GST on migration agent fees, and what it applies to

A migration agent’s quote often contains two very different amounts: the agent’s own professional fee, and the Department’s visa application charge. People regularly confuse the two, especially when GST appears on one part of the quote but not the other. Another common problem is a quote that shows a professional fee first, then adds GST later, even though the Code of Conduct says fees must be quoted GST inclusive.

The two main parts of a migration quote#

ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਮਾਈਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਕੋਟਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਦੋ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਲਾਗਤ ਆਈਟਮ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਪਹਿਲੀ professional fee ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਉਹ ਰਕਮ ਹੈ ਜੋ registered migration agent ਜਾਂ Australian legal practitioner ਆਪਣੇ ਕੰਮ ਲਈ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ, forms ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰਨਾ, application lodge ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸੰਚਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ। ਜਿੱਥੇ provider GST ਲਈ registered ਹੈ, ਉੱਥੇ ਉਸ professional fee ਉੱਤੇ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ GST ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਦੂਜਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ Department ਦੀ ਫੀਸ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ visa application charge ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਫੀਸ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ Department of Home Affairs ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਏਜੰਟ ਦੀ ਆਮਦਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ, ਅਤੇ ਇਹ professional fee ਵਾਲੀ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।

These amounts should be separated clearly. That makes it easier to compare quotes and to see what is being paid to the adviser, and what is being paid to the government. On VisaBid, this is one reason itemised quotes matter, because they help people compare like with like when they describe a case and get quotes.

ਆਮ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਕਿਹੜੇ ਉੱਤੇ GST ਲਾਗੂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ#

GST generally applies to the agent’s or lawyer’s own professional services, if that business is registered for GST. In practical terms, that means the professional fee often includes a GST component. Many migration matters are quoted with professional fees ranging from a few hundred dollars for limited work to several thousand dollars for a full application, depending on the visa stage and the amount of work involved.

The Department’s visa application charge is different. It is a government charge, not the agent’s own taxable income from providing migration assistance. An agent may collect that amount from a client and pass it on to the Department, but that does not turn the Department fee into the agent’s professional fee.

Some quotes also include third party costs. These can include translation fees, skills assessment fees, police checks, medicals, English tests, courier costs or barrister fees. Whether GST applies to those amounts depends on the supplier and the way the cost is charged, so the quote should show each item separately rather than bundle everything into one unclear figure.

GST-inclusive quoting ਕਿਉਂ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਹੈ#

The Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021 requires clarity about fees. Under s46, a registered migration agent must provide a fee structure that includes disbursements and fees, and fees must be quoted as GST inclusive where GST is payable.

That matters because a quote can look cheaper than it really is if GST is added later. For example, if a professional fee is shown as one amount and the invoice later adds 10 per cent GST on top, the original quote was not presented in the way s46 requires. The total payable for the professional fee should already be shown GST inclusive.

This rule helps people compare providers fairly. If one quote says "$2,000 plus GST" and another says "$2,200 including GST", those figures are not being shown in the same way. Under s46, the compliant presentation is the GST-inclusive one.

ਇੱਕ ਢੰਗ ਦਾ ਲਿਖਤੀ agreement ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਦਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਹੈ। s42 ਅਧੀਨ, agent ਨੂੰ services ਅਤੇ fees ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਲਿਖਤੀ agreement ਦੇਣਾ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ s51 ਅਧੀਨ, ਉਸ agreement ਦੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ agent ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਗ ਸਕਦਾ ਜਾਂ ਸਵੀਕਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ। consumer guide ਵੀ s38 ਅਧੀਨ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੇਣੀ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਤੁਸੀਂ VisaBid ਦੇ consumer guide page.

What a compliant quote should show#

ਇੱਕ ਸਾਫ਼ quote ਲਈ ਜਟਿਲ tax ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ। ਪਰ ਇਹ ਦਿਖਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਵੇਰਵਾ ਲੋੜੀਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਸਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀ ਚਾਰਜ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਉਂ।

In practice, a compliant quote usually separates the following items:

• professional fee for the migration work
• GST on the professional fee, if payable, or a GST-inclusive total
• Department charges
• other third party costs or disbursements
• any staged fees, such as fees for preparation, lodgement or later steps

The cleanest format is often a GST-inclusive professional fee with a note stating that the amount includes GST. The Department’s charge should appear as a separate line item. This makes it clear that the government charge is not part of the adviser’s earnings.

quote ਦੇ ਪੜਾਅ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵੀ invoices ਅਤੇ receipts ਮਹੱਤਵ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਹਨ। s49 ਅਧੀਨ, agent ਨੂੰ ਐਸੀਆਂ invoices ਅਤੇ receipts ਦੇਣੀਆਂ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਲੈਣ-ਦੇਣ ਨੂੰ ਠੀਕ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਰਜ ਕਰਨ। ਜੇ ਪੈਸਾ client ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ s50 ਅਧੀਨ client account ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮ ਵੀ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।

Red flags to look for in migration fee quotes#

Some fee problems are easy to miss, especially when a quote is sent by message or discussed over the phone before any written agreement arrives.

One red flag is a quote that says "plus GST" on the professional fee instead of showing the GST-inclusive total. Another is a quote that combines the professional fee and the Department charge into one grand total without explaining which part goes where. That can make comparison difficult and can hide the true adviser fee.

A further red flag is a request for money before any written agreement is given. Under s51 of the Code, payment is not meant to be taken before the agreement required by s42 is in place. It is also sensible to check whether the person offering migration assistance is actually registered, because giving immigration assistance in Australia while unregistered can breach s280 of the Migration Act 1958, and charging for it can raise issues under s281. A MARN can be checked on VisaBid’s operator check page.

ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਫੀਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀ ਕੁਝ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਅਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਹੋਵੇ। ਇੱਕ quote ਵਿੱਚ "full service" ਲਿਖਿਆ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਇਹ ਨਾ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ ਕਿ ਕੀ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ forms ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰਨਾ, documents upload ਕਰਨਾ, ਹੋਰ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਬੇਨਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਪਟਣਾ, ਜਾਂ health ਅਤੇ character ਵਾਲੇ ਕਦਮ ਸੰਭਾਲਣਾ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ। ਜਿੰਨੀ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ itemisation ਹੋਵੇਗੀ, quotes ਦੀ ਤੁਲਨਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਦੇ invoices ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਣਾ ਉਨਾ ਹੀ ਆਸਾਨ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।

quotes ਦੀ ਠੀਕ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੁਲਨਾ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਕਰਨੀ ਹੈ#

The safest way to compare migration quotes is to compare the same categories across each provider.

ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ, professional fee ਨੂੰ ਵੱਖ ਕਰੋ। ਵੇਖੋ ਕਿ ਕੀ ਇਹ GST inclusive ਵਜੋਂ ਦਿਖਾਈ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਜੇ ਨਹੀਂ, ਤਾਂ ਜਿੱਥੇ GST payable ਹੈ ਉੱਥੇ quote ਨੂੰ s46 ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਲੋੜੀਂਦੇ ਫਾਰਮੈਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੇਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।

Second, separate out the Department’s charge and any other third party costs. Department charges change over time and are maintained on the relevant visa pages, so they are not useful as a measure of which adviser is cheaper. What usually differs most between providers is the professional fee, the scope of work and the level of service included.

Third, check whether the work is staged. Some providers quote one fee for an initial stage and later charge more for further steps. That is not necessarily improper, but the structure should be clear in writing from the start. VisaBid’s ਲਾਗਤ ਅਨੁਮਾਨਕ ਵਿਸਥਾਰਪੂਰਵਕ ਲਿਖਤੀ ਕੋਟਾਂ ਦੀ ਤੁਲਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਿਆਪਕ ਉਮੀਦਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਮਦਦ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਅਖੀਰ ਵਿੱਚ, ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਕੀਮਤ ਨਹੀਂ, compliance ਦੀਆਂ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਦੇਖੋ। ਢੰਗ ਦੀ quote ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ s38 ਅਧੀਨ consumer guide, s42 ਅਧੀਨ ਲਿਖਤੀ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ, s46 ਅਧੀਨ GST-inclusive fee structure ਅਤੇ s49 ਅਧੀਨ ਠੀਕ invoicing ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇੱਕ ਸਸਤੀ quote ਜੋ ਇਹ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਨਦੀ, ਉਸ 'ਤੇ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਔਖਾ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

If the quote looks wrong#

ਕਿਸੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਸਪਸ਼ਟ quote ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਵਾਜਬ ਹੈ ਕਿ professional fee, GST, Department charges ਅਤੇ disbursements ਨੂੰ ਲਿਖਤੀ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਵੇ।

If the concern is about a registered migration agent’s conduct, the Code of Conduct is the main reference point. Issues about fee presentation, invoicing, money handling and documents can often be traced back to specific sections such as s42, s46, s49, s50 and s54. VisaBid also has a page about complaints and next steps.

It is also important to keep documents. Written quotes, invoices, receipts and service agreements form the basic record of what was promised and what was paid. Under s56, agents must retain certain records for seven years.

Common questions#

Do migration agent fees include GST in Australia?#

The professional fee generally includes GST where the migration agent or legal practice is registered for GST. Under s46 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021, fees must be quoted GST inclusive where GST is payable. The Department’s charge is a separate item.

Is GST charged on the visa application fee?#

The Department’s visa application charge is a government charge, not the migration agent’s professional fee. In a quote, it should usually appear as a separate amount from the adviser’s fee. The GST issue usually relates to the adviser’s own professional services, not to the government charge as the agent’s income.

Can a migration agent quote plus GST?#

Where GST is payable, s46 of the Code requires fees to be quoted GST inclusive. That means a quote that lists the professional fee and then adds GST later is not presented in the required format. The total for that fee should already include the GST amount.

What should be on a migration agent invoice or receipt?#

The invoice or receipt should clearly identify what was charged, including the professional fee, any Department charges collected, and other disbursements or third party costs. Under s49 of the Code, proper invoices and receipts must be given. If client money is being held before it is applied, s50 on client accounts may also be relevant.

---

About this guide. This is general information about how a process works in Australia. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Government charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and check any agent on the OMARA register.