Apart from income tax, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is regarded as one of the main tax in New Zealand. Goods and Service Tax is an indirect tax. As on September 2003, the GST rate in New Zealand was 12.5 percent.
Nearly all goods and services that are supplied in New Zealand need to pay GST, except rental services of residential property and financial services.
If a tourist or visitor purchases any good from New Zealand, then he pays the GST Tax which is included in the price of the good. Normally, the visitors cannot get refund of the tax amount. But, if the seller of the good exports the sold item to the buyer's home address, then GST is neither charged on the good nor on the freight.
Business entities that are exporting goods and services from New Zealand do not need to pay any GST to the Government of New Zealand. Generally, GST Tax is levied on all goods sold in the shops of New Zealand, but exemption can be availed on the goods purchased from the Duty Free Shops.
If any business entity runs any business in New Zealand with an annual turnover of not less than $40,000, then it must register for GST.
Turnover is the overall value of the supplies, that are subject to taxation. In a business, turnover equals to the aggregate of value of sales and income, including grants and subsidies.