Low value does not mean every purchase is GST-free.
Australian Border Force explains that GST may apply to consumer imports with a customs value of AUD 1,000 or less. Its explanatory notice distinguishes point-of-sale collection from border processes and identifies vendors, marketplaces and qualifying re-deliverers that can have collection obligations. Do not interpret the AUD 1,000 figure as a blanket promise that no GST is payable.
Ask which entity handles any GST for your transaction and retain the invoice or receipt. If a seller or service says an amount has already been collected, record the tax entry separately from transport and product payments. This page does not determine the registration status or tax obligations of your particular seller or agent.
For higher-value goods or excluded categories, check the current ABF rules and the carrier’s clearance instructions before ordering. An order split, a “gift” label or a general route name cannot substitute for the actual transaction and applicable import conditions.
Official references: Australian Border Force: GST on low-value goods · Australian Government: low-value GST notice
Check footwear condition and packing materials.
DAFF’s guidance for goods sent from overseas says footwear and certain equipment should be clean, dry and free from soil, seeds or plant material. It also advises against packing with straw, certain wooden or egg-carton materials, or reused food cartons that present a biosecurity risk. Review the current import conditions for the actual item.
For a footwear order, request clear sole and upper views if the condition is uncertain. For a used item, tell the agent that you need the condition checked before parcel preparation. A product title saying “new” is not the same evidence as a clear view of the item that will be packed.
Give the warehouse a specific packing instruction using suitable materials. If the goods themselves contain plant, animal or other potentially regulated material, check the applicable import conditions rather than assuming that cleaning the outside resolves everything.
Official references: DAFF: ordering goods online from outside Australia
Describe the contents instead of using a vague label.
DAFF asks for clear, correct declarations and descriptions that identify the item and what it is made from; generic labels such as “goods” do not supply that information. Keep an itemised inventory and relevant packing materials with the parcel record.
Use the selected product’s actual information, including quantities and material details where needed. If the listing does not identify a material that affects import conditions, ask before purchase or dispatch. Do not fill a missing field with a guess based on the picture.
| Check | What to keep |
|---|---|
| Goods and material | Specific item description, quantity and known composition. |
| Footwear condition | Relevant sole/upper views and the confirmed clean, dry condition. |
| Packing materials | The proposed carton and protective material for each item. |
| GST record | Who collected any GST and the relevant receipt. |
| Delivery plan | Actual postcode, route, packed dimensions and local tracking details. |
Official references: DAFF: ordering goods online from outside Australia
Compare the complete parcel and keep an arrival record.
Use the actual Australian postcode when comparing routes and ask about address coverage or surcharges. Keep the contents and packing assumptions fixed while comparing options. A lightweight item can still occupy significant carton space, so record all three dimensions and the selected route’s charging rule.
Plan seasonal clothing around when you expect to use it locally, while keeping the quoted delivery time labelled as an estimate. Do not make a purchase depend on an unverified arrival guarantee from another buyer’s experience.
After dispatch, save the parcel tracking number, any Australian delivery number, and a request for documents or payment. Check the responsible authority or carrier’s official channel and keep the response with the parcel. A customs or biosecurity assessment needs its own record rather than a general complaint that tracking has stopped.
Sources and review date.
Public official references checked . The checklists, message templates and labelled packing example are editorial guidance. We have not placed a test order or observed your account. Use the current terms and records for your own goods and parcel.
- Australian Border Force: GST on low-value goods — GST can apply to goods with customs value of AUD 1,000 or less.
- Australian Government: low-value GST notice — Point-of-sale collection and covered vendors, marketplaces or re-deliverers; historical explanatory notice.
- DAFF: ordering goods online from outside Australia — Clean footwear, suitable packing materials, accurate descriptions and import-condition checks.
- Superbuy official shipping estimator — Destination, warehouse, weight, dimensions and route-specific charging inputs.