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What it costs to import from the US to

Forwarder fees, shipping, customs duty and GST for a phone, compared across 6 US package forwarders. Cheapest estimated total first.

Duty
No duty up to AUD 1,000. Above it, 0% on electronics and 5% on clothing, shoes, cosmetics and most supplements.
GST
GST 10%. Below AUD 1,000 the forwarder charges it; above, customs collects it on the price, duty and shipping.
Duty-free limit
AUD 1,000, about $695. Above it you also pay an AUD 50 import processing charge and an AUD 48 biosecurity charge.
Batteries
Used devices with lithium batteries cannot go by USPS, so expect DHL, FedEx or UPS.

Checked October 2026

Show totals in
$600 phone to Australia, 0.3 kg (0.6 lb) Estimated totals include the item, US sales tax, forwarder fees, shipping, duty and GST.
# Forwarder Courier Fees + sales tax Shipping Duty + taxes Total Link
1 Forwardme Aramex8-15 days · From a quote A$0 A$35 A$90 Shipping A$35 · Fees and sales tax A$0 · Duty and taxes A$90 A$988$687 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free membership and free package processing. Consolidation is $3.25 per package on the free plan; Premium, $9.50 a month, promises lower shipping rates.
2 MyUS UPS Expedited5-9 days · From a quote A$0 A$41 A$90 Shipping A$41 · Fees and sales tax A$0 · Duty and taxes A$90 A$994+A$6 Visit
Florida charges 7% sales tax in Sarasota, but this address is on the state list of certified forwarding agents, so sellers that apply the list do not charge it. A seller that ignores the list will charge 7%. Premium membership is free for 30 days, then $9.99 a month. This estimate assumes the free month.
3 Ship To Box DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote A$24 A$47 A$93 Shipping A$47 · Fees and sales tax A$24 · Duty and taxes A$93 A$1,028+A$40 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free standard membership, $2 receiving fee per box, plus a $15 lithium battery fee on devices. Free consolidation.
4 Shipito DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote A$18 A$73 A$95 Shipping A$73 · Fees and sales tax A$18 · Duty and taxes A$95 A$1,050+A$61 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Oregon is the default address for Premium members; free accounts default to Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Premium membership, $10 a month, for the tax-free Oregon address, plus a $2.25 processing fee per package.
5 Stackry DHL Worldwide Express2-5 days · From a quote A$21 A$75 A$96 Shipping A$75 · Fees and sales tax A$21 · Duty and taxes A$96 A$1,054+A$66 Visit
No sales tax in New Hampshire. No membership, $2 receiving fee per package, plus a $12.50 hazmat fee on phones and smartwatches. Consolidation is $3 per package.
6 Planet Express DHL Express Worldwide1-6 days · From a quote A$3 A$114 A$98 Shipping A$114 · Fees and sales tax A$3 · Duty and taxes A$98 A$1,078+A$90 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Planet Express also has a tax-free address in Fort Pierce, FL and one in Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Free mailbox, $2 mail-out fee per package. Consolidation needs Premium, $10 a month.

Shipping comes from each forwarder's own calculator, quoted at 1 lb and 5 lb and interpolated in between, so it is an estimate, not a live price. Check the forwarder's calculator before you buy. Devices with lithium batteries only go by services that accept them, usually DHL, FedEx or UPS, so most postal and budget services are left out.

Buying a refurbished iPhone? Compare prices from US sellers

Before you buy a phone in the US

  • iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US have no SIM tray and work only with eSIM. Check that your carrier offers eSIM, or pick an iPhone 13 or earlier, which takes both.
  • Pick an unlocked phone. One locked to a US carrier will not work with your local SIM or eSIM.
  • Any charger in the box has a US plug. Most phone, tablet and laptop chargers accept 100 to 240 V, so a plug adapter is enough.
  • The warranty and returns are the US seller's. The return window starts when the parcel reaches your forwarder's US address, and a repair or return means paying to ship it back to the US.

How Australia taxes this phone

Duty and taxes for the cheapest option above, in the order customs applies them.

Charge Rate Amount
GST charged by the forwarder 10% A$90
Total duty and taxes A$90

Importing to Australia: common questions

Who charges GST on a parcel under AUD 1,000?

The forwarder. The ATO treats package forwarders as redeliverers, so they charge 10% GST on goods worth AUD 1,000 or less and on their own fees.

What changes above AUD 1,000?

The parcel goes through formal customs clearance. You pay duty where it applies, 10% GST on the price plus duty, shipping and insurance, an AUD 50 import processing charge and an AUD 48 biosecurity charge.

Do electronics pay duty in Australia?

No. Phones, laptops, tablets, headphones and smartwatches are duty free. Clothing, shoes and cosmetics pay 5% above AUD 1,000.

Can I buy Apple refurbished in Australia?

Yes. Apple runs a Certified Refurbished store at apple.com/au/shop/refurbished, so compare its price with the import estimate first.

Which forwarder is cheapest to Australia?

For a $600 phone weighing 0.3 kg (0.6 lb), Forwardme comes out cheapest in our estimate at $687 delivered, using Aramex. The order changes with weight and item type, and shipping prices are estimates, so check the forwarder's calculator before you buy.

Can I use a forwarder to buy from Apple's online store?

No. Apple's US online store ships only to US addresses and cancels orders sent to freight forwarder addresses. Retailers such as Amazon, Back Market or eBay sellers are the usual route, and their return and warranty terms can change once a parcel leaves the US.

The same phone, shipped elsewhere

Cheapest estimated total for a $600 phone in each country we cover. Each country has its own page.

Sources

Rules checked in October 2026. Exchange rates from 1 Oct 2026, Rates By Exchange Rate API. RefurbMe has no referral deals with these forwarders; the order is always the cheapest estimated total.