Importers Must Declare Goods Above AUD1,000

Australia Post recipients receiving imported goods valued over AUD1,000 must lodge an Import Declaration with the Australian Border Force before delivery.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in International Trade

Importers Must Declare Goods Above AUD1,000

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Importers of goods valued above AUD1,000 must lodge an Import Declaration with the Australian Border Force before the goods can be delivered. Australia Post sends a First Notice to the recipient, who has 30 days to respond or risk the goods being returned to sender.

Why it matters

The rules are designed to ensure all dutiable imports entering Australia through the postal system are properly declared and taxed. Goods cannot be released until the declaration is lodged and all duty, taxes and an import processing charge are paid.

The threshold for a formal Import Declaration is goods valued above AUD1,000, and the response window after First Notice is 30 days. The extraction does not indicate the volume of affected parcels or when the requirement began.

The players

Australian Border Force

The Australian Border Force is the federal agency responsible for border protection and customs enforcement in Australia, and it receives and assesses Import Declarations.

Australia Post

Australia Post is the national postal operator that delivers imported parcels and issues First Notices to recipients of goods above the threshold.

The details

Australia Post sends a First Notice when imported goods exceed the AUD1,000 value, whether that value was declared by the sender or set during customs assessment. The declaration is assessed for duty and taxes, and the importer is told the amount due before release; tobacco and tobacco products are excluded from the return process.

30 days after First Notice: deadline for importers to respond before goods may be returned to sender.

Market Dynamics

The requirement reflects the Australian Border Force's customs declaration framework applied to postal imports, which ensures dutiable goods are assessed before entry. It places the duty and tax collection process directly on recipients of higher-value overseas purchases.

Shoppers buying overseas goods valued above AUD1,000 must lodge an Import Declaration and pay duty, taxes and an import processing charge before the parcel is released. Anyone who receives a First Notice has 30 days to respond or risk the goods being returned.

The takeaway

Check the value of overseas purchases before ordering, since goods above AUD1,000 require an Import Declaration and extra charges. Act within 30 days of a First Notice to avoid having the goods returned.