Not quite. The tax is essentially a one time charge to the end user, but it is charged at every step along the way. Each business that is charged GST can claim it back and then charges 10% on what they sell.
For example a printer will buy paper $100 and be charged GST $10 for a total of $110. They pay the $110 but claim the $10 back from the tax office so effectively get it for $100. The printer then produces books for $10 plus $1 GST so $11 is paid by the book shop who claim $1 back. Book shop sells it for $20 +$2 GST and the end user pays $22. Tax has effectively been paid once, but every business is continually paying and claiming back tax. It's a lot of work for every business keeping track of it. Farmers have an interesting time of it. They don't charge GST (There is no GST on unprocessed food), but pay tax on fertiliser, stock feed, etc so they are continually getting tax back, but are out of pocket for up to 6 months depending on how they have structured their tax. Pentax Content. On the subject of the lenses, taking into account that the self import price is GST free they aren't too bad except for the 50-135. But keep in mind that the warranty you get on the imported lenses is only valid in the US and you have to post it back for any service (or pay for anything done here in Australia). I'm waiting to see what prices are on the 60-250 before I decide on my next lens purchase. Leon http://www.bluering.org.au http://www.bluering.org.au/leon Peter McIntosh wrote: > A one-time charge, thankfully. Although don't say that too loud - our > government might hear you and decide they like the idea... Then again, > it's election time, so this would probably get buried. For now. > > Prices still suck. > > Ciao, > > Peter in western Sydney > > P. J. Alling wrote: >> Is that a one time tax at time of purchase, or is it assessed every time >> the item changes hands in classic value added tax fashion? >> >> Peter McIntosh wrote: >> >>> We have a national 10% GST (goods and services tax). There are no >>> additional city/state taxes. The prices still suck. >>> >>> Ciao, >>> >>> Peter in western Sydney >>> >>> P. J. Alling wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Those prices don't seem so out of line, if I assume that the Australian >>>> price includes a 17% VAT. Maybe it's your government you should be >>>> complaining about. In the US sales taxes are on the order of 4-10% and >>>> are assessed by a State Government and sometimes by a City or County >>>> Government in addition to the sales price. When I take that into account >>>> the prices for the lenses seem downright reasonable. >>>> >>>> Charles Wilson wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Dear All, >>>>> >>>>> I'm getting quiet sick of the inflated prices of Pentax lenses in >>>>> Australia. >>>>> When are Pentax going to give Australian customers some decent prices and >>>>> rebates. >>>>> >>>>> For example I can get the following lenses imported to Australia from USA >>>>> with freight for >>>>> >>>>> DA 50-135 $1046 Australian price $1513 >>>>> DA 70 $ 594 >>>>> $663 >>>>> DA 12-24 $910 >>>>> $1077 >>>>> DA 21 $568 >>>>> $699 >>>>> >>>>> I am more than happy to support Australian retailers but not at a $500 >>>>> premium on the DA 50-135. >>>>> >>>>> What do others think. >>>>> >>>>> Regards >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Charles Wilson >>>>> Sydney >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
