FAQs ABOUT

Excellent question! Think of us as your logistics savvy buddy who’s here to manage the process of shipping your commercial goods – what we call ‘cargo’ – from Point A to Point B, anywhere in the world. 

And we don’t just arrange for the lifting and shifting of shipping containers stacked with your products (although we are good at that). We also handle the nitty-gritty, behind-the-scenes stuff, like paperwork (LOTS of paperwork), scheduling, customs, and quarantine clearances – all the gnarly, confusing stuff that most people hate (but we love!).

Simply put, we’re the people that businesses call when they need help importing their stuff into the country. (And we’re really, really, really good at it.

Absolutely! In fact, it’s kinda what we’re known for.

Book a (free) chat with one of our team members (we're a friendly bunch), bring us up to speed with your big business moves, and we'll advise you on the best way to get it going.

Think getting free or cheap freight from the supplier is a steal? It might seem tempting, but remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch (or free shipping, in this case).

To stay in the driver's seat with your costs and routing, we recommend going for FOB or EXW terms when buying goods. That way, we at PFS can jump in, act on your behalf, and tailor the service to your exact needs and deadlines while you still see every cost clear as day. 

No, but it is easier. If you’ve got an existing ABN, that will be used as your Identifier.

No ABN? No worries! Just pull together 100 points of identification, and you'll snag a CCID

(Customs Client Identifier) to identify you as an importer.

Who's shipping stuff? That's the consignor, aka the shipper or sender. They're the one who

hands off the cargo to be delivered by land, sea, or air.

In simple terms, the consignee is the buyer of the goods; the person or company named on

the paperwork – the Bill of Lading (BOL) - as the receiver and owner of the cargo heading

their way. (Psst! If you’re the business bringing in the goods, that’s YOU.)

Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) is a service that allows you to outsource order fulfilment to

Amazon – and yep, you betcha.

Contact our team to get your FBA set up with us today.

Incoterms® are like the 'language' spoken between buyers and sellers in the big, bustling

world of international trade. They're like the universal rules of the game, accepted by the

bigwigs in governments and legal courts everywhere.

Short ‘n sweet, these three-letter codes (fancy, right?) spell out who's doing what, who's

paying for what, and who's taking the risks. It’s like calling shotgun on a road trip but for

global business.

Wanna learn more? We recommend watching this handy video and this nifty reference

chart.

We know, it’s almost like its own language! That’s why we whipped up this handy glossary of

the most commonly used terms for you to print out and use (so you'll know your BOL from

your FTA in no time).

The most common shipping containers are called General Purpose or "GP." These sturdy,

watertight boxes transport goods by sea or land. A GP is 8'6" tall on the outside. Inside,

products are packed in cartons which can either be loaded in loose or packed on pallets.

A 20’GP is a general-purpose container that measures 20 feet long. It holds about 27-28

cubic meters (m3).

Likewise, a 40’GP is a general-purpose container that measures 40 feet long. It holds around 55-60m3.

And a 40’HC / 40’HQ is a 40-foot High Cube ("HC"), which is a foot taller than a generalpurpose container. It holds around 65-70m3.

So, in short: A GP keeps your stuff safe on the journey. 20’s, 40’s, and High Cubes give you

different amounts of space.

With LCL sea freight, we charge by weight or the measurement (1 cubic meter (m3) or 1,000

kgs). So, if your shipment takes up 1(m3) but weighs 2,000 kgs, we'll charge for 2(m3). See?

Simple!

Heads up: For small shipments under 1(m3), minimum charges may apply. (Sorry, mate - we

don’t make the rules.)

Shipping by sea? You’ll need to provide:

• Bill of Lading (shipping receipt)
• Commercial Invoice in English (describes & prices each item, currency, origin of products, and total invoice amount)
• Packing List
• Packing Declaration

Plus, depending on your goods:

• Fumigation Certificate
• Phytosanitary Certificate
• Import Permit
• Certificate of Origin
• Import License

Most air freight goes on passenger planes, which have size limits. So, your ideal cargo

dimensions are:

Length: Under 3m

Width: Under 2m

Height: Under 1.5m

If your shipment is bigger, contact us, and we'll find the right freight option to fit your

oversized cargo.

With air freight, we charge by either the actual weight of your cargo or the size of your cargo

(known as volumetric weight), whichever is greater.

For international couriers, they calculate this by:

• Multiply length x width x height in cm
•  Divide by 5000 (or 4000 within Europe)
• That's your volumetric weight. If that's higher than the actual weight, you pay the volumetric rate (the size of your cargo).

For airlines, it’s calculated slightly differently:

• Divide length x width x height in cm by 6000
• That's your volumetric weight. If that's higher than the actual weight, you pay the volumetric rate (the size of your cargo).

In short: we calculate both weights, and you pay for whichever is greater.

Shipping air freight? We'll need:

• Air Waybill (the shipping receipt)
•  Commercial Invoice in English (describes & prices each item, currency, origin of products, and total invoice amount)
•  Packing List

Plus, depending on your goods:

• Fumigation Certificate
• Phytosanitary Certificate
• Import Permit
• Certificate of Origin
• Import License

To pull together a custom quote, you’ll need to give us the following:

• Pick up address (if EXW)
• Port of loading (if FOB)
• Delivery address & unloading facilities
• Commodity
• Number of items & size/weight of each or total cubic metre (m3) & weight (if LCL)
• Container size and weight (if FCL)
• Commercial value & currency (to estimate the import taxes)

If you're unsure about any of these, we recommend you contact our team directly so we

can guide you through.

A direct bank transfer is most common. However, we also accept all major credit cards -

whatever is most convenient for you.

We typically invoice 3-5 days before your shipment arrives, with payment due before the

shipment's ETA (estimated time of arrival). This ensures your cargo can be released from the

port/airport smoothly once it reaches its destination. No unpleasant surprises or delays!

Insurance isn't mandatory, but we highly recommend it. After all, stuff happens - and without it, you might be digging deep into those pockets.

That's why we've partnered with Coverfreight Cargo Insurance. One swift move, and you've

got quality Marine Cargo insurance. It's your choice, but we're here to make it a no-brainer.

Get an instant quote here.

In a nutshell? Expect a range from 0 - 5%. Import Duty Rates shift and sway depending on the

commodity, where it's coming from, and if there is a free trade agreement in place.

Oooh, good question. Calculating the import duty and GST might look like a tricky maze, but

we have a shortcut.

Here's the deal: start with what you paid for the goods (that's the commercial value or CV),

add any duty, the transport & insurance cost (T&I), and any specific taxes, like Wine

Equalisation Tax (if that's your thing).

Or, if you want to see a real-world example, imagine your goods are valued at AUD$1000 with a 5% duty:

• Duty: 5% of $1000 = $50
• T&I: $150
• VoTI (Value of the Taxable Import): $1200
• GST: 10% of $1200 = $120
• Total Duty & GST: $170

Still feels like a jigsaw puzzle? Don't sweat it. We can include all these numbers in our quote,

making it smooth sailing (and math-ing) for you.

Import GST (Goods & Services Tax) is an additional 10% tax on all goods shipped to Australia. It applies to all importers - businesses, organisations, and individuals - and is charged whether you're registered for regular GST or not.

If you're a registered business importing goods, we recommend speaking to your accountant

about claiming a GST credit for the tax paid on imports. (They’re good at that stuff!)

You sure can! The ATO (Australian Tax Office) offers a Deferred GST (DGST) scheme - it's like a handy cash flow perk for importers.

With DGST, you can defer paying import GST until your next business activity statement, which

means no more big, upfront tax bills – hooray!

To qualify, you must:

• Have an ABN
• Be GST registered
• File activity statements online monthly
• Pay electronically

You may not qualify if:

• Tax returns/payments aren't up to date (*whoomp-whoomp*)
• You have recent tax convictions (ouch)

Apply here: https://www.ato.gov.au/Forms/Application-for-approval-to-defer-GST-on-imported-goods/

Read ‘em right here. Warning: They’re long and boring (but yes, important).

You betcha. Check it out for yourself. (Again: long and boring, but important.)