Govt cracks down on airport TRS rebates for Aust travellers

[Must...Fly!]

Went out to AKL for two days and claimed for a new laptop - modest cost, only $1116 including GST. Decided to do the "right thing" and tick yes on the way back. Customs pointed me to the green lane with a little giggle and "go home". Kind of funny but I guess I did the right thing

 

[KitKat]

Went out to AKL for two days and claimed for a new laptop - modest cost, only $1116 including GST. Decided to do the "right thing" and tick yes on the way back. Customs pointed me to the green lane with a little giggle and "go home". Kind of funny but I guess I did the right thing

Yep, same treatment for a 2K purchase...... eye roll from agent for reporting it!

 

[Jmrocky]

Hi There. This is my first ever question on here. I've been trying to find an answer through TRS website but unsuccessfully so wondered if anyone has experience with this situation. I bought a laptop for $2299 and took the option of 12 months interest free through my GO Mastercard. I would like to claim a GST refund through the TRS scheme when I leave Australia soon. Problem is, while my 'tax invoice' issued by Harvey Norman has the all the required information, at the bottom of invoice it shows Total: balance owing $2299; Inv pending $0; Balance owing $2299; outstanding debt $2299. Has anyone had this situation before and been successfully able to claim back ?

You should be able to claim it back. The GO mastercard is just like any other credit card, you just paid for it via a credit facility instead of cash/debit. The fact you have a balance owing on the card makes no difference.

 

[Hvr]

Went out to AKL for two days and claimed for a new laptop - modest cost, only $1116 including GST. Decided to do the "right thing" and tick yes on the way back. Customs pointed me to the green lane with a little giggle and "go home". Kind of funny but I guess I did the right thing

No matter what they say or do it is always better to declare and be told to go to the green lane. Much easier to deal with than explaining why you didn't declare and then having to pay a penalty and even worse always being checked when you return to Australia.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I haven't read the whole thread, but there is also another consideration, that being the country you will be entering. PNG for instance, only allows new goods to the value of K1000 per pax (circa AU$400, sometimes less) and they can be very strict on it. If you keep the packaging for inspection for a TRS refund of say an AU$1200 camera, then you may be in strife upon entering PNG and perhaps even on re-entry into Aus.

I'm unsure how many countries fall into this potential trap but I can assure you I have had to produce invoices to prove new item cost upon entry to PNG.

 

[coriander]

You don't need to take packaging.
Do my goods need to be in the original packaging?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Wish I knew that a fews days ago!

 

[astrosly]

Went out to AKL for two days and claimed for a new laptop - modest cost, only $1116 including GST. Decided to do the "right thing" and tick yes on the way back. Customs pointed me to the green lane with a little giggle and "go home". Kind of funny but I guess I did the right thing

Yep, same treatment for a 2K purchase...... eye roll from agent for reporting it!

Good to know. I'm heading o/s today for a month and did the TRS in Syd on a new $1500 tablet and the officer was at pains to point out I must declare it if I bring it back with me to Australia or risk getting a fine.

 

[astrosly]

Good to know. I'm heading o/s today for a month and did the TRS in Syd on a new $1500 tablet and the officer was at pains to point out I must declare it if I bring it back with me to Australia or risk getting a fine.

Returned this morning and declared. After a couple of questions about the tablet the customs officer let me go with a very stern warning "Remember, it is only for tourists".

 

[kpc]

Returned this morning and declared. After a couple of questions about the tablet the customs officer let me go with a very stern warning "Remember, it is only for tourists".

Rubbish to the last sentence but you did the right thing on declaring it.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Returned this morning and declared. After a couple of questions about the tablet the customs officer let me go with a very stern warning "Remember, it is only for tourists".

Interesting comment. I would have thought that if you were solo, the warning would have been about the deemed value. After a month, the tablet is no longer new so I guess it depends on whether one deems that to have devalued by 40% in one month.

Remember a tourist can be both inbound and outbound (ie a foreigner or an Australian) and it says as much on the TRS website.

I'm in a bit of a different situation. I've just bought a drone to take with me to PNG. When I leave AU (with the drone and applying for the refund), it will be for work O/S, however I will be then holidaying before I return to AU, so being a tourist O/S and the drone is only to be used for tourist purposes not work. It's value is about $1500 new however when I return, I'll be with my wife so we declare it between us and I see no problems with that.

From the PNG perspective, I'll be entering with an article that is over the K1000 allowance for new items (I'll be travelling alone), so I timed my purchase date to be within the allowable 2 months for the TRS but long enough to justify it as being "not new" for PNG customs. I believe I comply with all requirements and am not breaking any duty laws.

 

[Franky]

"Remember, it is only for tourists".

Well you are a tourist after all..

 

[Dhrv]

Hi all

My partner and I will be getting married overseas, my partner will be bringing her wedding dress with us and we would like to use the TRS. I have filled out all options using the app on my phone ready to present once we pass customs at the airport.

We will be sending the dress back and not taking it home with us. So I just wanted to check that everything would be OK ?

 

[Cynicor]

Sending it back where? To AU unescorted? Technically you need to pay GST on the importation I would think.

 

[Dhrv]

Thanks for the reply. So if we brought it back on the plane with us, we would need to pay GST as well? So there is no point applying for a TRS refund ?

 

[Cynicor]

Legally this is correct. You need to pay gst on imported items to their value. You get $900 per person exemption for simple goods. If the dress value is maybe $3k and it has been used, you may be ok as customs use some discretion in valuing and applying gst. If the dress is much more your odds aren't great.

 

[opusman]

I think clothes are exempt from the $900 threshold if they've been worn.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I think clothes are exempt from the $900 threshold if they've been worn.

From the HomeAffairs website:

Most personal items such as new clothing, footwear, and articles for personal hygiene and grooming (excluding fur and perfume concentrates) may be brought into Australia in your accompanied baggage, free from duty and tax.

Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are:

• owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more
• imported temporarily (a security may be required by the Department).

For other goods, limits apply. These include goods that are purchased overseas and goods that are purchased in Australia duty or tax free (that have been previously exported), or from an inwards duty free shop on arrival into Australia. Duty free concessions do not apply to commercial goods.

If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to AUD900 worth of general goods into Australia duty free.

If you are under 18 years of age the limit is AUD450.

If you are a crew member, the limit is AUD450.

There are no duty free concessions on tobacco or alcohol for travellers aged under 18 years of age.
​

I think the dress would be caught under the ‘purchased in Aus tax free & previously exported’ bit...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

As a data point, i claimed the TRS for a drone (price about $1400). The customs guy asked if I was bringing it back and I said yes, to which he said I'd most likely be OK due to devaluation.

I then said I'd be with my wife with no other duty-free goods and he said "no worries, then".

As for the clothes, the shop I use in Cairns always reminds me to claim the TRS.

 

[opusman]

It's not really logical that you could buy the same wedding dress overseas and bring it in free of tax, but if you buy it in Australia, take it out and then back in again, you can't. I think clothing is clothing, no matter where you bought it.