Frequently asked questions

Under DDP terms, the overseas supplier controls the import declaration and may be treated as the importer. Any Australian import GST paid may not be recoverable, increasing the overall landed cost.

DDP shipments may also carry greater compliance risks because the Australian buyer has limited visibility over the declaration. If the importer details, goods description or supporting documents are unclear, the shipment may be more likely to be held for review by the Australian Border Force or the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Pros: Import GST is deferred and reported through the BAS instead of being paid at the border, which can significantly improve cash flow.

Cons: Businesses participating in the Deferred GST Scheme must lodge their BAS monthly rather than quarterly, which may increase administrative and accounting requirements.

Import requirements depend on the product, its materials, country of origin and intended use.

Most biosecurity requirements can be checked through BICON, while prohibited or restricted goods can be checked on the Australian Border Force website. Some products may require permits, certificates, treatment records, manufacturer declarations or other supporting documents before shipment.

Brokerage fees depend on the shipment type — sea or air, single or mixed consignment, and whether quarantine processing is needed. We quote a fixed fee before work begins, with no hidden charges. Duty and GST are separate government charges based on your goods; see our guide to import duty and GST for how they are calculated.

With complete documents, most clearances are lodged before the goods arrive and released on arrival. Delays almost always trace to missing or incorrect documents — a missing packing declaration, an incomplete commercial invoice — or to inspections directed by Customs or Biosecurity. We check documents in advance to keep clearance off the critical path.

At minimum: a bill of lading or air waybill, a commercial invoice, and a packing list. Sea freight also needs a packing declaration. Depending on the goods you may need treatment certificates, permits, or declarations such as an illegal logging declaration. Our free document templates library has approved-wording versions of all of them.

Legally you can lodge your own declarations, but commercial importers almost never do: classification, valuation, biosecurity conditions, and FTA claims each carry penalties when wrong. A licensed broker lodges correctly the first time and is accountable for the advice. For consignments over AUD $1,000 a full import declaration is required, which is where a broker earns their fee.

Yes — this is what 24 Customs is named for. The 1300 247 019 line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and urgent jobs are worked immediately, not queued for the next business day.

A Letter of Authority (LOA) is your written appointment of 24 Customs as your agent for customs dealings, required under the Customs Act before we can lodge on your behalf. It takes minutes to complete: download the template, sign it on your letterhead, and email it back with photo ID of the signatory.

Yes. We support Chinese-speaking importers with bilingual documentation, including a Chinese-language customs documents guide, and Chinese-language assistance on your job. 我们提供中文服务 — 请访问中文页面。

We clear nationally — all Australian sea ports and international airports — with offices in Sydney (Auburn, NSW) and Brisbane (Queen Street, QLD). Clearance is lodged electronically with the Australian Border Force, so your cargo’s port of arrival does not limit us.