Import Duty Calculator — Australia Landed Cost
Buying from overseas? This calculator adds up duty, GST, the Import Processing Charge and the biosecurity charge under current ABF/ATO rules — and, unlike a freight-forwarder widget, it can compare the result against the best local price we track.
| Item + shipping/insurance (AUD) | |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | |
| GST | |
| Import Processing Charge | |
| Biosecurity charge | |
| Total landed cost |
Common scenarios
| Scenario | Duty | GST | IPC | Biosecurity | Added charges | Landed total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 electronics, GST charged at checkout | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $540.00 |
| $800 general goods, GST not charged at checkout | $0.00 | $86.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $86.00 | $946.00 |
| $1,500 electronics, air freight | $0.00 | $160.00 | $50.00 | $48.00 | $258.00 | $1858.00 |
| $1,500 clothing, air freight | $75.00 | $167.50 | $50.00 | $48.00 | $340.50 | $1940.50 |
| $3,000 electronics, air freight | $0.00 | $315.00 | $50.00 | $48.00 | $413.00 | $3563.00 |
Methodology & sources
- Low-value imported goods: at or under $1000 customs value, GST is collected by registered sellers at checkout (on the delivered price); nothing further at the border — ATO
- GST at 10% on customs value + duty + transport + insurance (taxable importation) — ABF
- Import Processing Charge (electronic lodgement): $50 over $1,000, $152 at $10,000+; biosecurity charge $48 air / $71 sea — ABF charges
- Duty rates by category (ITA electronics 0%, general rate 5%) — "not sure" uses the honest 5% worst case — ABF working tariff
Rules last verified 2026-07-09. Alcohol/tobacco (excise) and vehicles (LCT) are out of scope. FX indicative only. General information, not professional advice.
FAQ
Do I pay GST on imported goods under $1000?
Yes — but normally at checkout, not at the border: GST-registered overseas sellers and marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, etc.) must charge 10% GST on orders of AU$1,000 or less, calculated on the delivered price including shipping. No duty or import charges apply at the border. Caveat: multiple low-value items shipped as one consignment worth more than AU$1,000 are taxed at the border instead.
How much is import duty in Australia?
It depends on the goods: ITA-covered electronics (laptops, phones, cameras) are duty-free; most consumer goods including clothing attract the 5% general rate. Duty is calculated on the customs value (the price of the goods, excluding international freight).
How do you calculate import duty and charges?
For imports over AU$1,000: duty = rate × goods value; GST = 10% × (goods + duty + shipping + insurance); plus the Import Processing Charge ($50 electronic lodgement, $152 at $10,000 or more) and the biosecurity charge ($48 air / $71 sea). This calculator adds them all up in one pass.
How do I legally minimise import costs in Australia?
There is no trick, but two compliant levers: keep a single consignment's customs value at or under AU$1,000 (GST is then handled at checkout, with no border charges), and don't let multiple low-value parcels travel as one consignment over the threshold. Just over $1,000 is the worst spot — the fixed charges (about $98+ in processing and biosecurity fees) are the same whether you import $1,100 or $9,000.
Related: price history & local comparison · unit price calculator · BNPL true cost