Australian Government Proposal to Introduce GST (goods & services tax) on Online Purchases Made Outside of Australia

Hardware Hub Tech Policy & News
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Before 2014 closes, the Australian government is proposing to impose a GST (similar to the UK's VAT) on purchases made online. Currently there is no GST applicable on purchases under $1000, but the newly appointed Assistant-Treasurer: Josh Frydenberg desires to also lower this $1000 threshold.

 

Whatever transpires, I am assuming online purchases will still workout cheaper, as opposed to conventional stores (although, that may be open to debate)

 

 

This whole debate on GST applying to online purchases initiated from Australia has arisen from intense lobbying by Gerry Harvey (the owner of the large Harvey Norman, and Joyce Mayne franchise of electrical stores across Australia)

 

Gerry Harvey has been a staunch opponent of overseas purchases made online (one of Gerry Harvey's memorable quotes was: "online retailing is a complete waste of time")

 

Click-on the link below to view article on Josh Frydenberg's proposal:

 

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/new-push-to-impose-the-gst-on-online-purchases-20141226-12dvw2.html

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Well, here in Fin basically everything is taxed, in a nutshell all goods imported from outside of Europe over 22€'s is VAT'd, which is 24% in our case...

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The lowering of the $1000 dollar threshold, and the overall proposal is not being viewed favourably by many Aussie online shoppers. Many are saying it intrudes on their rights as consumers.