When to Call a Customs Broker

From the mundane to the more exotic - find out just how a Customs Broker can help your business import without issues!

The rules on importing goods into Australia are complicated, varied and unexpected. A licensed Customs Broker can help you navigate it all, whether it's one item or a hundred - so you save time and money.

You probably haven't ever given much thought to the rules surrounding the importation of goods into Australia, but with the exponential increase in online shopping, there are a lot of us doing just that every single day.

There's no minimum amount for a good to be defined as imported - it can be as simple as one book from the UK or maybe you have a business and you need 100 tech components from China. It's all considered to be imported and according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), in Australia it adds up to a staggering $450 billion a year.

The main types of things that are imported into Australia are, as you would suspect, pretty mundane. They include machinery, pharmaceuticals, furniture and vehicles.

If you've only ever purchased the odd thing here or there, then you probably didn't encounter too much in the way of customs clearance issues. However, it can get complicated and expensive very quickly. There are:

• Clearance fees
• Customs duties
• Goods and Services Tax
• Other taxes

These are all payable at the border before the goods can enter the country. The best way to manage all of these fees and to ensure that you are not paying more than you have to is to employ the services of a Customs Broker. They will deal with all the legal obligations on your behalf.

Customs Brokers are experienced in managing imports both large and small, and deal with anything from the above mundane articles to the downright unusual, such as:

• Livestock eggs and sperm
• Signed sports memorabilia
• Edible birds nests - a delicacy in Asia. These are made from bird saliva (you can't make this stuff up!)
• Antiques (over 100 years old)
• Unusual vehicles
• Adult sex toys - there's a business idea for you right there!

The rules on importing goods into Australia are complicated, varied and unexpected. A licensed Customs Broker can help you navigate it all, whether it's one item or a hundred - so you save time and money.

And now, I'm off to track down an edible birds nest - apparently they're really good for the skin.

The team at Australian Customs Clearance aim to provide the highest quality and most thorough customs clearance to clients of any size. From large businesses to individuals with one-off imports, we offer a premium service that is guaranteed to reduce duty if at all possible.