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• If you arrange for goods to be brought into Australia, you are regarded by Customs as the importer of those goods. This includes purchases made over the Internet, regardless of whether or not you intend to sell or distribute those goods, own a business and if the goods are for your personal use or a gift for someone else.

• Your imported goods may arrive in Australia either by airfreight, express courier, sea cargo or via the post office. The method of delivery will determine the Customs clearance formalities and charges.

• Customs advises people purchasing goods over the Internet to be aware that, when those goods arrive in Australia, they will be subject to Customs controls.

• Certain goods brought into Australia require an import permit. Customs might seize or detain such goods pending presentation of the permit. Alternatively, the goods might be a prohibited import and not allowed into the country under any circumstance.

All goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000 or less.

Note: However, where there are multiple packages to the same addressee in Australia from a single consignor overseas that arrive at about the same time, then the value of all packages will be combined for duty and tax assessment purposes.

Some goods commonly purchased over the Internet that are, or contain, restricted items may be detained or seized by Customs. These include:

• performance-enhancing medicines, including steroids and health supplements containing restricted substances;
• medications, both traditional and alternative such as herbal preparations;
• videos, DVDs, CDs and books/publications with objectionable or offensive content;
• wildlife souvenirs and products;
• plant seeds;
• protrusion dog collars;
• hand - held electric insect zappers that have no protection against accidental contact with the electrified grid

This is a not a complete list of restricted or prohibited imports.


Pirated and counterfeit goods

Copyright piracy and trade mark counterfeiting are illegal. By buying pirated or counterfeit items, not only could you end up with a flawed product, you are supporting an illegal trade that could involve serious criminal activity.


You can play an important role in combating copyright piracy and counterfeiting of trade marks by not bringing pirated or counterfeit goods into Australia. In some circumstances pirated and counterfeit goods imported into Australia are liable to seizure by Customs and people importing such goods may be subject to civil litigation or criminal prosecution.


Imported goods with a value of A$1000 or less

• Imported goods arriving by post will be released duty and tax free by Customs for delivery direct to the addressee
• • except for tobacco, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages or goods subject to import permit requirements
  • • in these cases, you will be contacted and notified of the action you must take.
• Imported goods arriving otherwise than by post will require the completion of a Self Assessed Clearance (SAC) declaration before clearance from Customs control
• • SAC declarations can only be lodged electronically
  • • no cost recovery charges are imposed by Customs on SAC declarations but administrative/processing charges may be imposed by carriers acting on your behalf.
• Where the carrier of your goods has sufficient information available to be satisfied that no duty or taxes apply and that no import permit is required, they may lodge the SAC declaration on your behalf
• • it is understood that the major express couriers will do so
  • • where duty or taxes apply (for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) and/or an import permit is required, you will be contacted and notified of the action you must take.
• If the carrier cannot, or will not, lodge a SAC declaration on your behalf, you may either
• • obtain a digital certificate in order to communicate with Customs' electronic systems to enable you to lodge a SAC declaration;
    OR
  • engage the services of a customs broker or bureau to lodge a SAC declaration on your behalf.

Imported goods with a value of more than A$1000

• Irrespective of how your imported goods arrive in Australia, you will be required to lodge a formal Customs import declaration if their value is above $1,000, and to pay the calculated duty and taxes.
• • duty, where applicable, is based on the classification of the goods within the Customs Tariff Act 1995. Goods and Services Tax (GST) is also payable on most goods at a rate of 10%.
• Formal import declarations can be lodged either electronically or by document as follows:
• • Electronic lodgement: obtain a digital certificate in order to communicate with Customs' electronic systems to complete a formal import declaration or engage the services of a customs broker (listed in the Yellow Pages); or
  
  
  • Documentary lodgement: go to the nearest Customs office and present the necessary documentation including evidence of identity.
• Import declarations are subject to cost recovery charges.

• All imported goods are subject to the controls of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS).