Home / Logistics Knowledge / Importing to Australia: GST & Biosecurity
Australia pairs a relatively high duty-free threshold with strict biosecurity. Here is how duty, GST, and quarantine fit together.
Goods valued at AUD 1,000 or less clear without duty or a full import declaration. But GST of 10% still applies: overseas sellers, marketplaces, and re-deliverers with Australian sales over AUD 75,000 a year must register and charge GST at checkout (the low-value import GST rules).
Above the threshold, a full import declaration is required and duty applies by HS code. The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) eliminates tariff on about 95% of Chinese goods, so many China-origin products enter duty-free even above the threshold - confirm the HS code qualifies.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) enforces strict biosecurity. Wood packaging must comply with ISPM 15 (heat treatment and marking), and food, plant, and animal products need permits or inspection. Non-compliant cargo can be refused or treated at the importer's cost.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Import Processing Charge | AUD 50 to AUD 192 | Goods above AUD 1,000, by value band |
| Biosecurity clearance fee | About AUD 48 (air) or AUD 71 (sea) | Consignments requiring DAFF intervention |
| GST | 10% | Most goods, including low-value at checkout |
Yes. GST of 10% applies even under AUD 1,000; registered sellers collect it at checkout.
Under ChAFTA about 95% of Chinese goods enter duty-free, but you must claim the preference with the correct documentation and HS code.
DAFF can refuse or treat non-compliant cargo. Wood packaging must meet ISPM 15, and food or plant products need permits.
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