Make a claim for the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme - Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme

Register as a TFES claimant

You must register with the Scheme before submitting a claim for freight assistance. Download and complete the Registration and change of details form and return by email to tfes.support@servicesaustralia.gov.au.

Updating your details

You should also complete the Registration and change of details form if:

your bank account, signatories or business details change
your business activities have changed
it has been more than 5 years since your last claim.

Registering goods for southbound manufacturing and mining claims

If you’re a registered manufacturer or miner claiming for southbound goods you must also register the goods you want to claim before submitting a claim.

If you’re a registered King Island or Furneaux Group manufacturer or miner you may need to register goods you are shipping from the main island of Tasmania. You can contact Transport and freight services for further information.

To register a new good for southbound interstate shipments you must provide the following:

a completed Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Manufacturers’ and Miners’ Application to register southbound goods form
a Manufacturer’s Certificate form that has been completed by the manufacturer
if applicable, a Supplier’s Certificate form that has been completed by the supplier.

To register a new good for intrastate shipments you must provide the following:

a completed King Island and Furneaux Group intrastate component - Manufacturers' and Miners' application for approval of items form
a Manufacturer’s Certificate form that has been completed by the manufacturer
if applicable, a King Island and Furneaux Group Intrastate Component - Supplier’s Certificate form.

Claim

You must submit your claim, with all supporting documentation, within 6 months of the date of shipment.

You can submit your claim online in the Centrelink Business Online System. Your logon ID and password are provided to you via email when you register for the Scheme.

If you’re unable to submit an online claim you can complete a paper form.

Southbound Imported Goods claims must be submitted online. Claims agents must submit all claims online.

Read the guide for more information about the correct forms to use:

If your claim is not submitted correctly, it may be rejected.

Supporting documentation

Claims must be submitted with all the required supporting documentation. If all required documentation is not provided your claim may be rejected.

The supporting documentation must have evidence of all shipping details required for your claim type.

The shipping details your supporting documentation must show for northbound domestic goods, southbound domestic goods and intrastate claims are:

transport company
date of shipment
origin and destination
transport task
goods shipped
invoice number
consignment number, if applicable
freight paid
if refrigerated or dry
container or trailer length, if a full container load
number of containers or trailers, if a full container load
number of pallets, if applicable
number of head, livestock claims only
tonnes and cubic metres.

For Northbound Other Markets claims, the Bass Strait shipping details your supporting documentation must show are:

transport company
date of shipment
port of origin and first Australian port
goods shipped
invoice number
consignment number, if applicable
evidence of transhipment
freight paid
container or trailer length, if a full container load
number of containers or trailers, if a full container load
number of pallets, if applicable
number of head, livestock claims only
tonnes and cubic metres.

For Southbound Imported Goods claims, the Bass Strait shipping details your supporting documentation must show are:

transport company
date of import
date of shipment
origin and destination
goods shipped
consignment number, if applicable
invoice number
freight paid
container or trailer length, if a full container load
number of containers or trailers, if a full container load
number of pallets, if applicable
number of head, livestock claims only
tonnes and cubic metres.

Northbound goods

To support your claim for northbound domestic goods that are staying on the Australian mainland, submit a copy of the following:

freight forwarder, shipping company, or freight broker invoices that have the details of the freight charges
consignment notes if the invoices don't contain the shipment details
other documentation that provides evidence to support your claim.

To support your claim for northbound other markets goods being shipped to the Australian mainland, unloaded and transported to other markets, submit a copy of the following:

evidence of transhipment such as a Customs Declaration Number, Bill of Lading, Waybill, Air Waybill, or similar
freight forwarder, shipping company, or freight broker invoices that have the details of the freight charges
consignment notes if the invoices do not contain the shipment details
other documentation that provides evidence to support your claim.

Southbound goods

Southbound domestic goods

Where the transport of the eligible goods was arranged for and paid by you, submit a copy of the following:

freight forwarder, shipping company, or freight broker invoices that have the details of the freight charges
consignment notes if the invoices don't contain the shipment details
other documentation that provides evidence to support your claim.

Where the goods were purchased from a Tasmanian supplier or from a mainland Australia supplier, submit a copy of the following:

supplier’s invoices
consignment notes, if available
other documentation that provides evidence of consignee details, type and number of containers used, shipping weight and volume, freight charges etc. This could be a Verification of Transport Details - southbound form or other available documentation.

Southbound imported goods

Where the transport of the eligible goods from the mainland to Tasmania was arranged for and paid by you, submit a copy of the following:

freight forwarder, shipping company, or freight broker invoices that have the details of the Bass Strait freight charges, shipping details and date the goods left the mainland
documents that provide evidence of the date of import
consignment notes if the freight invoices don't contain all the shipment details, if available
Statutory Declaration TFES Imported goods - No Australian equivalent (TAS031), if applicable
other documentation that provides evidence to support your claim.

Where the goods were purchased from a Tasmanian supplier or from a mainland Australia supplier, submit a copy of the following:

supplier’s invoices
consignment notes, if available
documents that provide evidence of the date of import
documents that provide evidence of the date of shipment from the Australian mainland and the shipping details of the Bass Strait shipment e.g. evidence of the consignee, type and number of containers used, shipping weight and volume, freight charges etc. This could be a Verification of Transport Details - southbound form or other available documentation.
Statutory Declaration TFES Imported goods - No Australian equivalent (TAS031), if applicable.

Read the guide for more information about supporting documentation:

Commodity Codes

You can find a list of northbound goods and the associated commodity code in the TFES Ministerial Directions - Schedule 1 on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website.

Your northbound goods must be listed in Schedule 1. If they are not listed you can apply for them to be added. You can contact Transport and freight services for further information.

Codes for your goods can be found when entering your shipment details in your online claim. You can search in the commodity code field.

They’re also available in the online user guides available in the Centrelink Business Online portal.

You can find the guides by following these steps:

Select help from the landing page
Select user guides and instructions then select one of the TFES user guides.

Agent authorisation

If you’re an eligible claimant you can authorise an approved claims agent to act on your behalf.

Download and complete the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Claims Agent Authorisation form.

Agent application

You can apply to become an authorised claims agent. This will allows you to act on behalf of eligible claimants.

Download and complete the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Claims Agent Application form.

Submitting your claim

You must submit your claim and supporting documentation within 6 months of the date of shipment.

Before you submit your first claim, or if your bank or business details change, you need to complete the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Registration and change of details form.

After your eligibility is confirmed you can submit your claim:

online in the Centrelink Business Online portal. You will be issued with a logon ID, temporary password and instructions when you register.
by fax (03) 6208 9976
by post to:

Team Leader
Tasmanian Transport Schemes
GPO Box 1269
HOBART TAS 7001

Claim outcome

Once your claim has been assessed a letter will be sent advising you of the outcome.

Make a claim

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