False car invoices watched by customs

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 5

False car invoices watched by customs

New Zealanders who go to Japan to buy used cars should beware of false invoices, said the Customs Department in Christchurch yesterday. The department has begun an investigation into the practice, in which organised groups of New Zealanders have gone to Japan to buy a car. Cars which cost $BO,OOO in New Zealand can be bought in some parts of Japan for $20,000. They can then be sold in New Zealand at profit. However, the department suspects that false invoices have been supplied with some of the cars, understating the purchase price. As a result, the buyer evades duty owed on the vehicle.

“All New Zealanders planning to visit Japan to purchase second-hand vehicles should be very wary of offers of false documents from Japanese suppliers,” said the Collector of Customs in Christchurch, Mr Ray Allison. "New Zealanders who present false documents to customs can expect punitive measures, including the seizing of the vehicle, where an attempt is made to defraud the revenue or whatever customs requirements are not complied with.”

Mr Allison confirmed that customs officers were investigating an importation of 22 Japanese cars into Timaru last week. The cars are believed to

be top-line vehicles, such as Mazda RX7s and Datsun 24OZs. There had been considerable news media speculation and comment on the customs investigation, some of which had been inaccurate and exaggerated, he said.

A senior consultant at Connoisseur Travel, Mrs Liz Martini, said that the firm had invited people booking on tours to meet customs officers before leaving. “We are warning them not to take false invoicing,” she said. More than 150 people had booked on the sevenday tours which start about $l4OO. Up to 50 inquiries from throughout New Zealand were being

received a day. A party of 23 are now in Tokyo where they are being shown' round car yards by an agent.

Mrs Martini said that a wide range of people was booked on the tours including many car dealers and young single men and women.

Mazda RX7s that were being bought for less than $2OOO could be in a battered or damaged condition although there were good bargains for people willing to spend up to $4OOO to $5OOO.

A car bought for $4OOO would attract $3200 (80 per cent) duty, cost about $3700 to ship to New Zealand, and be liable for $lOOO in GST making its final value $12,000.