Claiming GST TRS travelling on QF9

[texter]

Will be travelling the whole MEL - PER - LHR. Do I claim the refund in MEL or PER?

Thanks

 

[TheInsider]

Melbourne, as it's an International flight and effectively leaving Australia from MEL.

 

[kapook]

depends on where you clear customs and immigration.

 

[downgraded]

Melbourne. Done it a couple of times.

 

[Soldaris]

Some things to know, unless the value of the goods on the invoice / receipt are over $300, then the TRS people won't even look at it. Also you can't combine receipts, so if you have a receipt for something that cost $100 plus a receipt for $200, then you still won't get any money back. They only consider receipts that are on their own over $300.

Another annoying fact, prescription lenses are not covered, I bought glasses for $350, but since the lenses were $200 of the total $350, the total was brought down to $150 so the bl&%dy TRS people didn't give me anything.

To be honest I wouldn't even bother going shopping in Australia, it's very expensive, they make it too hard and have too many limits and rules which stop you from claiming anything back. You are better off going to Singapore or Malaysia for shopping.

 

[texter]

That's something new regarding lenses!
For us locals it prob doesnt have a big impact as glasses can be funded by insurance.

Asian prices are usually better. But every now and then it casues trouble, such as my phone I bought in HK not working and Sony Australia refusing to help.

 

[Virgin Bart]

You are better off going to Singapore or Malaysia for shopping.

Which, ironically, the OP is avoiding by flying QF9.

 

[texter]

Which, ironically, the OP is avoiding by flying QF9.

Who knows, QF9 might stop in Asia with the Iran thing!!!

 

[Virgin Bart]

Who knows, QF9 might stop in Asia with the Iran thing!!!

Haha great point!

 

[opusman]

They only consider receipts that are on their own over $300.

Not completely accurate, you can have multiple receipts from the one retailer (ABN must match), as long as they add up to $300 or more.

And you can't claim for lenses because prescription lenses are GST-free in the first place.

 

[p--and--t]

Some things to know, unless the value of the goods on the invoice / receipt are over $300, then the TRS people won't even look at it. Also you can't combine receipts, so if you have a receipt for something that cost $100 plus a receipt for $200, then you still won't get any money back. They only consider receipts that are on their own over $300.

Another annoying fact, prescription lenses are not covered, I bought glasses for $350, but since the lenses were $200 of the total $350, the total was brought down to $150 so the bl&%dy TRS people didn't give me anything.

To be honest I wouldn't even bother going shopping in Australia, it's very expensive, they make it too hard and have too many limits and rules which stop you from claiming anything back. You are better off going to Singapore or Malaysia for shopping.

Not exactly true, as long as you spend $300 with the same retailer (doesn't have to be the same store) and the multiple receipts add up to $300 or more and show the same ABN then claimable. Obviously if you make a non GST purchase there is no GST to claim back.

I helps to actually read the rules.

You must

• be prepared to take all your goods on board as carry-on luggage if directed
• spend at least AUD 300 (including Goods and Services Tax (GST)) in total from a supplier with the same Australian Business Number (ABN)
• buy the goods within 60 days of departure
• get a valid paper tax invoice in English with:
  • your name (and only your name) as it appears in your passport if the invoice is $1,000 or more
  • a description of the goods that allows us to match the goods to the invoice
  • the retailer's name, address and ABN (ACNs and ARNs not accepted)
  • the amount of GST or WET paid (or total price including GST)
  • the date of purchase

 

[Steveinparadise]

Where some people get caught is with the combining of invoices to make up to $300+.

The combined invoices must be from the same ABN. This is ok if you buy items from, say, several Apple stores - they all (I am pretty sure) use the same ABN.

However if you buy from several different, say, Chemist Warehouse stores, they are franchisees and are likely to have different ABNs, and therefore can't be combined even though they are from the "same" store.

 

[dylarr]

be prepared to take all your goods on board as carry-on luggage if directed

Just a note on this. If it is something you can't take on board as carry-on (i.e. you've got heaps of clothes or you bought a new suitcase or surfboard), you can show this to the ABF helpdesk prior to checking in your bags, before going through security. They will stamp the back of your receipts to indicate that the goods have been sighted so you don't need to show the actual goods at the TRS claim desk.

In SYD and MEL, the ABF helpdesk is located on the ground level in the arrivals area. So you need to go here first prior to check-in.

 

[Daver6]

Just a note on this. If it is something you can't take on board as carry-on (i.e. you've got heaps of clothes or you bought a new suitcase or surfboard), you can show this to the ABF helpdesk prior to checking in your bags, before going through security. They will stamp the back of your receipts to indicate that the goods have been sighted so you don't need to show the actual goods at the TRS claim desk.

In SYD and MEL, the ABF helpdesk is located on the ground level in the arrivals area. So you need to go here first prior to check-in.

This is only partially correct. They will only stamp your receipt if its something you're not allowed to take on board as carry on. Bulk apparently is no longer a good enough reason. My last two times through SYD they've refused to stamp my receipt for lots of clothes/bulky clothes. It is a royal PITA and I cannot understand why they would refuse to do it.

 

[dylarr]

This is only partially correct. They will only stamp your receipt if its something you're not allowed to take on board as carry on. Bulk apparently is no longer a good enough reason. My last two times through SYD they've refused to stamp my receipt for lots of clothes/bulky clothes. It is a royal PITA and I cannot understand why they would refuse to do it.

That’s interesting. I had my carry on packed with Levi’s when I flew out of SYD in November and the agent at the TRS desk told me to use the ABF counter next time so I didn’t need to carry it all on. Must be up to agent discretion.

 

[p--and--t]

That’s interesting. I had my carry on packed with Levi’s when I flew out of SYD in November and the agent at the TRS desk told me to use the ABF counter next time so I didn’t need to carry it all on. Must be up to agent discretion.

Dealing with human beings on shift work in large organisation across multiple sites with differing levels of experience. Not much chance of high levels of consistency.

 

[Isochronous]

This is only partially correct. They will only stamp your receipt if its something you're not allowed to take on board as carry on. Bulk apparently is no longer a good enough reason. My last two times through SYD they've refused to stamp my receipt for lots of clothes/bulky clothes. It is a royal PITA and I cannot understand why they would refuse to do it.

Because ABF is staffed by tax-eating indolent bureaucrats who think all money and property innately belong to the government and so their mentality is that they don't want to give out any refunds at all, combined with the fact that the frontline staff hate that aspect of the job.

 

[Daver6]

That’s interesting. I had my carry on packed with Levi’s when I flew out of SYD in November and the agent at the TRS desk told me to use the ABF counter next time so I didn’t need to carry it all on. Must be up to agent discretion.

What I landed up doing was putting some of the more expensive things in my carry on and went to claim airside. Explained my situation and what had happened. They were pretty understanding and the fact I could show some of the goods was sufficient to process all. I've always found the people working at TRS to be absolute professionals and really courtious. Those at the ABF counter have been the exact opposite.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Dealing with human beings on shift work in large organisation across multiple sites with differing levels of experience. Not much chance of high levels of consistency.

So like... airlines?

 

[Quickstatus]

You are better off going to Singapore or Malaysia for shopping.

The Sing and Msia prefer shopping in Thai

And it has to be the actual invoice, not a duplicate invoice.