5 Speedy CUSTOMS LESSONS FOR AUSTRALIAN SMES

Despite being the most attractive export markets in Asia Pacific, Australia isn’t always the easiest place to work. With regards to cross-border trade, the united states ranked 91st out of 190 countries on the planet Bank’s Easy Doing Business report for 2017 – well below other regional powerhouses like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. To achieve in Australia, goods-based businesses need to have a solid knowledge of how its numerous customs and trading rules connect with them.


“The best bet for most Australian businesses, particularly logistics lessons, is to work with a logistics provider that can handle the heavier complexities with the customs clearance process on their behalf,” says Ben Somerville, DHL Express’ Senior Manager of Customs & Regulatory Affairs for Oceania. “With some effort though, now you may learn motor basic principles to take their cross-border operations to another level.” Listed below are five quick lessons to have any company started:

1. GST (as well as deferral)

Most Australian businesses will face the 10% Goods and Services Tax, or GST, for the products they offer plus the goods they import. Any GST that a business pays can be claimed back like a refund from Australian Tax Office (ATO). Certain importers, however, can just not pay back the tax as opposed to having to claim it back, under what are the ATO refers to as “GST deferral”. However, your small business have to be registered not just for GST payment, but in addition for monthly Business Activity Statements (BAS) to be qualified to receive deferrals.

“You don’t reduce any costs by deferring your GST, but you do simplify and streamline your cash-flow,” advises Somerville. “That may prove worthwhile for businesses to modify up to monthly BAS reporting, in particular those that have tied to the greater common quarterly schedule so far.”

Duty is 5% and refers to goods value while GST is 10% and relates to sum of goods value, freight, insurance, and duty

SMEs need to ensure they are fully aware the gap between duties as well as the GST.

2. Changes on the LVT (Low Value Threshold)

Up to now, Australia had the greatest Low-Value Threshold (LVT) for imported goods on earth, exempting most pieces of $1000 and below from GST. That’s set to improve from 1 July 2018, as the Authorities looks to scrap the LVT for all those B2C (read: e-commerce) imports. B2B imports and B2C companies with less than AU$75,000 in turnover shouldn’t be affected by the alterations.

“Now that the legislation has become passed through Parliament, Australian businesses should start get yourself ready for the modifications at some point,” counsels Somerville. “Work along with your overseas suppliers on taking a Vendor Registration plate (VRN) using the ATO, familiarize yourselves with how to remit GST after charging it, and make preparations to feature it into your pricing models.”

The newest legislation requires eligible businesses to subscribe with the ATO to get a Vendor Number plate (VRN), employed to track GST payable on any overseas supplier’s goods. Suppliers lead to GST payment for the consumer in the Point of Sale, then remitting it for the ATO often.

3. Repairs and Returns

“Many businesses visit us with questions regarding whether they’re responsible for import duty and tax when they send their products and services abroad for repair, or receive items back from overseas customers for repair or replacement,” says Mike Attwood, Customs Duty Manager at DHL Express Australia. “The key question we have to ask them is: are you conducting the repairs under warranty?”

If your business repairs or replaces a product or service in its warranty obligations, you make payment for neither duties nor taxes about the product – so long as your documentation reflects this. Range from the words “Warranty Replacement” or “Repair”, record the item’s value as “No Charge”, and make certain you still enter a “Value for Customs” – whatever you paid to generate the product originally – within your documents.
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