IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES

When shipping to Australia, Australian Border Force (ABF) assesses duties and taxes based on the items description, value, and the country of origin.

Goods valued over AUD 1,000 are generally subject to customs duty, GST, and other charges. Certain goods, including alcohol and tobacco, attract duties regardless of value.

What charges may apply

Customs duty

Usually 5% of the customs value, though this may be 0% if covered by a Free Trade Agreement. The rate depends on the product’s HS code and origin.

Refer: Australian Border Force

Goods and services tax (GST)

GST is generally 10% and is calculated on the customs value, plus any duty, freight, and insurance. GST-free goods in Australia are typically GST-free when imported.

Other taxes

Some products may attract additional taxes, such as: Excise-equivalent tax (alcohol and tobacco), Luxury Car Tax (LCT) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET).

Why we collect payment?

Couriers are legally required to collect duties and taxes before a parcel can be released by ABF. These are government charges, we do not set or control them.

Team Global Express also applies a customs clearance fee for managing the clearance process.

For further information visit: Australian Border Force.

About payment emails from FrontierForce

 

Team Global Express partners with FrontierForce, a secure payment and tracking platform, to manage import duty invoices.

 

If duties or taxes apply, you may receive a co-branded email from Team Global Express and FrontierForce. This is part of the standard customs clearance process.

 

All payments collected are passed directly to the Australian Border Force. Team Global Express does not store payment information.

 

If you receive a message that appears suspicious, please contact our support team for verification.

 

For your security, all official payment links will direct to: tracking.frontierforce.com/go/plm-tracking_search?stid=tge

Why am I being charged?

Import duties and taxes are based on:

  • The type of goods
  • The value of the goods
  • Shipping and insurance costs
  • Australian import regulations

 

These charges must be paid before the parcel can be released. Once payment is received, the parcel will be cleared for delivery.

Frequently asked questions

Yes.

If payment is not received within 3 business days, the bonded warehouse may apply a $30/day storage fee.

If charges remain unpaid for an extended period, the parcel may be returned to the sender in accordance with customs rules.

You’ll receive a reminder email and if not paid, customs will not release your goods.

After a period, the parcel may be returned to the sender in line with government regulations.

You can make secure payment through our authorised partner portal: tracking.frontierforce.com/go/plm-tracking_search?stid=tge

This portal accepts major credit cards and provides instant confirmation.

Note: A small card surcharge applies depending on your card type (0.33%–1.6%). These surcharges cover third-party processing fees.

Once payment is received: 

  • We notify you immediately that payment was successful   
  • Your parcel is released by customs (usually within 24 hours)  
  • Delivery is scheduled

For international imports, the receiver is responsible for duties and taxes under Australian law, even when the sender has paid for shipping.

If anything is unclear or you believe the charges are incorrect, our support team is ready to help.

Please have your parcel number handy for quicker assistance.

More information

Cost of importing goods — Australian Border Force

Current working tariff — Australian Border Force