New TRS rules? Goods no longer included in cap?

[comehither]

Hi all, does anyone know what the operating hours of the Melbourne Refund stand is? What happens when our flight is a close to midnight departure? Surely it's unmanned?

 

[robbo135]

Hi all,

Just rounding this out after a month away and arriving back into Oz this morning. I ticked declaring goods over the duty free limit on my incoming customs card and presented it to the border agent. They asked what I am declaring and I said I am declaring my phone worth $850 that I had claimed TRS on:

"Oh so your phone is less than $900, you're free to go"

Now, this is purely one data point and its best to declare rather than run foul of the authorities.
YMMV

 

[Mattg]

Hi all,

Just rounding this out after a month away and arriving back into Oz this morning. I ticked declaring goods over the duty free limit on my incoming customs card and presented it to the border agent. They asked what I am declaring and I said I am declaring my phone worth $850 that I had claimed TRS on:

"Oh so your phone is less than $900, you're free to go"

Now, this is purely one data point and its best to declare rather than run foul of the authorities.
YMMV

Sounds like the border officer wasn't aware of their own rules. Still, nothing to complain about

 

[MattA]

Just happened to notice that this page -- Duty free -- on the ABF website has been updated and now says:

"If you bring goods back into Australia for which a GST refund via the TRS has been claimed, the goods must be declared, and if the value of those goods (combined with any other overseas/duty free purchases) exceeds the passenger concession allowance, any applicable GST and/or duty may need to be paid unless another concession (e.g. all personal clothing – except furs) is available."

Which is exactly how it has always worked. Strongly suggests that the previous changes were a mistake and/or poor wording that is finally being quietly fixed (the TRS page here -- Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) -- still has the incorrect advice that implies the refund must always be repaid).

 

[kpc]

Just happened to notice that this page -- Duty free -- on the ABF website has been updated and now says:

"If you bring goods back into Australia for which a GST refund via the TRS has been claimed, the goods must be declared, and if the value of those goods (combined with any other overseas/duty free purchases) exceeds the passenger concession allowance, any applicable GST and/or duty may need to be paid unless another concession (e.g. all personal clothing – except furs) is available."

Which is exactly how it has always worked. Strongly suggests that the previous changes were a mistake and/or poor wording that is finally being quietly fixed (the TRS page here -- Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) -- still has the incorrect advice that implies the refund must always be repaid).

Interesting....

 

[woodyren]

Just called Border Force and the TRS.

Border force stated that what is on their website is correct but they can't comment on what the TRS site says.

On hold to TRS but the call keeps timing out then states the office is unattended.

The Border force officer did say that as they are responsible for collecting duty at the border then their rules "should" apply.

Just finally got through to the TRS help line.

Their answer after a lengthy period on hold while they checked the info on the two pages I quoted to them..............The changes on the Border Force web page are those made today. The TRS webpage reflect what is on the Border Force webpage as they are the over riding authority so as it was updated today the TRS website "should" be updated "soon".

 

[DC3]

Somehow, I’ve definitely missed something here. I don’t see what has really changed. What have I missed?

 

[woodyren]

Somehow, I’ve definitely missed something here. I don’t see what has really changed. What have I missed?

Late last year they changed the TRS rules requiring you to repay all the GST refund back if the goods were brought back into Australia. Apparently they have now changed back to what it was previously.

 

[CMA222]

"If you bring goods back into Australia for which a GST refund via the TRS has been claimed, the goods must be declared, and if the value of those goods (combined with any other overseas/duty free purchases) exceeds the passenger concession allowance, any applicable GST and/or duty may need to be paid unless another concession (e.g. all personal clothing – except furs) is available."

The part that interests me I have underlined. Before the recent uncertainty I understood that if the duty free goods did not exceed the passenger concession of $900, there was no requirement to declare them. This reads that if you get a GST refund via TRS on ANY goods that you take out of Australia, they must be declared on return. I doubt they want someone who spent say $110 on goods and buys nothing else while away, declaring the $110 of goods on their return, If so they are going to have a lot of people going down the RED lane.

 

[woodyren]

I wonder what it says on the passenger declaration card?

 

[DC3]

Late last year they changed the TRS rules requiring you to repay all the GST refund back if the goods were brought back into Australia. Apparently they have now changed back to what it was previously.

How odd. I had always read it as having to declare on return anyway. And, I never had to repay. That is, regarding the $900 pp limit.

 

[twiningb]

Interestingly, I can no longer find the text on the TRS website that indicates the refund will be recovered if the item is brought back. But the last-changed date is still sometime in September 2021.

Am I missing it? Or are they quietly correcting this?

Post automatically merged: Apr 13, 2022

Interestingly, I can no longer find the text on the TRS website that indicates the refund will be recovered if the item is brought back. But the last-changed date is still sometime in September 2021.

Am I missing it? Or are they quietly correcting this?

Never mind. Just saw it in the final bullet point. But it does seem to be contradicted by the Duty Free page linked above.

 

[twiningb]

Looks like they've updated the main TRS page: Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

It's now showing "Last updated: 14 April 2022" and the wording (last top-level bullet point under You must) reads as consistent with the Duty Free page and the way everyone previously understood this to work prior to COVID: That it counts against your duty-free concession when you return, but you aren't compelled to repay the refund if you are within the concession.

Here's the relevant text:

• Declare any goods you bring back to Australia, for which a TRS claim was made by you or another person when the goods left Australia.
  • On returning to Australia, you must declare the goods at Question 3 on your Incoming Passenger Card (IPC)
  • Penalties may apply if you fail to declare these items
  • If you bring goods back into Australia for which a GST refund via the TRS has been claimed, the goods must be declared, and if the value of those goods (combined with any other overseas/duty free purchases) exceeds the passenger concession allowance, any applicable GST and/or duty may need to be paid unless another concession (example, all personal clothing – except furs) is available.

 

[CMA222]

To me it reads that no matter the total value of the DF goods you are returning with you MUST declare those for which a TRS refund was claimed. So if the only goods that you are returning with are those for which you claimed a TRS refund (say the minimum $300 value) you must declare them even though they (and any other DF goods you have) are below the $900 concession. So if you use the TRS refund system on departure you use the Red lane on return.

 

[SOPOOR]

To me it reads that no matter the total value of the DF goods you are returning with you MUST declare those for which a TRS refund was claimed. So if the only goods that you are returning with are those for which you claimed a TRS refund (say the minimum $300 value) you must declare them even though they (and any other DF goods you have) are below the $900 concession. So if you use the TRS refund system on departure you use the Red lane on return.

That's how I read it to.
-You must declare what you claim.
-Concession limits apply ie up to $900 but you have to declare
-Penalties may apply

 

[SYD]

To me it reads that no matter the total value of the DF goods you are returning with you MUST declare those for which a TRS refund was claimed. So if the only goods that you are returning with are those for which you claimed a TRS refund (say the minimum $300 value) you must declare them even though they (and any other DF goods you have) are below the $900 concession. So if you use the TRS refund system on departure you use the Red lane on return.

But you’d probably be waved through when asked why / what you’re declaring.

But I’m not sure if the yellow form will cope. The question is have you exceeded your $900 cap…

 

[CMA222]

But you’d probably be waved through when asked why / what you’re declaring.

But I’m not sure if the yellow form will cope. The question is have you exceeded your $900 cap…

I agree you would probably be waived through, but you are complying with their requirement and avoiding their threatened "penalties apply if you fail to declare these items". The confusion would ensure that any penalties applicable would have to be waived. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

 

[twiningb]

To me it reads that no matter the total value of the DF goods you are returning with you MUST declare those for which a TRS refund was claimed. So if the only goods that you are returning with are those for which you claimed a TRS refund (say the minimum $300 value) you must declare them even though they (and any other DF goods you have) are below the $900 concession. So if you use the TRS refund system on departure you use the Red lane on return.

I agree, but this is also how I understood the status quo ante COVID. It did count as part of your duty-free allowance and had to be declared as such, but isn't retaxable except if you exceed your allowance.

 

[OZDUCK]

In 2019 on a trip with my wife I had bought a new laptop and claimed the GST under TRS. On return I declared it on the Passenger Declaration Form. Combining our two pax concession allowances plus depreciation meant that it was under the limit and we had bought almost nothing else o/s. All it took was a quick discussion with the ABF Marshall at the 'choke point' and I was on my way.

 

[woodyren]

Interestingly despite what the website states this came up when I submitted a claim on the TRS app.

"If the goods that are subject to this claim are brought back to Australia and they exceed your passenger concession they must be declared on your incoming passenger card"