Technically there is nothing stopping you from liaising with the offices of the ABF and the DAWR directly in order to customs clear your own goods. However, the procedure can be complex and often works out to be extremely costly for individual businesses due to the logistics involved.

This is because you only have one day to collect your goods from an airline terminal, or three days from a sea freight depot, otherwise you will be charged for storage. Experienced customs brokers can prevent these charges being incurred due to our fast clearance processes and streamlined infrastructure. We receive immediate clearance responses due to our close working relationships with the ABF and DAWR, and we work seven days a week so you will never have to worry about unnecessary delays or your goods going uncollected.

We can also enable you to plan in advance for Duty and GST payable on your goods. Rates differ depending on the items you wish to import. We offer a bespoke service – if you send us the details of your goods via our online contact form, including any technical data if available, we will be able to let you know which rates apply and what the costs will be.

A Customs Brokers role can be very diverse depending on the clients that they retain. A Customs Broker will develop knowledge and skills in performing clearances for clients who they specialise in.

A Customs Broker will receive the initial shipping documents from you then he / she will:

• Contact the airline / shipping line to request details of the cargos arrival date.
• Attend to the airline / shipping line to collect a ‘delivery order’ and pay any charges necessary to the airline / shipping line.
• Attend to Customs for any documentary checks necessary on a Customs clearance file.
• Attend to DAWR for any documentary checks necessary on a Customs clearance file.
• Attend to any inspections / examinations in relation to Australian Border Force [ABF], Department of Agriculture and Water Resources [DAWR], pillage or damage.
• Organise collection of cargo from the airline / wharf.
• Organise delivery to your premises.
• Forward to you a completed Customs Clearance folder which needs to be retained by ‘the owner of the goods’ for a minimum of years.

Whilst you may attend to the ABF and DAWR office and attempt to customs clear the package yourself, we would not recommend this as the airlines give you one day to take the package from their warehouse before they charge storage and the sea freight depots give you three days before they charge storage. As customs brokers we customs clear cargo seven days a week and are connected to Australian Border Force [ABF] and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources [DAWR] electronically and receive immediate responses.

Technically there is nothing stopping you from liaising with the offices of the ABF and the DAWR directly in order to customs clear your own goods. However, the procedure can be complex and often works out to be extremely costly for individual businesses due to the logistics involved.

This is because you only have one day to collect your goods from an airline terminal, or three days from a sea freight depot, otherwise you will be charged for storage. Experienced customs brokers can prevent these charges being incurred due to our fast clearance processes and streamlined infrastructure. We receive immediate clearance responses due to our close working relationships with the ABF and DAWR, and we work seven days a week so you will never have to worry about unnecessary delays or your goods going uncollected.

We can also enable you to plan in advance for Duty and GST payable on your goods. Rates differ depending on the items you wish to import. We offer a bespoke service – if you send us the details of your goods via our online contact form, including any technical data if available, we will be able to let you know which rates apply and what the costs will be.

Send us an email on the particular items you would like to import and any technical data sheets that you may have and we will investigate the applicable rates of duty and any GST if applicable.

If you are exporting temporary goods which will be in Australia for less than 12 months, ask us how we can assist you with the import costs.