Question Re: Importing Parts From Us Via Sea Freight - Customs, Aqis Etc

[«Cyph3r»]

Hi All,

This may be a little off topic for this section of the forum but I figured this would be the place to find people that know what they are talking about.

I have recently purchased a G37 6 speed gearbox from a wrecker in Miami and they have arranged freight for this to Brisbane.

Today I received a call from the freight agent to let me know it is due to arrive next week.

I believe I need to arrange the customs clearance forms or whatever is required to release the parts to me.

Now the dutiable value of the gearbox is well under the threshold ($600AUD approx).

Does anyone know from experience what I will need to do or am I best using a customs broker?

Regards

Jamie

[kitto]

Errr should just clear straight through with no issues. Unless they decide to full on inspect it. That may hold it up.

[«Cyph3r»]

Forgot to mention that the item is being delivered to the port for my collection. I.e. no freight agent is delivering this to me if that make a difference.

[Plattsy]

you may have to organise pick up. but its under 1000, and unless its inspected as kitto said you should be able to pick it up.

[«Cyph3r»]

Great, thanks for the heads up guys. I've emailed customs as well just to make sure there are no hiccups when I arrange collection.

[GTR-N1]

Best to pick it up straight away after being notified lest you incur demurrage fee (ie storage).

[Plattsy]

demurrage.

you demurrin' his parts terry*.

*i know its a bad joke. its friday and im clock watching.

[GTR-N1]

You do need to go home don't you? lol

[Plattsy]

You do need to go home don't you? lol

i think i do. this screen is doing funny things to my brain.

[«Cyph3r»]

Spoke with customs, as the value is under $1000 and the item is arriving via sea freight I need to lodge a SAC form (Self Assessed Clearance) as I don't believe the freight company the sender used is able/willing to lodge one on my behalf.

Unfortunately for some reason, the lodgement process required a digital security certificate to be held by the lodger, which costs $115 for 2 years validity. It's going to be cheaper most likely to have a customs broker sort it out for me.

Hopefully this may be of help to someone else at some point in time.

Consignments arriving into Australia with a value of less than AU$1000 do not attract duty and GST (excluding alcohol/tobacco products) and do not require the completion of an import declaration.

Your imported goods may arrive in Australia either by airfreight, express courier, sea cargo or via the post office. As such, the method of delivery will determine the Customs clearance formalities and charges.

Irrespective of how your imported goods arrive in Australia, you will be required to lodge a formal Customs import declaration if their value is above $1,000, and to pay the calculated duty and taxes. Formal import declarations can be lodged either electronically or by document as follows:

Electronic

lodgement: obtain a digital certificate in order to communicate with Customs' electronic systems to complete a formal import declaration or engage the services of a customs broker (listed in the Yellow Pages); or

Documentary

lodgement: go to the nearest Customs office and present the necessary documentation including evidence of identity.

Imported goods with a value of less than AU$1000 arriving by post will be released duty and tax free by Customs for delivery direct to the addressee except for tobacco, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages or goods subject to import permit requirements. In these cases, you will be contacted and notified of the action you must take.

Imported goods arriving otherwise than by post will require the completion of a Self Assessed Clearance (SAC) declaration before clearance from Customs control SAC declarations can only be lodged electronically.

No cost recovery charges are imposed by Customs on SAC declarations but administrative/processing charges may be imposed by carriers acting on your behalf.

Where the carrier of your goods has sufficient information available to be satisfied that no duty or taxes apply and that no import permit is required, they may lodge the SAC declaration on your behalf.

If the carrier cannot, or will not, lodge a SAC declaration on your behalf, you may either obtain a digital certificate in order to communicate with Customs' electronic systems to enable you to lodge a SAC declaration or engage the services of a customs broker or bureau to lodge a SAC declaration on your behalf.

[C4a0s]

can u like drive to the port and pick it up yourself?

[Chris Rogers]

nope. it will need to be cleared by a customs agent first , duties paid for THEN you can get it off the docks. I do this a fair bit with big stuff. VERY big stuff (body shells) need cleaning and other misc stuff done before you can even get near them.

[elrodeo666]

Chris you forgot to say " be prepared to pull down your pants and get a good rogering". Not saying that will happen but it can !

Customs can be a lottery but with a good broker and good exporter who has all paperwork in order it should all be easy peasy.

Bit of paperwork not quite right could see parts sitting on the dock storage incurring fees whilst paperwork is sorted.

[Chris Rogers]

yep though I never get that when using the right broker. there is one out of MLB that is painful and will get you stuck with fees..

[«Cyph3r»]

I had the same experience, the freight companies recommended broker quoted over $700 in customs clearance and AQIS fees for a professionally cleaned gearbox that was not agricultural and was sent in a sealed box on a plastic pallet!!

What a joke!!

And that was on top of the set price of $3xx port fees.

I ended up finding a fellow to submit a SAC for me for $90 and that was all that was required instead of quarantine shenanigans.

I get the feeling they like to make everything convoluted to scare off people from doing it themselves as there is money to be made by people in doing paperwork and coordinating inspections.

Edited July 13, 2013 by «Cyph3r»

[C4a0s]

so there's 2 portions to importing big items then?

ur shipper who ships it to the port... then u have to find your own broker to clear it which excludes transport to your address?

yeah sounds like a lot of red tape for nothing

[Chris Rogers]

depends if you are experienced at it or not. most of the stuff I do out of japan comes in without a hitch. I wait for notification from the agent, pay the bill and go pick it up. last car I did was similar except I needed to get a tow truck instead of a trayback ute.

[kosmo90]

Can anybody recommend a good broker in Perth? I'm looking at shipping an engine from NZ.