ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø

Thing to Know Before Importing Goods from Outside Australia Except for foreign importers, Australians need not worry in getting an import license, because in order to sell your goods you don’t need to have one. However, importers still need to correctly label goods that are required by custom laws to have a trade description. The label need to consist of the name of the country where the goods were produced, along with a full and detailed description of the imported goods itself in English. Importers have to make sure that the country of origins in the label is correct, as to enjoy the benefits of reduced rate of duty for certain countries that have a Free Trade Agreement with Australia. There are certain goods that need an obtain permits to clear them from custom control. These fall into the category of prohibited and restricted goods, and importing them without any relevant license might cost you a fine up to AUD 525,000, 10 years of imprisonment, or both. The full list of prohibited and restricted goods which include the likes of fish, tobacco, and prescription medicines can be seen here. Once you decide on what goods to import, the next step would be registering for an Australian Business Number (ABN). The ABN is a must-have for importing goods, you can see the requirements and apply for an ABN here. For more information regarding the procedure and requirement of import, you can check the Australian Border Force website here. Thing to Know Before Exporting Goods from Australia Goods being exported from and to Australia need to be reported to the Australian Border Force (ABF) with an Export Declaration regardless of the item. The Export Declaration is a form of statement made by the exporter, containing the information regarding the information of the goods and the export transaction. There are certain goods exempt from an Export Declaration, such as pets, domestic cargo, and goods worth below AUD2000. As it is harder now to physically lodge your Export Declaration, you can do it online instead via the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) in this page. Aside from the general requirements, each type of goods falls into different categories that may or may not have different requirements for each of them. Exportation of currency, for example, needs to satisfy the requirement of AUSTRAC before you can send them overseas. Software exported from Australia within a tangible form (such as a USB stick) are subject to normal export requirements as well. Export is not subject customs duties and control, unless the goods you are exporting fall into the list of the prohibited/restricted goods. Export of goods and services from Australia are also generally exempt from Goods and Services Tax, providing you are registered for GST in Australia and fulfil the requirements needed for GST-free trade. Duty Payments and Delivery Methods Once all the requirements are fulfilled, exporters and importers can now proceed to calculate the tax, duties, custom fees, and consider the best freight option for sending goods overseas. Our next article will discuss just that, in order to help you figure out the best approach for conducting trade in an international level.