NZ Customs Release 713

On 14 July, Matariki - the Maori New Year, will be celebrated. Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future. We would like to wish you all a safe and wonderful Matariki with whanau and friends.

Next Friday, there will be no Customs Release sent due to the short week. All Customs offices will be closed as we observe the public holiday. 

Customs' goods fees are to be increased to reflect inflation on 1 October 2023 and 1 July 2024. A table of the fees to apply from 1 October 2023 is found using the link below. 

These increases are interim, pending a longer, more comprehensive review of Customs' goods fees. These interim fee adjustments will reflect the rate of inflation since the fee levels were last agreed in 2019, maintaining the real value of the fees. 

Customs consulted stakeholders on these increases in March and April 2023 and stakeholders' submissions informed the Government's decisions. 

Customs is currently transitioning to a new credit card payment portal with a new service provider.  While everything is being done to ensure that this happens in a timely manner, we have become aware that the option to pay by credit card may not be available for a number of weeks from 13 July 2023.  

We apologise for any inconvenience and advise that, during this time, customers will be required to pay Customs through internet banking. It is important to follow our internet banking instructions precisely to ensure that payments can be processed correctly, reducing the risk of any delays.

Customs has import entry guidelines on how to account for international transportation and insurance costs, where goods have been sold for export to New Zealand on a Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) or similar basis. These are set out below and should be used by anyone lodging import entries to ensure consistency.

The Reduced Rate of interest changed on 1 July 2023. It increased from 2.86% to 5.71%. This reflects the 90-day Bill Wholesale Rate on 30 June 2023.

The compensatory interest rate changed on 9 May 2023 and remains at 10.39%.

This use of money interest is charged for two reasons:
- It compensates the Crown for not being able to use the money that is underpaid
- It encourages duty payers to pay the correct amount of duty on time. 

The Reduced Rate applies if the duty payer voluntarily discloses an inadvertent error in an entry that results in underpayment. The Reduced Rate is adjusted annually.

From 3 July 2023, a Domestic Transhipment Request (DTR) will be required to move uncleared sea-freight from one approved facility (CCA/TF) to another approved facility. An approved facility is a Customs-controlled Area (CCA) and Transitional Facility (TF).

This change is part of a three-phase pilot with Ministry for Primary Industries.

Further information about these changes, requirements, what you may need to do, and training is available on Customs' website.