Important Pointers For Importing Goods to Australia

1. You are importing goods to Australia if you purchase, order or arrange for certain goods to be sent or brought to Australia. It may arrive in the country by three ways - sea cargo, air cargo or international mail.

2. When you purchase goods through the internet, the Customs and Border Protection Service of Australia have the right to screen, x-ray and examine all your imported goods. This will be done regardless of whether you brought the goods for somebody else, whether they are for business or private use, whether you plan on selling or distributing the goods or where the items came from.

3. All imported goods will be assessed for duty, GST (Goods and Services Tax) and other taxes and fees even if the goods are intended for your own use. Generally, imported items that cost A$1000 and below are not charged for duty and GST except for alcohol and tobacco products.

4. Imported goods may need to be cleared from the AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service)

6. When your import declaration has been processed, you will receive a payment advice from the Customs and Border Protection. The payment advice will include the fees and taxes that you will be required to pay relating to your imported items.

6. If you work with a licensed customs broker, all the payables associated to your goods will be forwarded to your broker.

7. Duty charges are generally based on the Customs value of your imported goods or the amount you paid for the goods, converted to current Australian currency.

8. You need to declare food, animal products and plant materials. When these goods enter the Australian border, they will be examined by the Department of Australian Fisheries and Forestry agency to determine if the goods are allowed in Australia. Some items may be subjected to treatment for safety issues. Others may be restricted because of pest and disease concerns.

9. Trade goods entering Australia must be correctly labeled. It is an offense to import goods without the necessary trade descriptions or labeled with incorrect or misleading trade description. The trade description must include the origin of the goods or the country in which they were made or produced. It must be written in the English language and in clear and legible characters. If the label includes weight or quantity of the goods, it must be clearly specified if that number is net or gross.

10. Genuine handicrafts may be imported into Australia and may be eligible for concession and a free duty rate. However, you are required to present some evidences that your goods are truly handmade. These include a DVD or photographs showing how the goods were manufactured and a written description of the entire manufacturing process. If your imported goods fail to meet the criteria of genuine handicrafts, you will be advised to pay the regular rates of import duty.

If you wish to find freight forwarders in Perth, WA, visit the SeaTram website at seatram.com.au

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