What is a customs broker and what do they do in Australia

You may have heard of the term in passing and never really thought much about what a customs broker is or that they do, today we want to take a look further into custom brokers and what it is they do in Australia.

According to the Business Dictionary website a customs broker has defined as...

"Person who is licensed by the local customs, after passing an examination that covers a broad range of knowledge including customs law, customs classification, customs tariff schedule, import and export regulations, shipping procedures, trade documentation, etc. He or she acts as a professional agent for an importer or exporter, prepares and submits all documents for clearing goods through customs, and is paid customs-brokerage."

So, now we know what a customs broker is but what is it they do in Australia to be exact? I suppose we have to determine what category the custom broker falls into, there are three main categories Corporate (is a person or company licensed to act on the behalf of the owner of the goods), Sole Trader (is a person licensed to act on the behalf of the owner of the goods), and Nominee (this is a person who is licensed as a customs broker but can only work as an employee of a corporate or a sole trader customs broker).

What is it that a customs broker does exactly? Well, as a licensed customs broker you can feel confident in knowing they are up to date on the laws, rules, and regulations in Australia. This knowledge is important to help prevent any delays in your shipments or added fines and fees for not following the rules and regulations. Hiring a customs broker is especially helpful if you are not knowledgeable on Australia’s shipping laws. Let’s be honest navigating that ocean of rules and regulations when it comes to shipping cargo to, from and around Australia can be tricky and just like any other law the "but I didn’t know" excuse won’t get you out of a fine nor will it get your cargo out of holding any quicker. This is why hiring a customs broker could be a huge benefit.

So, if your budget allows and your company needs cargo shipped we highly recommend looking more into a customs broker and see if one would be right for your company and your business.