Australia - Import goods

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Procedure

1. An importer start by deciding on which goods / service he / she want import;
2. Then proceeds with finding out the requirements for general importation and requirements of importation of the particular goods and services he / she wishes to import.
   1. This can be done by contacting the Customs Information Centre (CIC) for advice and information or by visiting the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services website.
3. An applicant / importer must ensure that he has a ware house / store ready for the goods to be stored when the arrive in the country.
4. If a permit required obtain one from an authorized issuing office. (Information on authorized issuing offices can also be obtained from the Customs Information Centre (CIC) or from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services website.
5. Pay all taxes related to the goods / services you intend to import.
6. Obtain a clearance from customs that controls the entry port.
7. If you are importing goods / services related to the agriculture, fishery and forestry, obtain a quarantine clearance from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity after good have arrived at the entry port.
8. After clearing all the customs requirements, goods can be entered into the country.

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Required Documents

• Tax clearance documents / certificate
• Import and quarantine permits (for importation of some good / services)
• Self Assessed Clearance

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Imports and Exports.
7 London Circuit, Canberra City ACT 2601
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: +61 2 6272 3933,
Toll free: 1800 020 504

Australian Customs and Border Protection Services (ACBPS)
Customs House, 5 Constitution Avenue,
Canberra City, Act 2601,
Telephone: 1300 363 263,
Tel: +61 2 9313 3010,
Tel: 1800 06 1800,
Tele: +61 2 6246 1325
Fax: (02) 8339 6714

Eligibility

Anyone who meets the requirements of importation in to Australia.

Fees

Rates vary

• Duty rates 0% to 10%
• Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI) Customs value + duty payable + cost of freight and insurance + Wine
• Equalization Tax (if applicable).
• Sales Tax 10% of the Value of the Taxable Importation (VoTI),
• Wine Equalization Tax (WET) 29% levy
• Luxury Car Tax (LCT) 33% levy
• For imports with a FOB value between A$1,000 and 10,000
• By air or post and an electronic import declaration A$40.2
• By sea and an electronic import declaration - A$50
• By air or post and a documentary import declaration - A$48.85
• By sea and a documentary import declaration - A$65.75
• For imports with a FOB value greater than A$10,000:
• By air or post and an electronic/documentary import declaration - A$122.1
• By sea and an electronic/documentary import declaration - A$152.6
  
  

Import Declaration Fees

• (ICS full import declarationAIR)$15 @unit cost
• (ICS full import declarationSEA)@$14.@unit Cost
  
  

Lodgement Fees

• Electronic lodgement of import declaration $9
• Manual lodgement of import declaration $15
• Manual lodgement of import declaration SAC $25
• Electronic lodgement or variation of import permit $85
• Manual lodgement or variation of import permit $150.
  
  

Assessment Fees

• Assessment of import declaration Goods not subject to compliance agreement $40

Validity

There is no validity period as long as one meets the requirements, they can import any time.

Documents to Use

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4226.asp

Sample Documents

http://www.daff.gov.au/forms/biosecurityforms/import

Processing Time

The time varies basing on what is being imported and the requirements.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

• Beware of all government regulations and clearance / custom rules and duty taxes;
• Be informed about import and quarantine permits;
• Beware of restricted and prohibited goods
• Before importing look through the market to find out if the product you intend to import is not on the local market;
• Importation costs (Clearance fees, Customs duty, Goods and service tax and other taxes) are determined by the type and value of goods / services imported;
• Car importers must have VIA
• Some temporary goods may be imported without paying any taxes for a period of up to twelve (12) months;
• Temporary goods should be exported within a given time limit;
• Ensure that goods entering Australia are correctly labeled. Note that it is a crime to import goods that are not labeled with a required trade description, or that are labeled with a false trade description.
• A trade description must bear the name of the country in which the goods were made or produced, and where specified and a true description of the goods.
• Trademarks must be in the English language; well known and clear characters and must be affixed a noticeable position.
• Quantity labels must start if measurements are net or gross.

Required Information

• Full name and address of importer
• Details of goods / services imported
• Purchase cost of good
• Country from which the goods / services are coming from

Need for the Document

Importing refers to entering goods / services in to a given country from another. In Australia importation is controlled by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services Department. To successfully import in Australia, one needs to be aware of government regulations, clearance rules and duty taxes.

Information which might help

• Some, not all, of the goods requiring permits, and there are relevant issuing agencies for the different permits.
• Permit requirement facilitate clearance depends on the nature of the commodity / service, and regardless of value and owners.
• Imports with a product value up to AU$ 1000 are exempt from duty, GST and Import Processing Charge.
• Amount of Import Processing Charge depends on the mode of entry and the type of import declaration.
• Wine Equalization Tax (WET) is levied on wines and other alcoholic beverages.
• Luxury Car Tax (LCT) is levied on certain motor vehicles with a value above a specified threshold.
• The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry arranged that some testing services be provided at a facility they do not manage. The test cost shall be the fee charged by the facility. Handling fees shall be approximately 10 Plus freight costs
• there are many methods of valuing goods for Customs purposes, but the mostly used in Australia is valuing basing on the price actually paid (or payable) for the imported goods subject to certain adjustments.
• In some circumstances, an importer may obtain relief from the Customs duty payable on imported goods.
• It is important to note that false trade description describe goods incorrect and therefore misleading.
• It is important to note that the Customs Service does not complete customs import entries on behalf of importers.
• Entry procedures are based on self assessment by importers. Importers should be aware of all their obligations: penalties for the submission of incorrect or misleading information or for the omission of information to mislead.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• Importation provides goods / services that are not on the local market;
• It helps business grow as they achieve their goals of delivering a certain commodity or services to their customers;
• It increases the countrys revenue;
• It promotes international trade;
• Hope for creation of job opportunities in the country.

External Links

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4368.asp
http://www.daff.gov.au/fees/biosecurityfees-charges/import
http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/import/general-info/fees-charges-import/import-clearance
http://www.daff.gov.au/fees/biosecurityfees-charges/import

Others

More information which might help people.