In relation to goods imported via international post, no. You can DIY by submitting a manual B374 – Import Declaration (N10) – Post, however there are some risks. Under S.243T of the Customs Act, if you submit an erroneous declaration you can be liable for a $12,000 fine, but it gets worse… because the legislation is strict liability which means that if there’s an error, you’re liable, regardless of your intent or even knowledge of the error.
Using a customs broker not only protects you from this liability risk, but in most cases, it will also save you time and money, typically more than you pay them. The bottom line is that if you’re not 100% confident that you understand the legislation and know exactly what your lodging in your declaration, use a customs broker.
