Help!
I brought my cigars from overseas and now New Zealand Customs has seized my order and are demanding I pay DUTY and EXCISE TAXES !
What do I need to give them, how much is it going to cost? and is it worth it !?!Should you be contemplating Importing Cigars from overseas countries the following example is an indication of revenue you will pay the NZ Customs Service.
You will also receive a notification from New Zealand Post in the mail and you will need to do your own Customs Clearance or appoint a Customs Broker.
NZ Customs will charge you NZ$40.77 to process a clearance should you attend in person.
A broker will charge you anything up to $150.00 dependant of the time involved.
EG: Box of 25 Montecristo No 2 Supplier must produce a Commercial Invoice showing Value and KTC
As at Mid Oct 2014
Purchase price of USD325.00 converted at 0.77 (being the exchange rate NZ Customs set at every two weeks)
Equals NZD422.07
Plus NZ Excise Duty of $681.72 per KTC(Kilograms of Tobacco Content)(Excise Duties are reviewed each year)
There are 25 sticks @14.26gr per stick=356.5 grams of tobacco weight
Excise Duty therefor equals 682.72/1000 *356.5=$243.03 of duty
Plus Shipping USD30.00 @ .77 =38.96
Plus 15% GST calculated on the purchase price/excise duty / and shipping charges.
Some suppliers will charge you a handling fee which is also subject to GST..
To Summarize:
Cost of Goods NZD422.07
Plus Duty 243.03
Plus Freight 38.96
Total 704.06
@ 15% Gst 105.61
Sub Total 809.67
Plus NZC Process Fee 40.77
Grand Total $850.44 Box of 25 Cigars
Next, take in to the time it takes for you to get your cigars, 2 weeks on the boat from overseas, another week at customs before you get the letter, around another week to do the paper work, clear customs and get shipped out to you.
Thats a month out of the humidor, so needs to be hydrated for 2 weeks or so before your ready to smoke...
Now, customs are capturing your data, and if they sent out 2 or more letters to the same address, they consider you an importer, and you will need to find a licensed customs agent/broker.
On the other hand, you could buy direct from the Cigar Shop, we have it in stock and can be shipped out in most cases that day, no additional costs and fresh out of the humidor, ready to smoke.
Here are the weights in grams of a number of cigars sorted by Factory Name.
Vitola de Galera Weight - gram Common Name
Almuerzos 7.52 Corona
Belvederes 6.21 Short Panetela
Brevas JLP 8.21 Corona
Cadetes 5.43 Short Panetela
Campanas 12.45 Pyramid
Canonazo 13.00 Robusto Extra
Carlotas 6.39 Panetela
Cazadores 11.27 Lonsdale
Cazadores JLP 10.00 Long Corona
Cervantes 10.80 Lonsdale
Coloniales 9.18 Corona
Conservas JLP 9.20 Long Corona
Coronas 9.29 Corona
Coronas Gordas 11.41 Grand Corona
Coronas Grandes 10.14 Long Corona
Coronitas 6.35 Petit Corona
Cosacos 8.84 Corona
Cremas 7.64 Corona
Cremas JLP 7.59 Corona
Culebras 6.67 Culebra
Dalias 11.86 Lonsdale
Dalias Cortas 9.42 Corona
Delicados 10.29 Long Panetela
Delicados Extra 8.9 Long Panetela
Deliciosos 6.23 Slim Panetela
Diademas 21.62 Giant Perfecto
Dobles 14.58 Robusto Extra
Double Robustos 15.05 Double Robusto
Edmundo 12.34 Robusto
Eminentes 8.46 - 8.66? Corona
Entreactos 3.27 Small Panetela
Exquisitos 9.45 Perfecto
Favoritos 7.64 Petit Perfecto
Franciscanos 6.72 Petit Corona
Franciscos 9.94 Corona
Generosos 8.91 Perfecto
Genios 12.45 Robusto Extra
Gorditos 11.66 Robusto Extra
Gran Coronas 18.79 Grand Corona
Hermosos No.1 14.28 Grand Corona
Hermosos No.4 10.86 Corona Extra
Julieta No.2 15.07 Churchill
Laguito Especial 10.29 Lonsdale
Laguito No.1 10.29 Long Panetela
Laguito No.2 8.15 Panetela
Laguito No.3 2.81 Small Panetela
Londres 7.29 Petit Corona
Magicos 11.24 Petit Robusto
Marevas 8.46 Petit Corona
Minutos 7.46 Petit Corona
Montecristo No.2 14.26 Piramide
Nacionales 8.28 Corona
Nacionales JLP 8.28 Corona
Ninfas 7.07 Slim Panetela
Pacos 15.07 Double Corona
Palmas 6.76 Slim Panetela
Palmitas 5.68 Slim Panetela
Panetelas Largas 5.01 Slim Panetela
Parejos 8.90 Panetela
Perlas 5.91 Petit Corona
Petit Bouquet 6.06 Petit Perfecto
Petit Cazadores 6.04 Petit Corona
Petit Cetros 7.04 Petit Corona
Petit Cetros JLP 6.32 Short Panetela
Petit Coronas 7.70 Petit Corona
Petit Edmundo 10.76 Petit Robusto
Petit Robustos 5.27 Petit Robusto
Piramides 14.26 Pyramid
Placeras 5.27 Small Panetela
Prominentes 17.86 Double Corona
Reyes 6.37 Petit Corona
Robustos 11.66 Robusto
Rodolfos 17.08 Double Pyramid
Romeo 13.22 Perfecto
Salomon - I 19.80 Double Perfecto
Secretos 6.37 Petit Corona
Seoane 5.01 Small Panetela
Serie C No.1 6.37 Double Corona
Standard 6.90 Petit Corona
Tacos 10.79 Perfecto
Trabucos 5.80 Short Panetela
Vegueritos 6.10 Short Panetela
Books, Books & Great Cigar Books
We have a range of great cigr books available, how much do you really know about that great cigar you had, or about the wonderful cuban world where the masters hand roll thousands great cigars, then have a look:
We also have a great cigar journal with space to write and record details like families, ring gauge, experiances, flavours for each third of the sticks you try, and a place to stick the bands.
Browse Books