SAC (SELF ASSESSED CLEARANCE) goods under AUD $1000 

Why do you need a SAC

Once goods arrive at the depot (Air or Sea) even if they are under $1000, customs will not release your goods until a SAC has been completed as per section 71 of the Customs Act 1901.

This must be lodged electronically through the ICS (Integrated Cargo System) although you should not be liable for duty, GST or customs fees they still require a declaration to be made.

What do you need to do;

1. Contact your supplier/ seller and get a copy of your invoice (or evidence of price paid) and the airway bill (Airfreight) or house bill and Packing declaration (LCL Seafreight)
2. Fill out the SAC lodgement form which you can get a copy of by emailing nikki@matthewshort.com.au  along with Evidence of identity.
3. Send to us via email or fax and we will assess paperwork and send invoice for clearance.
4. Pay the clearance FEE (as per below) via EFT or Credit card
5. Once payment is finalised we will lodge your SAC declaration with Customs and Department of agriculture (Quarantine).
6. Once the goods have been cleared by Customs and Quarantine*  have no interest you will be able to pick up your goods from the depot. (depot fees may be applicable and payable directly to the depot when picking up your goods)

* If your goods are subject to Quarantine, paperwork will need to be lodged to Quarantine which they will assess, they will either release on documents or require an inspection.

Timeframe

Some depots for airfreight only give you 24hours to pick up cargo before storage starts and can give up to 3 days, so it is important to contact us as soon as possible, if you are unsure or don’t know what you need just email or phone us.

Clearance can be facilitated within 4 normal business hours or an express/afterhours clearance can be requested.

Quarantine require 24 hours to assess paperwork if your shipment is subject to this. Please follow the BICON link below to see if your goods have any Quarantine concerns

BICON 

Evidence of Identity (EOI)

For security reasons you must provide Evidence of Identity to prove you are the importer of the goods.

This can be a copy of your drivers licence or passport.

Take the stress out of the SAC clearance and contact us so all you need to do is pick up the goods.

FEES

Standard SAC -  $85*
Standard SAC with Quarantine lodgement required- $115*

Express SAC -  $110*
Express SAC with Quarantine lodgement required $140*

* Plus GST (Quarantine may take up to 24 Hrs to process document assessment and issue direction, there may be additional fees payable to them)

LCL CARGO - steps

1. Goods will be sent by supplier in a container consigned with other items to Australia.

2. Prior to arrival the forwarder will send you an arrival notice & and invoice with the local charges here in Australia for the container to be picked up from the wharf and unpacked at the depot.

3. Once you get this you can contact us for a SAC form to complete and return along with the * Bill of lading (If originals have been sent you will need to send this to the forwarder) *Packing declaration for the department of Agriculture completed by the packer/supplier - Template is available HERE *Commercial invoice/ proof of price paid for the goods if under AUD $1000* Arrival notice (from the forwarder) * Packing list * Proof of ID.

4.  Pay for your Customs Clearance and if Quarantine lodgement is required documents will be forwarded to Quarantine along with the lodgement of the SAC entry in the ICS.

5.  When the goods arrive and you have paid the local charges to the forwarder and original bills have been surrendered/ telex release they will forward you a copy of the EDO (Electronic delivery order) you will NEED to take this with you in order to collect your goods from the depot.

6. The container with your goods will be taken back to the depot for unpack and be made available for you to collect, I usually allow 3-7 days for the container to be unpacked and track by container number on most depot's websites for availability (you can ask the forwarder which depot your container will be taken to).

7.  Once goods are available (you will be notified by the forwarder by an outturn report) , you will have 3 days to collect from the depot so making sure you take the EDO with you, have a CLEAR status with customs from the SAC entry (if Quarantine inspection in required this can be completed at the depot and you will need a copy of the Quarantine direction) depending on the depot you will need to have appropriate PPE for collection, it is best to check prior to heading in.

Some examples of the depots most commonly used are ACFS, QUBE, Trojan, ANJ,  Chalmers, Stockwells, please click to take you directly to their tracking page.

*If goods are machines - please ensure supplier puts a declaration on the invoice that the goods are new, unused and not factory trailed/ field tested and are free from biosecurity risk material

AIRFREIGHT CARGO - steps

1. Goods will be booked in through a forwarder/agent or directly with the airline you will either get a Master Airway bill or a House Airway bill and goods will be sent to Australia.

2.  You will need to get a copy the SAC form to complete and send back to us along with a copy of your ID, Commercial invoice, packing list, and Airway bill along with payment for the Clearance.

3. Once the goods arrive, you will receive notification from the depot that the cargo is available, but it is best to track your cargo with the airline and check which ground handling agent the cargo is going to as storage can commence as soon as 24hours after arrival. Please click here for all the airline tracking pages.

4. Once you have a CLEAR status with Customs and Quarantine, you will need to ensure you have paid for the ITF (terminal Handling) charges with the airline/ forwarder - if directly with the airline you can pay these on collection of your cargo.

Some of the ground handling agents most commonly used are, QANTAS, Toll Dnata, Menzies Aviation, AMI ect.
- If using a forwarder, the cargo will be collected from the ground handling agent and made available at the forwarder's Depot.

* A packing declaration is not needed for Air cargo, however if timber is used in the packaging this must be treated, Timber will still need to be inspected by Quarantine along with other risk materials which you can check with the departments BICON search tool

Please click on the heading below for the link to the customs fact sheet

SELF-ASSESSED CLEARANCE (SAC)

DECLARATIONS

Imported goods valued at or below A$1000* that arrive in

Australia by sea or air cargo must be declared to the Australian

Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs and Border

Protection) on a self-assessed clearance (SAC) declaration.

SAC declarations are not required for the clearance of goods

with a value at or below A$1000 that arrive by international mail

(post).

When you make a SAC declaration you are required to declare

that:

• the value of the goods does not exceed A$1000, or

• you want to refer the goods to Customs and Border

Protection or Australian Quarantine and Inspection (AQIS).

Generally, there is no requirement to pay duty and Goods and

Services Tax (GST) on imported goods valued at or below

A$1000 except for alcohol and/or tobacco products.

There is no documentary (paper) option for the lodgement of a

SAC declaration.

CARGO REPORT SAC DECLARATION

Cargo reporters are responsible for reporting cargo to Customs

and Border Protection.

The majority of SAC declarations lodged with Customs and

Border Protection are made when a cargo reporter completes a

cargo report for air cargo. When SAC declarations are made in

this way you do not have to do anything.

Not all cargo reporters make SAC declarations when they make

cargo reports.

If a cargo reporter does not make a SAC declaration on your

behalf, you will need to make a SAC declaration. Your carrier

or Freight Forwarder will usually notify you when your imported

goods arrive and if you need to make a SAC declaration. Check

this with your carrier or Freight Forwarder.

HOW TO LODGE A SAC DECLARATION

SAC declarations must be lodged electronically. You have two

options:

1. You may use a Customs broker or other service provider to

lodge SAC declarations. Fees may be charged.

2. Lodge a SAC declaration yourself by using the Integrated

Cargo System (ICS). You need to hold a digital certificate to

do this.

Further information on communicating electronically with

Customs and Border Protection is available at:

www.cargosupport.gov.au/site/page5950.asp

There are no Customs and Border Protection charges for making

a SAC declaration.

TYPES OF SAC DECLARATIONS

There are two types of SAC declarations you can make:

• SAC declaration (Full Format)

• SAC declaration (Short Form).

SAC DECLARATION (FULL FORMAT)

In the following instances, goods that require a SAC declaration

are cleared more quickly if a SAC declaration (Full Format) is

used:

1. an exemption or other concession applies

2. a permit or approval is required

3. duty and GST is payable because:

–– the goods include alcohol and/or tobacco products

–– the goods are part of a larger consignment or

–– of commercial reasons.

August 2010

A SAC declaration (Full Format) can be made by the importer

(you) or a licensed Customs Broker.

SAC declaration service providers can be found through an

internet search or in your local telephone directory.

Customs brokers can be found through an internet search, in

your local telephone directory or online at:

www.customs.gov.au/site/page6093.asp

SAC DECLARATION (SHORT FORM)

A SAC declaration (Short Form) is made where only minimal

information is required.

A SAC declaration (Short Form) can be used to pay duty and

GST for imported goods that include alcohol and/or tobacco

products.

Anyone who has a digital certificate and is registered in the ICS

can make a SAC declaration (Short Form). SAC declaration

service providers and Customs brokers can make this type of

SAC declaration.

PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED GOODS

If you import prohibited and restricted goods, you will need

to obtain permission from the government agency that issues

permits or approvals for those goods.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on any importation matter, contact the

Customs Information and Support Centre on 1300 363 263,

email information@customs.gov.au or visit our website

www.customs.gov.au

OTHER INFORMATION

For information on quarantine matters, contact AQIS on

1800 020 504 or visit the AQIS website www.aqis.gov.au

AQIS is a part of the Biosecurity Services Group within the

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.