From this page, you can access important notices that were issued in 2023.
Some of these notices may contain information that is no longer correct or relevant in the current year. Information within the notices was correct on the date they were issued.
Attempted attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea have led to some of the world’s major shipping lines suspending passage through the area.
As from Friday 15 December 2023, Customs will be implementing changes to the Deed of Undertaking forms currently in use for vehicles, vessels and aircraft that are entered under Part II concession Ref 80( b), (c) and (d).
Due to the high number of errors detected recently, importers and their agents are reminded that as of 01 January 2022 multi-use vaping devices and electronic cigarettes are now specifically classified under 8543.40.00.00E “Electronic cigarettes and similar personal electric vaporising devices”.
The annual indexation increase to excise and excise-equivalent duty rates for tobacco and tobacco products will take place on 1 January 2024.
Customs would like to remind importers and their agents that the Customs (Import Entry WCO Message) Rules 2013 (“Rules”), reflective of the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996, do not permit the payment type to be amended once the entry has passed.
From 11 December 2023 changes to the steel research levy, which applies to all items listed in Schedule 2 of the Heavy Engineering Research Levy Act, 1978, will increase levy rates from $10/tonne to $20/tonne.
From 1 January 2024 changes to the Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Goods) Levy will increase levy rates across all items.
NZ Customs has been working with Australian Border Force (ABF) under the Secure Trade Lane (STL) banner since 2016 to identify opportunities to make cargo clearances more efficient for traders. Earlier this year we initiated an internal review of the STL project to determine whether it should be continued in its current form, and what specific concepts may be worth pursuing.
From 16 October 2023, an amendment to the Customs Rules for Inward Cargo Reports (ICRs) will come into effect, changing the tariff code requirements.
Work has commenced on a review of Customs’ secondary legislation.
New Zealand has upgraded its trade deal with ASEAN and Australia. It is anticipated that the upgraded Agreement will be implemented sometime in 2024 once the required number of Parties have ratified it.
A new online application is making it quicker and easier for exporters to apply to join Customs' Authorised Economic Operator Secure Exports Scheme (SES).
Customs periodically issues public interpretive guidance as part of our administration of the Customs and Excise Act 2018. The purpose of the guidance is to educate and inform stakeholders how Customs interprets and applies certain parts of the Act.
Minor amendments to reflect the current border environment have been made to Concessions 80 and 81 of Part II of the Tariff.
Customs’ goods fees are to be increased to reflect inflation on 1 October 2023 and 1 July 2024.
The PEFML levy will increase on 1 July 2023 to 0.72 cents per litre (an increase from the existing rate of 0.65 cents per litre).
Update: The Government has announced that the reduced excise and excise-equivalent duty rate on motor spirits will be extended until 30 June 2023, with the full rate returning on 1 July 2023.
The Government has put the necessary legislative change in place to remove the reduction of excise and excise-equivalent duty rate on motor spirits. The excise and excise-equivalent duty rate will increase to 70.024¢ plus 8¢ per g of Pb (full rates) on 1 July 2023.
Accredited exporters will be able to benefit from quicker connections to Japan, with Customs’ Secure Exports Scheme opening up to air freight.
Customs is aware of an online scam offering people a new car, in exchange for payments and personal details.
The annual adjustment to the excise and excise-equivalent duty rates on alcoholic beverages will take place on 1 July 2023.
The Government has announced that the reduced excise and excise-equivalent duty rate on motor spirits, with full rates returning on 31 March 2023.
Revenue Management has undertaken a review of broker and client deferred accounts that have been inactive for two (2) or more years.
Customs is consulting on the option of across-the-board inflation-based increases in its goods fees in 2023 and 2024.
Supporting excise clients.
In January 2022, the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) issued a notice that the COVID-19 extension for vessels that were in New Zealand on a C4G/Temporary Import Entry, would conclude on 30 June 2022.
The Government has announced that the temporary reduction of excise and excise-equivalent duty rate on motor spirits will be extended until 30 June 2023.
The temporary reduction of excise and excise-equivalent duty rate on motor spirits was extended until 30 June 2023.
This includes goods currently subject to anti-dumping duties.