the entire value or volume of that particular category of goods. For full details: see http://www.customs.g...te/page4352.asp Edited March 18, 2012 by Trevor2118 Link added
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