Selling on Amazon US From Australia: Registration, Tax Information, FBA and Getting Paid

An Australian business can sell on Amazon US by registering a seller account on sell.amazon.com and selecting the country where the business is registered. You do not need a US bank account, but the bank account must be in your own or your business's name. The US Professional plan is US$39.99 a month plus selling fees, and the Individual plan is US$0.99 per item sold. The harder parts are tax information, getting stock into the US and working out whether your margin survives freight, duty and a new set of fees. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

What do you need to register for Amazon US?

Amazon's US registration guide lists the items to have ready:

• a government-issued ID,
• an email address,
• an internationally chargeable credit card,
• a bank account,
• a business licence or registration,
• proof of residential address from the last 180 days, and
• tax information.

You choose the country where your business is registered. If you operate as an individual or without incorporation, select the country where you do business, and choose "None, I am an individual" as the business type. You do not need to be an LLC.

For an Australian business, your ABN or ACN and your ASIC or ABR details are the natural business documents. Match the names exactly: a mismatch between the registered name and the bank account is a common reason verification stalls. If you already have an Amazon.com.au account, Amazon's guidance is to use the Global Selling page and create an account in the new region. Amazon's own pages disagree slightly on how accounts group across regions, so check what Seller Central offers you.

What does Amazon US cost?

Referral fees vary by category and are calculated on the total price, which includes list price, shipping and gift wrapping. These are US-site figures as of 19 October 2026 and can change. FBA fulfilment and storage fees are on a separate Amazon US page that is not quoted here. Use Amazon's US revenue calculator for those.

A quick illustration with invented inputs: a home product sells for US$50.00 with US$5.00 shipping charged. The total price is US$55.00 and the 15% referral fee is about US$8.25, which matches Amazon's own worked example. Subtract that, plus FBA fees, freight and duty, then convert to Australian dollars at the rate you will actually get.

Amazon US quotes these fees in US dollars. Amazon's Australian pricing page states its Australian fees exclude GST, but Amazon does not say publicly how GST applies to fees charged by a US marketplace to an Australian seller. Ask your registered tax agent how to treat them in your BAS.

What tax information does Amazon ask for?

Amazon lists "tax information" as a required item but the public registration guide gives no further detail. You complete a tax interview inside Seller Central. The public registration guide does not mention Form W-8BEN.

The IRS describes Form W-8BEN-E as the form foreign entities use to document their status for US tax withholding and reporting. The "E" is for entities, such as an Australian Pty Ltd. A sole trader would be an individual rather than an entity, and the IRS publishes a separate individual form. Which one fits your structure, and whether any treaty rate applies, is a question for a registered tax agent with US experience. Do not guess, because incorrect information can lead to withholding.

On the Australian side, income earned through a US marketplace is still part of your business income. Keep Amazon settlement reports and convert at consistent rates. See income tax for Amazon sellers and GST for Amazon sellers for the domestic principles.

How does FBA US work for an Australian business?

Amazon describes FBA as outsourcing shipping, returns and customer service. Professional accounts include FBA access. For stock coming from outside the US:

• Products need to be imported into the US.
• You or your provider must act as exporter of record and importer of record. Amazon will not be responsible for customs duties and taxes associated with FBA inventory, and inventory arriving with unpaid duty charges is returned to the sender.
• You engage logistics providers directly.

In practice, most Australian sellers use a freight forwarder and a US customs broker. Our guide to the same concept in Australia, importer of record for Amazon Australia, explains the idea. The tariff, duty rate and de minimis position for US imports changes often, so check current rules with your broker or the US government before you ship. This guide does not quote current US duty figures.

Merchant fulfilment from Australia is the alternative. You act as exporter of record and ship each order directly. It avoids holding US inventory but delivery is slow, which usually hurts conversion and the Buy Box. See FBA vs FBM in Australia for the principles.

How do you get paid and handle currency?

Amazon's Currency Converter for Sellers supports 19 currencies including AUD and USD. Amazon's US guide says the converter can send proceeds to a non-US account in the relevant currency. You may only receive payment to a bank account in a country and currency the converter supports.

Conversion rates and charges are shown inside Seller Central, and Amazon does not publish them publicly, so build a buffer into pricing. Settlement timing for Amazon US is also shown in Seller Central. Whatever the exchange rate does, you still pay freight and duty in advance, so US expansion ties up cash.

What should an Australian brand check before launching?

1. Trade mark. Brand Registry needs a trade mark issued by a country with a corresponding Amazon store. An IP Australia mark does not automatically cover the US, so check the US filing.
2. Product rules. US safety and labelling rules differ from Australian ones. Your RCM mark or Australian compliance is not a US certificate.
3. Margin. Calculate in US$ then convert. Use a pessimistic exchange rate.
4. Category approval and restrictions. Check the US category rules before you buy stock.
5. Test small. Send a small batch before committing to a large shipment.

See Amazon Australia vs Amazon US for sellers for a comparison of the two markets and global selling from Australia for the overview.

FAQ

Can I sell on Amazon US with an Australian ABN? You register as a business in the country where it is registered, and you select that country in the form. Sole traders can choose "None, I am an individual". Your ABN is useful business documentation, but Amazon US asks for its own tax information.

Do I need a US bank account? No. Amazon says you do not need one, and the bank account must be in your or your business's name. Amazon's currency converter can pay a non-US account in the relevant currency.

What is Form W-8BEN-E? The IRS says foreign entities use it to document their status for US tax withholding and reporting. Which form applies to you depends on your structure, so confirm with a registered tax agent.

How much does Amazon US cost per month? The Professional plan is US$39.99 a month plus selling fees. The Individual plan is US$0.99 per item sold. Referral fees depend on the category.

Do I pay Australian GST on Amazon US fees? Amazon does not say publicly how GST applies to fees charged by Amazon US to an Australian seller. The GST wording on Amazon.com.au pricing refers to Australian fees. Ask a registered tax agent or the ATO how your US income and fees are treated in your BAS.

Is FBA US worth it from Australia? It can be if stock moves fast and margin covers freight and duty, but you carry import responsibility. Many brands start with a small test batch.

Next step

Start at the Australia hub if your Australian store is not yet stable. If you would like help with Amazon.com.au while you explore the US, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner working remotely from Bengaluru, offers Amazon account management in Australia. This guide works without it.