How would customs know someone has TRS-claimed good(s) on them?

[JohnK]

I’m assuming that you’re an Australian resident

Why not? It’s the law

I'm an Australian citizen. I pay more than enough tax. I pay more than enough GST.

Law or not law let's leave it there as this is an honour system and I don't feel the need to pay more tax and I don't feel guilty either.

 

[MARTINE]

I think the wording on ABF own website makes it less than helpful.

Firstly - they say MOST personal clothing can be brought in duty free …..then this only applies to a $900 limit (which barely covers much).

Park aside the ‘more than 12 months old’ which is exempt.




I am happy to do the right thing but are my battered runners (bought for $300 and worn for a month overseas worth $300)? Are they ‘new clothing anymore’ - I dont think so.. others may think differently. I do struggle with this as do HLO, donate clothes along the way and wear things I buy.

If in doubt declare, those queues are going to get much longer.

I know pax say ABF ‘aren’t interested’ in these mere trifles but unless you go through the threshold process you wont know that.

If I take my designer clothing overseas and wear it whats to stop them asking did you buy it there? (Note to self being receipts).

Personally I never do TRS as cant be bothered with the hassle.

 

[OZDUCK]

I think the wording on ABF own website makes it less than helpful.

Firstly - they say MOST personal clothing can be brought in duty free …..then this only applies to a $900 limit (which barely covers much).

Park aside the ‘more than 12 months old’ which is exempt.

View attachment 441841


I am happy to do the right thing but are my battered runners (bought for $300 and worn for a month overseas worth $300)? Are they ‘new clothing anymore’ - I dont think so.. others may think differently. I do struggle with this as do HLO, donate clothes along the way and wear things I buy.

If in doubt declare, those queues are going to get much longer.

I know pax say ABF ‘aren’t interested’ in these mere trifles but unless you go through the threshold process you wont know that.

If I take my designer clothing overseas and wear it whats to stop them asking did you buy it there? (Note to self being receipts).

Personally I never do TRS as cant be bothered with

Personal clothing and footwear new and used - except for fur apparel - that is in your accompanied luggage is free of duty and GST and is not included in the $900 limit. There is no value limit only that it is for your own use. Clothing you bring in for other people is not covered by this exemption. The relevant legislative authority is in Item 15 of the 4th schedule to the Customs Tariff Act.

 

[Warragul]

There are a lot of legislated powers in the Customs Act that can be used in relation to the items that restrict if ever see the light of day for travellers, but no legal impediment to them being used. High value jewellery items do attract attention when the sporadic ' crackdowns' happen - a bit like NRL crackdowns on head high tackled

Theoritically, ABF can knock on your front door for asking about the jewellery you claimed TRS on- do you do have it? Who does? etc. Power to search the house exists given reasonable suspicion. Now these powers if ever used, it is generally on commercial importers, not travellers.

 

[RooFlyer]

What's to stop Customs from saying, "have you paid the duty on all this stuff? Prove it!" Do we need to keep receipts for eternity, and then who is to say the agent just won't claim the receipts are forged, especially if they are in a language other than English (I realise this is a facetious example, but it seems technically, legally possible....)

Exactly. Which makes may of the arguments here just red herrings.

 

[justinbrett]

Ultimately it’s up to the individual what they want to declare, the law is the law. No amount of arguing here is going to change that.

I’m more often than not returning with more alcohol than the duty free limit (mostly foreign retail that you can’t buy here), and I always declare even though the chances of getting inspected is low.

Only once in 10 years did I have to pay duty and even then they didn’t charge the full amount. Every other occurrence I’ve been waived through and thanked for declaring.

 

[Viridis]

Ultimately it’s up to the individual what they want to declare, the law is the law. No amount of arguing here is going to change that.

I’m more often than not returning with more alcohol than the duty free limit (mostly foreign retail that you can’t buy here), and I always declare even though the chances of getting inspected is low.

Only once in 10 years did I have to pay duty and even then they didn’t charge the full amount. Every other occurrence I’ve been waived through and thanked for declaring.

Completely agree with that summation

 

[Seat0B]

Ultimately it’s up to the individual what they want to declare, the law is the law. No amount of arguing here is going to change that.

I’m more often than not returning with more alcohol than the duty free limit (mostly foreign retail that you can’t buy here), and I always declare even though the chances of getting inspected is low.

Only once in 10 years did I have to pay duty and even then they didn’t charge the full amount. Every other occurrence I’ve been waived through and thanked for declaring.

Yes that has been our experience too

 

[moa999]

Let's just say if future husband buys $50k ring at Tiffany's and takes it out together country claiming GST, the authorities are pretty good about connecting the dots.