Claiming GST Back

[Sdtravel]

Also remember the gst that you have refunded doesn't count either.

Thats a fantastic point. Thanks so much medhead!!

ive been thinking that the IPad and qc20's are $910 and I might have to repay. But without tax they are $822 and don't need to be.
If one takes into account depreciation it's even better and even less worry.

You guys have set my mind at ease.
thanks heaps

 

[medhead]

Personally, I wouldn't declare $910. but at least at $822 you'll be right

 

[JohnK]

Items can now be less than $300 provided you have more than $300 spent at the same shop, in total.

Correct. I meant to say "No partial refund unless you have multiple items and each receipt from the store above $300."

 

[medhead]

Correct. I meant to say "No partial refund unless you have multiple items and each receipt above $300."

I also wrote the wrong words. The receipts can be less than $300 provided the total at each store is >$300. So you could buy 6 x$52 items at myer and claim the gst.

 

[Sdtravel]

Do they take the item price or the purchase price.
just remembered I used a discount coupon.
te receipt says item price was 399, then takes off like $50 so the total I paid $349
with the coupon I'm under combined $900 limit but if it's the 399 I'm not.
the gst looks to be calculated on the lower amount, so after the discount

 

[medhead]

They take the actual cash money that was paid, as the determines the amount if GST that was paid. They are not going to refund gst that was not paid.

 

[serfty]

They take the actual cash money that was paid, as the determines the amount if GST that was paid. They are not going to refund gst that was not paid.

The refund is 1/11 of the cash paid. - leaving 10/11 s the purchase price. Once used you take 20% off that 10/11 figure giving 8/11th as assessable for GST should the total exceed the personal limit.

 

[medhead]

The refund is 1/11 of the cash paid. - leaving 10/11 s the purchase price. Once used you take 20% off that 10/11 figure giving 8/11th as assessable for GST should the total exceed the personal limit.

Hmm. Yes, I know about 1/11th. It is still the purchase price and not the RRP that is measured against the limit.

Btw as I cannot find any mention of 20% depreciation on the trs website, I'm assuming that is an internal policy. As such I'm not sure it's something i'd personally rely upon.

 

[markis10]

Btw as I cannot find any mention of 20% depreciation on the trs website, I'm assuming that is an internal policy. As such I'm not sure it's something i'd personally rely upon.

Customs use the following depreciation schedules for personal and household effects being imported which is based on length of ownership:


20% for up to 3 months

40% for 3 to 6 months

60% for 6 to 12 months.

 

[medhead]

Customs use the following depreciation schedules for personal and household effects being imported which is based on length of ownership:


20% for up to 3 months

40% for 3 to 6 months

60% for 6 to 12 months.

I accept that is the case. Just there does not seem to be a published policy that I can apply that depreciation in determining compliance with the $900 amount. I am not saying other people shouldn't use those numbers. Just I'm not sure about using them myself.

 

[markis10]

I accept that is the case. Just there does not seem to be a published policy that I can apply that depreciation in determining compliance with the $900 amount. I am not saying other people shouldn't use those numbers. Just I'm not sure about using them myself.

I dont believe you can use the depreciation when it comes to declaration, as you pointed out in another post its the price paid, not the customs value (or Cv) of the goods which is the trigger.
Knowing the depreciation rates is handy for the purposes of working out what you may be up for.

 

[Sdtravel]

My friend called customs and found an problems in our plans.
While you guys are right about the purchase price being forming part of the $900 and not purchase price + GST so we are sweet to claim an iPad and QC20's.
The issue becomes if we buy anything overseas other than clothes and shoes. Other stuff like watches and other items that i purchase need to total under $900 otherwise i need to declare and may have to pay back the GST on the items i claimed on the way out.

 

[medhead]

My friend called customs and found an problems in our plans.
While you guys are right about the purchase price being forming part of the $900 and not purchase price + GST so we are sweet to claim an iPad and QC20's.
The issue becomes if we buy anything overseas other than clothes and shoes. Other stuff like watches and other items that i purchase need to total under $900 otherwise i need to declare and may have to pay back the GST on the items i claimed on the way out.

This is when the wording of the question on the incoming passenger declaration becomes important. I'm sure that you didn't have to declare things if you'd paid overseas tax.

However, looking now the question covers all goods purchased overseas and/or goods purchased tax free in Australia. But anything you pay tax on in Australia does not count.

There are 2 simple solutions. Make sure the goods you buy and the iPad and headphones are all below your combined $1800 (2x$900) allowance. Otherwise, one of you "owns" less than $900, and the other "owns" all the remaining stuff. In this case you still have $900 of goods tax free. You have the choice to pool your allowance or to not pool the allowance.

 

[JessicaTam]

I was able to claim the GST back even though the laptop I bought was paid for entirely with gift cards. So it is purchase price, regardless of how it was paid for. This works both ways, as I also had to declare it on the way back in.

 

[Sdtravel]

Also customs said pooling only applies to families.
So we can't pool as we aren't family. Just friends traveling together.

 

[markis10]

Also customs said pooling only applies to families.
So we can't pool as we aren't family. Just friends traveling together.

Good point, if your receipts are without names you could always temporarily transfer ownership to your friend

Families travelling together can pool their duty-free concessions. Family means:
(a) a husband and wife, and any of their children; or
(b) a person and his or her de facto partner (within the meaning of section 22A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901), and any of their children;

 

[KitKat]

Just declare it on your passenger card, chances are they will wave you through! if the amount is not excessive

+1 bought a bag which was >****, which we declared... the guy rolled his eyes and said "go"

If unsure, just declare and pay if they want you to. No point going on a register for special attention

 

[medhead]

Also customs said pooling only applies to families.
So we can't pool as we aren't family. Just friends traveling together.

That won't make much difference really, provided you work out the "ownership" of the items correctly. If you're over $1800 total, just make sure that one of you is responsible for less than $900 worth when coming back. One person declares and the other doesn't. Split the tax. Or they might not worry about it.

Just declare it on your passenger card, chances are they will wave you through! if the amount is not excessive

+1 bought a bag which was >*000, which we declared... the guy rolled his eyes and said "go"

I've always wondered if a bag is considered clothes and/or personal items. But I just wanted to say that your experience could very well be a one off. It doesn't match my experience which resulted in paying GST on a computer that was slightly over $1000.

 

[knasty]

Don't assume you will get depreciation on everything. I claimed the GST on a watch and upon my return a week later I asked the Customs officer if I could claim depreciation. She said no as items like watches, clocks, art etc don't depreciate in the course of a week. I think it's a good point - the majority of depreciation occurs when the good is first purchased and therefore is classed as second hand, and this happens before the time of export. She didn't charge me the AMEX surcharge so it was still worthwhile doing it for the points.

I believe the depreciation percentages quoted by Markis10 are consistent with the guidelines for unaccompanied personal effect importations, which also prescribe the types of goods which cannot be depreciated. I wasn't aware they also apply these percentages to accompanied effects. I hope they do apply this on a consistent basis and it's not an ad hoc interpretation as you can't HUACA your Customs officer.

 

[markis10]

I believe the depreciation percentages quoted by Markis10 are consistent with the guidelines for unaccompanied personal effect importations, which also prescribe the types of goods which cannot be depreciated. I wasn't aware they also apply these percentages to accompanied effects. I hope they do apply this on a consistent basis and it's not an ad hoc interpretation as you can't HUACA your Customs officer.

Depreciation is by goods type, not by method of entry. Collectibles are excluded from depreciation being applied, ie jewellery (all), watches and clocks, gemstones, bullion, works of art including originals and reproductions.