The Import Processing Charges Amendment Bill 2013  introduced by The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has passed through both Houses of Parliament without amendment.

The Bill will increase the import declaration and warehouse declaration processing charges levied on air, sea and post consignments with a value of $10,000 - effective on 1 January 2014. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service have advised that they will soon release a notice with transition arrangements.

The new charges will introduce a two tiered charging arrangement with increased charges applying for air, sea and post consignments valued at $10,000 or more. The charging arrangements will apply from 1 January 2014 as follows:

• for all consignments valued at more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, the current rates of import processing charges will continue to apply;
• for sea consignments lodged electronically with a value of $10,000 or more, the import processing charge will increase from $50.00 to $152.60;
• for sea consignments lodged manually with a value of $10,000 or more, the import processing charge will increase from $65.75 to $152.60;
• for air and post consignments lodged electronically with a value of $10,000 or more, the import processing charge will increase from $40.20 to $122.10; and
• for air and post consignments lodged manually with a value of $10,000 or more; the import processing charge will increase from $48.85 to $122.10.

There will continue to be no import processing charge for consignments valued at $1,000 or less.