ive orderd to lots of parts from the us and the one from tower hobbies i used ups and got hit with $120 for tax when it got here (for $250 worth??) but i got $300 worth of batteries from axxis racing and sent them bye normaly post and didnt get any tax so i think that u can avoid tax if u dont send bye ups or courier! correct me if im wrong??
also my dad has orderd $1200 worth in the part and got hit with very little tax. once again he used normal postal service.

No, its just that you start getting charged at a lower value if you use a courier.

I just got a FT TC4. I didn't get charged a cent.
Got it from Tower Hobbies with UPS Express.

I am getting back into the hobby after 8 years and I have saved about AU$600 by buying OS. I don't mind waiting for the goods because the saving outways the wait. Good thing is some yank shops will give you a discount for buying more then 1 item at a time, unlike hobby shops here in OZ. I know hobby shops have overheads, but I feel like I am paying for all their weekly rent if I buy top end equipment off them.