GST is intended to be a broad-based tax applying to goods and services consumed in NZ, however under the current system not all goods and services are captured. Specifically, GST is not currently collected on imported goods worth $400 or less. Historically, it was thought that the administrative cost of collection would outweigh the tax revenue collected, however the import market has grown giving rise to increasing concern NZ suppliers are disadvantaged in comparison to offshore suppliers.

Following in the footsteps of recent Australian law changes, a Bill was introduced into Parliament in December 2018, the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2019-20, GST Offshore Supplier Registration, and Remedial Matters), that seeks to level the playing field.

The Bill, intended to be effective from 1 October 2019, proposes to apply GST to goods valued at $1,000 or less (excluding tobacco and alcohol) that are delivered to a NZ address from overseas. Offshore suppliers will be required to return NZ GST if their total supplies to NZ exceed $60,000 in a 12-month period.

So what does this mean for NZ consumers? They will likely have to pay GST on low-value goods imported from overseas, while NZ businesses are now on a more level playing field with their overseas competitors.