DEV-19-MIN-0153 – Minute: GST on low-value imported goods: application date

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GST on Low-Value Imported Goods: Application Date

Portfolios Finance / Revenue / Customs

On 12 June 2019, the Cabinet Economic Development Committee:

1 noted that:

1.1 on 24 September 2018, Cabinet agreed to implement an offshore supplier registration system for collecting GST on imported goods valued at or below $1,000, and to change the de minimis to $1,000 based on the value of the consignment once the system is implemented (the proposed system) [CAB-18-MIN-0466.01];

1.2 the proposed system is included in the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2019-20, GST Offshore Supplier Registration, and Remedial Matters) Bill (the Bill);

1.3 the application date for the proposed system, as outlined in the Bill, is 1 October 2019;

2 noted that several submitters on the Bill, New Zealand Post, and some in the fast freight industry have expressed concern that it may be difficult to implement the necessary system changes to comply with the proposed system by 1 October 2019;

3 noted that in response to submissions, the Bill as reported back by the Finance and Expenditure Committee delays the application date for the proposed system by two months to 1 December 2019;

4 agreed to the proposed 1 December 2019 application date of the proposed system;

5 noted that if the application date of the GST on low-value imported goods changes is delayed to 1 December 2019, the following will also come into force on 1 December 2019:

5.1 the Customs and Excise Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2019 (relating to the thresholds for collecting duty and the Import Entry Transaction Fee);

5.2 any required changes to the Biosecurity (System Entry Levy) Order 2019;

Fiscal implications

6 noted the following changes as a result of the decision in paragraph 4 above, with a corresponding impact on the operating balance:

7 agreed to reduce the 2019/20 amount in the tagged contingency Impact of GST on Low Value Goods Policy on Operational Funding Requirements in Vote Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries and Food Safety by $1.998 million to $6.993 million;

8 agreed to reduce the 2019/20 amount in the tagged contingency Funding to Continue Protecting New Zealand from Imported Threats in Vote Customs by $2.336 million to
$6.886 million;

9 agreed that the net fiscal cost of paragraphs 6-8 above of $9.666 million be charged against the between-Budget contingency established as part of Budget 2019.

Janine Harvey
Committee Secretary

Present:
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson (Chair)
Hon Phil Twyford
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
Hon Jenny Salesa
Hon Shane Jones
Hon Kris Faafoi
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon James Shaw
Hon Eugenie Sage

Officials present from:
Office of the Prime Minister
Officials Committee for DEV

Hard-copy distribution:
Minister of Finance
Minister of Revenue
Minister of Customs