What a licensed customs broker actually does for importers
PublishedUnited Carriers team
Classification, valuation, duty and biosecurity all have to line up before goods are released. Here is what a broker handles on your behalf.
When goods arrive in Australia, they cannot leave the port or airport until they have been cleared. A licensed customs broker prepares and lodges the paperwork that makes that happen, and carries the professional responsibility for getting it right.
Classification and valuation
Every product has to be classified under a tariff code, and that code sets the duty rate and any import conditions. The broker also confirms the customs value of the goods, including how freight and insurance are treated, so that duty and GST are calculated correctly.
Free trade agreements and concessions
Goods from countries with a free trade agreement may qualify for reduced or zero duty, provided the origin rules are met and the right documents are held. A broker checks eligibility and claims the preference on your entry, along with any other concessions that apply.
Biosecurity
Timber packaging, food, plant material and some manufactured goods trigger biosecurity requirements. A broker identifies these early, arranges treatments or inspections where needed, and lodges the supporting declarations so cargo is not held at the border.
Why in-house brokerage helps
When your forwarder and your broker sit in the same team, the people booking your freight can see the clearance requirements before the goods ship. Documents are checked against each other, issues are caught at origin rather than on the wharf, and you deal with one team instead of passing messages between two.
- Send commercial invoices and packing lists as early as possible.
- Keep product descriptions specific, including materials and intended use.
- Ask your supplier for packaging declarations before the goods are packed.
