TRS claim - original packaging

[A_A]

A friend of mine is flying out of Sydney and looking to claim TRS on a laptop and was wondering whether the officers will open the sealed box to verify the serial number, or if they’ll just check the information printed on the box. He’s also asking if they’ll accept the claim if he brings only the laptop without the box. By the way, he’s curious about how carefully the officers handle items during the inspection process (a bit nervous about getting cosmetic damages during the inspection).

Furthermore, how long is the queue at the counter at the airport around 5am?

 

[Aeryn]

The item does not need to be in original packaging, last item i claimed was a mobile phone, handed over paperwork and held up the phone, the officer never touched my phone at all.

 

[justinbrett]

If it’s clothes you can wear them

 

[Austman]

I went through TRS in MEL a few weeks ago with a new tablet, still sealed in its box.

The serial number was on the invoice and on outside of the box. That seemed to be enough for TRS. I didn't have to remove it from its box.

 

[AuSammy]

I never take anything in original packaging as it just adds volume and weight to my carryon.

Shoes wear them. Jackets, pants, etc wear them.

Shaver, laptop, camera, electronic toothbrush were well used in the 60days before the flight and no packaging.

Main thing to be careful about, anything over $1,000 in value (eg iPhone) must have a receipt with your full name and address on it as well as the ABN of the vendor, a standard cash-register receipt is not sufficient.

 

[Haplo]

Per TRS website

Be able to remove your goods from the packaging and use the goods before you depart. You can choose to leave the container/packaging behind as long as the officer can verify the goods against the matching tax invoice during processing.

So you can use the item even before leaving Australia

 

[DejaBrew]

must have a receipt with your full name and address on it

Actually, no need for address. But must have your name as it appears on your passport.

Source -: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and... passport, if the invoice is AUD1,000 or more

 

[SOPOOR]

recently did a $1500 claim from Melb, guy asked do I have the items on me, I said yes, and he said "have a nice day"

my gut feeling is that because I had pre-claimed via the website and because the item wasnt the size of surfboard, it went through quickly

 

[Haplo]

when i claimed for a iphone about a few month ago the guy just looked at the case and said all good, didnt even check I have the phone in the case

 

[Quickstatus]

The queues can be very long (> 1hr) often not worth the effort

 

[A_A]

The queues can be very long (> 1hr) often not worth the effort

My friend claimed the TRS last Thursday around 7am and he told me the queue was only 20 mins. I suppose he got lucky or maybe peak time is around 8-10am.

 

[AuSammy]

Not claimed for a couple years but IME best to claim in the app before you go to airport and there were two queues, the “preclaim” queue moved a lot faster.

 

[Haplo]

I always prefill my claim on the app, it takes 15 second once you are in front of the officer and you are done.

 

[Quickstatus]

he told me the queue was only 20 mins

20 min light not be worth it depending on the amount of GST refund.

How long would you wait if the claim resulted in a refund of $100?.

 

[Big John]

recently did a $1500 claim from Melb, guy asked do I have the items on me, I said yes, and he said "have a nice day"

What happens when you return back into Oz with goods that are > $1,000 ? Do you have to pay pro-rata GST ?

If you have to pay pro-rata, is the amount calculated by how many people you are travelling with ?

 

[AuSammy]

What happens when you return back into Oz with goods that are > $1,000 ? Do you have to pay pro-rata GST ?

If you have to pay pro-rata, is the amount calculated by how many people you are travelling with ?

My example new iPhone >$2k. Bought 60 days before departure.

Claim GST back on purchase price.

Return from overseas a month later, now second hand three months old, has depreciated, now not worth $1,800.

Two passengers travelling - sub $900 each, no need to declare.

 

[SOPOOR]

What happens when you return back into Oz with goods that are > $1,000 ? Do you have to pay pro-rata GST ?

If you have to pay pro-rata, is the amount calculated by how many people you are travelling with ?

Im sure you are technically supposed to declare everything you claimed on, but I've never seen anyone get checked.
(Only on border security tv, where the woman claimed $20k or $200k necklace and another guy who was doing fraudulent claims)

You can spread the the allowance but I suppose you could give it to a companion to bring back

My question is how do they determine what a second hand phone is worth?

 

[Austman]

My question is how do they determine what a second hand phone is worth?

Having been in that situation. And after declaring my new but used iPhone that I claimed a GST refund on when leaving Australia, the answer seems to be: "According to the officer's discretion".

My iPhone cost a bit more than the import limit.

But I was fine. The officer used their discretion to devalue my used iPhone to below the import limit.

I doubt you'll ever find what the discretionary devaluation adjustment can be.

I expect it would have to be within reason.

 

[SOPOOR]

Having been in that situation. And after declaring my new but used iPhone that I claimed a GST refund on when leaving Australia, the answer seems to be: "According to the officer's discretion".

My iPhone cost a bit more than the import limit.

But I was fine. The officer used their discretion to devalue my used iPhone to below the import limit.

I doubt you'll ever find what the discretionary devaluation adjustment can be.

I expect it would have to be within reason.

Thanks for the input,

You're the first person I know who has gone through the reverse claim.

Discretion seems the most logical way to go

 

[DejaBrew]

Having been in that situation. And after declaring my new but used iPhone that I claimed a GST refund on when leaving Australia, the answer seems to be: "According to the officer's discretion".

My iPhone cost a bit more than the import limit.

But I was fine. The officer used their discretion to devalue my used iPhone to below the import limit.

I doubt you'll ever find what the discretionary devaluation adjustment can be.

I expect it would have to be within reason.

That’s been my experience too. Have done this with a couple of iPads for family members.