Importing goods is sometimes necessary to meet the needs of your customers. You may also rely on materials or items that are only available overseas. While importing may help your business, the Australian government has regulations, duty taxes, and other laws that you need to follow.
You May Require Import Permits and Clearance
All items that are imported into Australia need to be cleared. However, before attempting to import products, you need to apply for an import permit and pay an initial assessment fee. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources will assess your permit application and decide if your goods can be imported.
Understanding the Cost of Importing Goods
Besides the permits and clearance requirements, you may need to pay various costs to import products. Imported items may require a duty tax, a goods and services tax, and other import taxes along with clearance fees.
The costs will depend on the type of item that you are importing and the total value of the imported goods. If the value is less than $1000, you can submit a self-assessed clearance declaration. If the value exceeds $1000, you will need to submit an import declaration form and pay all the applicable taxes.
Some Items Include Special Restrictions
If you plan to import chemicals, cleaning products, or any items that fall under the quarantine regulations, you may need to deal with special restrictions. Some items need to be inspected by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources while some items are prohibited from entering Australia.
Prohibited and restricted imports cover a wide range of goods and products. Prohibited goods include dangerous breeds of dogs and suicide devices. Restricted goods include antibiotics, medicines, chemical weapons, cigarette lighters, cosmetics, firearms, hazardous waste, incandescent lamps, and a wide assortment of other items.
Some of the restricted items may come as a surprise. As there are many different restricted imports, you should always determine what restrictions may apply to your imports. For example, if you attempt to import glazed ceramic ware, you may face restrictions.
Work with Experienced Customs Brokers
Based on the information discussed, learning how to import goods to Australia is not easy. There are complex import tax laws and regulations that you need to understand. The import process can be incredibly complicated for first-time importers.
If you want to ensure that you comply with all laws and regulations, work with experienced customs brokers. Brokers can explain the importing process and provide consultations for import requirements. Besides helping you understand the complicated import process, brokers may help reduce the shipping duties and taxes that you are required to pay on your imports.
The process of applying for an import permit and following all applicable laws and regulations is time-consuming and complicated. If you make a mistake, you may pay additional fees or have your goods rejected. These are issues that may impact the success of your business.
You do not need to deal with the import process on your own. If you plan to bring goods into Australia, work with a trusted customs broker.
