International Trade

Customs, international trade and excise services

BDO’s customs, international trade & excise practice has over 40 years of experience and are recognised leaders in providing expert assistance to importers, exporters and manufacturers. 

We’re your strategic partners in navigating the complex world of international trade. Find out how we can help you achieve cost savings, efficiency, and certainty in your international trade operations.

How robust is your international supply chain?

BDO's international trade team has decades of experience helping importers, exporters and manufacturers to minimise cost, enhance efficiency, and ensure compliance in their international supply chains.

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How BDO can help

Cost optimisation

We provide expert assistance to importers, exporters and manufacturers of excisable goods, focusing on minimising international supply chain costs. Advising clients on various customs, international trade and excise aspects including goods classification and applicable duty rates, duty refunds, the application of free trade agreements, customs valuation and compliance.

We advise clients on various aspects of international trade costs, including customs and excise classification, refunds, remissions, internal controls reporting, and compliance.

Refunds and drawbacks

  • Review and assessment
  • Retrospective claims
  • Future claim calculations

Valuation

  • Assess the correct valuation method, ensuring deductible costs are excluded

Customs or excise rates

  • Determine tariff classification and apply the correct customs or excise rate
  • Apply for new concessions and utilise existing ones

Sourcing decisions

  • Analyse Free Trade Agreements and provide advice

Efficiency enhancement

Our solutions improve efficiency across the entire international trade supply chain. We prepare and implement duty mitigation strategies and utilise our bespoke international trade data analyser tool to look for cost saving opportunities. 

We offer solutions to improve efficiency across the entire international trade supply chain:

Major projects

  • Prepare Australian Industry Plans
  • Implement duty mitigation strategies
  • Execute duty strategies

Trade automation and assessment

  • Utilise the Importer Trade Analyser
  • Review processes and dependencies
  • Conduct cost/benefit analyses
  • Provide product advice

Supply chain re-engineering

  • Map Free Trade Agreements within your supply chain
  • Identify gaps and explore “best case” options

Certainty and compliance

Prioritising compliance with Australian laws, we assist with customs and excise audits, endeavour to minimises penalties for clients and assist with voluntary disclosures to the Australian Border Force and the Australian Taxation Office. We optimise trade administration, provide advice, and obtain accreditation for businesses under Trusted Trader Agreement.

We prepare customs valuation rulings for related party transactions and other valuation matters to provide certainty and eliminate the risk of penalties where the ruling is adhered to.

We also prepare voluntary disclosures to the Australian Border Force to ensure the correct customs values and duties have been declared and any additional payments or refunds of import GST and customs duties are processed.

We prioritise compliance with local laws, manage risks, and reduce penalties.

Compliance management

  • Handle customs and excise audits
  • Minimise the likelihood of penalties

Voluntary disclosures

  • Address transfer pricing adjustments and other compliance obligations

Regulatory and commercial framework review

  • Optimise trade administration
  • Provide advice and submissions

Government agreements

  • Obtain accreditation for businesses under Australian Border Force Trusted Trade Agreements

Value chain management

In conjunction with our value chain and transfer pricing specialists, our global experts assist with value chain management, customs duty optimisation, cross-border operations advice, trade facilitation, excise advisory, trade data analytics, and international trade programs.

Our international trade experts can also assist with the following:

Supply chain management

  • Identify and resolve offshore ‘sticky’ taxes
  • Optimise terms of trade and eliminate inefficiencies
  • Streamline cash flow management

Customs duty maximisation

  • Utilise tariff concession orders, the Tradex Scheme, and customs valuation
  • Access free trade agreements and tariff preferences

Cross-border operations advice

  • Ensure compliance with cross-border regulations
  • Manage risk related to conducting cross-border business

Trade facilitation

  • Customise trade processes and controls
  • Tailor solutions to your business unit or industry

Excise advisory

  • Cover all aspects of excise, including classification, refunds, and remissions

Trade data analytics

  • Leverage our trade analytics tool for informed decision-making

International trade programs

  • Benefit from initiatives like the Australian Trusted Trader program

Contact us

Contact our team to discuss your needs using the request for service form. Alternatively, call us on 1300 138 991 to speak with an adviser in your nearest BDO office.

Meet our team