The main documents you will need when importing into Australia are:

1. Commercial Invoice
2. Bill of Lading
3. Packing Declaration
4. Packing List

Check out our blog post, “The 5 Shipping Documents You Need For Import or Export“, to make sure you understand each of these documents.

Depending on the products you are importing, as well as the country of origin, you may also require:

1. Fumigation Certificate
2. Manufacturers Declaration
3. Import Permit
4. Certificate of Origin

When importing or exporting with ICE, we can help you navigate and source these documents.

A customs broker is fully licensed by the Australian Border Force to customs clear cargo arriving in Australia. They are trained to correctly classify your cargo, prepare and submit import declarations to government agencies and determine accurate tariffs (or concessions).

Any incorrect details on your documentation or missing information can potentially cause costly delays, extra fees and even risk your cargo being destroyed or re-exported upon arrival. At ICE we strongly recommend extensive import consultancy prior to doing any international shipping.

As a general rule: Import duty is calculated according to the FOB (Free on Board) value of your cargo in Australian Dollars. Import duty is calculated as standard at 5% of this value (for most goods). However, free trade agreements, tariff concessions or dumping duty can affect this price.

GST is calculated on the value of your cargo plus import duty, plus insurance, plus freight. Once you have this value, the standard percentage rate for import duty in Australia is 10% of this total cost.

Our customs consultants can provide an anticipated cost for duties and GST if you provide a commercial invoice for your shipment.

Recommended reading: How To Get A Refund Of Customs Import Duty

The difference is that freight forwarders handle the transport of goods, while a customs broker deals with the entry of goods into the country. Customs brokers deal directly with the government, port and airport authorities to make sure that your import complies with customs legislation.

Freight forwarders help you get your goods from Point A to Point B, however, do not handle customs clearance unless they employ customs brokers as part of their business – which is exactly what we do at International Cargo Express.

You can read further into the difference in our blog, “What’s The Difference Between a Customs Broker vs Freight Forwarder?”.

Faster processing is the main advantage of having in-house customs brokers vs. outsourcing this activity.

By recruiting and training our own brokerage team, we can also ensure that our client’s needs are fully understood and accurate tariffs are applied to import cargo.

Our brokerage team can offer you tailored advice on customs duty, tariffs and regulations.

We also offer a full consultancy service. This process would review historical clearances and determine if any duty refunds are applicable.

You can connect directly to Stephen, our customs manager here or email him at [email protected] to discuss your requirements.