Fees and charges explained

Fuel prices impact transport costs, so a dynamic fuel surcharge may be applied if there is a change in fuel prices. Refer to fuel surcharge and pricing.

Failure to pay accounts within your agreed payment terms can attract a late payment fee.

Note: You may have tailored account contract terms and rates. Contact your account manager for your specific contract and rates. 

Relates to parcel contract customers using a pickup service (a parcel collection from your premises). This pickup location is also known as a Merchant Location ID (MLID).

A Minimum Collection Value Fee can be charged if the sending cost of your lodgement is lower than the Minimum Collection Value. If so, you will be charged the difference between the cost of your lodgement and the Minimum Collection Value.

To avoid a Minimum Collection Value fee, consider lodging over the counter or hold off on manifesting until you meet the threshold.

As a parcel travels through our network, it's checked by scanners in our facilities. This allows us to measure and record the parcel's dimensions and weight. The parcel details detected are then compared to what was declared when the item was manifested.

If there's a discrepancy in the postage amount and you over or under declare your parcel's dimensions and/or weight, we update the charge that you are invoiced.

Additionally, your manifest passes to our invoicing system no more than 8 days after you send your data to us. If the dimensions and weight of your parcels haven't been checked in that time, the updated information won't be automatically reflected on your invoice. 

In the above cases, we will let you know that there are additional charges owing by including a separate line item on your invoice shown as '059 - More to pay'.

These charges may take up to two months to appear on your invoice.

Tips to avoid under-declaring your postage:

• Ensure you correctly measure your item – item dimensions help us work out your postage based on how much space will be required to transport your item.
• Ensure your contents fit properly – bulging packaging can be detected by our scanners and alter the widest point of your item.
• Ensure you manifest your parcels on the day you lodge your item, and not before.

For further help, email the Billing & Invoice Support Team at billing@auspost.com.au.

For specific charges, visit PO Boxes & Locked Bags and scroll down to the Pricing and set-up heading.

For details, visit Reply Paid and select the Pricing tab.

A Security Management Charge is applied to all Australia Post domestic contract next day items and StarTrack Premium, Next Flight and International service shipments including all items carried by air. 

The charge is imposed to cover additional security measures for the transportation of certain items, particularly those deemed high-risk or requiring enhanced security protocols. This charge helps offset the costs associated with implementing and maintaining security measures to safeguard mail and parcels during transit.

The charge is consistent with industry practice in Australia, which relate to growing regulatory compliance obligations and the general, continuous improvements needed to meet Australian transport security requirements.

For current charges, visit business pricing updates and under Australia Post parcel services pricing, select Australia Post Security Management Charge.

Underpaid mail notice

You may receive an underpaid mail notice if you have sent a letter or parcel, without enough postage for that item. If you receive this notice, it means we've delivered the item in good faith. The notice will let you know how much you still need to pay, including a small service fee.

More to pay notice

You may receive a more to pay notice if someone sends you an item, usually a parcel, without having paid enough postage for that item. We'll only send recipients a more to pay notice where we can't identify the sender of the item. If you receive this notice, it means your item is being held at a local Post Office, where you can pay the remaining postage costs plus a small service fee and collect your item.

For more detail on how charges are calculated including services fees, visit underpaid mail.

Fuel prices impact transport costs, so a dynamic fuel surcharge may be applied if there is a change in fuel prices. Refer to fuel surcharge and pricing.

Futile Pick-up charge

The Futile Pick-up charge is applied when a driver has attempted the pick-up of a consignment(s) but is unable to perform the pick-up due to a change in the original pick-up requirement, including when the supplied vehicle is prevented from being able to perform the pick-up. For example: incorrect address, inaccessible delivery location.

Futile Delivery charge

If the first delivery attempt is futile and the consignment is returned to a StarTrack depot, the Futile Delivery charge will be charged at your quoted local delivery rate. For example: incorrect address, inaccessible delivery location, or the recipient's unavailability.

For details, refer to StarTrack Additional Charges & Standard Rate Schedules (PDF 328kB).