🇦🇺 Everything you need to sell in Australia
Australia has a mature and high-spending ecommerce market. Australian consumers are comfortable with cross-border shopping, particularly from US, UK, and Asian sellers. Amazon.com.au is growing. The GST regime requires foreign sellers to collect 10% GST on low-value goods. Australia has strict product safety and labeling requirements.
Last updated: 2026-08-05·Verified: 2026-08-05
🛃 Customs Notes
Non-EU country. AUD 1,000 duty-free threshold for personal imports. GST at 10% applies to imports. Strict biosecurity requirements. English-language labeling required. FTAs with many trading partners.
Compliance Topics
📊 GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Australian GST rate is 10%. Foreign sellers with AUD 75,000+ annual turnover must register for GST. Low-value goods (AUD 1,000 or less) imported by consumers are subject to GST collection by the seller or marketplace. The ATO (Australian Taxation Office) administers GST. BAS (Business Activity Statements) filed quarterly or monthly.
- •GST rate: 10% on most goods and services
- •Registration threshold: AUD 75,000 annual turnover
- •Low-value goods threshold: AUD 1,000 (GST collected by seller/marketplace)
- •Marketplace facilitator rules: Amazon/eBay collect GST for sellers
- •BAS (Business Activity Statements) filed quarterly or monthly
- •Australian Business Number (ABN) required for GST registration
🚢 Customs & Import Duties
Australia has a low duty-free threshold of AUD 1,000 for personal imports. Import duties based on commodity code and country of origin. GST at 10% on customs value plus duties. The Department of Home Affairs manages customs. Australia has FTAs with many countries including China (ChAFTA), Japan, Korea, and the UK.
- •Duty-free threshold: AUD 1,000 for personal imports
- •Import duties vary by commodity code and country of origin
- •GST: 10% on customs value + duties for imports over AUD 1,000
- •Department of Home Affairs manages customs and border protection
- •FTAs with China, Japan, Korea, UK, US and many others
- •Biosecurity requirements: strict import conditions for food, plant, animal products
🛡️ Product Safety & Labeling
Australia has mandatory safety standards for many product categories including electrical goods, toys, cosmetics, and vehicles. The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) enforces product safety. English-language labeling required. Product recalls are managed through the ACCC.
- •ACCC enforces product safety standards and consumer guarantees
- •Mandatory safety standards for electrical, toys, cosmetics, vehicles
- •English-language labeling and instructions required
- •Australian Consumer Law provides consumer guarantees
- •Product recalls managed through ACCC Product Safety Australia
- •RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) required for certain electrical products
🔒 Data Privacy
Australia's privacy framework is governed by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). The OAIC (Office of the Australian Information Commissioner) oversees data protection. The Privacy Act was significantly amended in 2024. Notifiable Data Breach scheme requires reporting of eligible breaches.
- •OAIC oversees data protection and privacy compliance
- •Privacy Act 1988 (amended 2024) governs personal data handling
- •Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) apply to businesses with AUD 3M+ turnover
- •Notifiable Data Breach scheme: mandatory reporting of eligible breaches
- •Australian Privacy Act reform: stricter penalties proposed
- •English-language privacy policy required
Sources:
🛒 Marketplace Rules
Amazon.com.au is the leading international marketplace. eBay.com.au has a strong local presence. Catch, Kogan, and TheIconic are significant Australian platforms. Australian Consumer Law provides strong consumer guarantees. Marketplaces collect GST for foreign sellers on low-value goods.
- •Amazon.com.au: growing marketplace, requires Australian GST registration
- •eBay.com.au: strong local presence with long history
- •Catch, Kogan: popular Australian-owned marketplaces
- •TheIconic: leading fashion marketplace
- •Marketplace facilitator GST rules apply
- •Australian Consumer Law provides strong consumer guarantees (no opt-out)
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Related resources
Guides(6)
- Australian Product Safety and Recall: Compliance for Online Sellers
- Australian GST Filing for Cross-Border Sellers: BAS Deadlines, Forms and Input Credits
- Australian GST for Overseas Sellers 2026: AUD $75K Threshold, 10% on Low-Value Goods, EDP Marketplace Rules | Crossborder Tax Tool
- Australia GST for Non-Resident Sellers
- Australia Import Customs 2026: 10% GST, 0–5% Duty, AUD $1,000 Threshold, ChAFTA Tariff Reductions | Crossborder Tax Tool
- Australian GST Registration for Foreign Sellers: Low-Value Goods
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Official Sources
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This information is for general reference only and does not constitute legal, tax, or compliance advice. Consult a qualified professional and check official sources before making decisions.