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Refunds, drawbacks, and remissions for excise equivalent goods

How to claim a refund, drawback, or remission (waiver) of customs duty on excise equivalent goods (EEGs).

Last updated 21 February 2023

Where to apply

You need to apply to:

  • the Department of Home Affairs for refunds and drawbacks of customs duty paid on EEGs
  • us for remissions (waivers) of customs duty when EEGs won't be delivered into the Australian domestic market.

Refunds and drawbacks of customs duty

When you can claim

You can claim a refund of some or all the customs duty you've paid on EEGs in certain situations. For example, you can claim if you can prove that EEGs were damaged while they were under customs control before delivery into the Australian domestic market.

You may be able to claim a drawback of customs duty you've paid on EEGs if they have been:

  • exported unused since importation
  • treated, processed or incorporated in other goods that are exported.

You can only claim either a refund or a drawback on the same goods – not both.

Refunds and drawbacks are not payable on fuel if an entitlement to a fuel tax credit exists.

How to claim

The Department of Home Affairs administers refunds and drawbacks of customs duty paid on EEGs. Lodge your claim with the Department of Home Affairs either:

Remission of customs duty

You can claim a remission or waiver of the customs duty liability for EEGs subject to customs control that won't be delivered into the Australian domestic market – for example, if the goods:

  • have been, or will be, destroyed
  • are no longer fit for human consumption.

Applying

You can apply to us for a remission of duty on goods still subject to customs control that have:

  • deteriorated
  • been damaged
  • been destroyed.

Approval for remission will allow the goods to be written out of the stock records and will acquit the duty liability. After the remission application is approved, you must destroy these goods.

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