New TRS rules? Goods no longer included in cap?

[SYD]

When does instant asset writeoff end?

Good question. I believe it’s still in play to 30 June 2023. But now on my To Do list to check.

 

[cdp88]

Hmmm.. I haven't seen the receipt yet but I'm planning on buying a macbook air $2469 with $2500 worth of gift cards.
Or do you think I should use $2000 gift card and put the rest on CC just incase?

I recently used CBA award points to buy something from Myer and claimed it without any issues. The receipt showed the value of the item in dollars. In payment type it said Commbank Awards.

 

[Ktan89]

Probably not. The GCs ought to get processed the same as cash. So you would expect the bottom line to show the total.

Awesome thank you

Post automatically merged: Feb 25, 2023

I recently used CBA award points to buy something from Myer and claimed it without any issues. The receipt showed the value of the item in dollars. In payment type it said Commbank Awards.

Cool that's reassuring

 

[p--and--t]

Probably not. The GCs ought to get processed the same as cash. So you would expect the bottom line to show the total.

Be careful that you get a proper receipt showing your full name and address and the ABN of the supplier. Cash register receipts with the bare minimum are not accepted for purchases over $1k (or at least they weren't when I claimed an expensive item pre covid)

 

[Quickstatus]

I haven't seen the receipt yet but I'm planning on buying a macbook air $2469 with $2500 worth of gift cards.

You can buy that way, however, the TRS as stated by others require the original (not copy) full tax invoice showing the description of goods, the value of the goods and the price paid, the ABN of supplier and for expensive items your name. The Gift cards will just be treated as cash.

Additionally any refund to you can only be to a bank account or credit card. cheques will take a lot longer.

 

[Ktan89]

I'll be buying online, I think they will give me an invoice for me to print out right?
Or is this not accepted and will need an instore receipt?

 

[Quickstatus]

print out

Printout invoice is Ok
I would make sure your name is on it though

 

[p--and--t]

I'll be buying online, I think they will give me an invoice for me to print out right?
Or is this not accepted and will need an instore receipt?

As long as it meets requirements of ABN, amount of tax paid and has your full name and address. Can be online or shop.

 

[Quickstatus]

address

There is no requirement for address
But only one name which must match passport. They won't accept invoices where the purchaser is 2 or more names

The name requirement is required by GST legislation for tax invoices over $1000. Actually, the buyers identity is required like a name or ABN number. For TRS purposes the name is more important because it can be matched to the passport. There is no requirement for address in tax invoices under GST legislation

 

[ninja-tim]

"Bring personal items​

You can bring most personal items like clothing, shoes and personal hygiene into Australia in your bags, 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

Personal goods are usually also duty or tax free if purchased:

• overseas
• from an inwards duty free shop on arrival into Australia.

Personal goods purchased duty or tax free upon departure from Australia are excluded and you may be liable for duty or tax upon re-entry to Australia."


---


So it seems everything (including personal goods) claimed in Aus is not "excluded" from your limit on the way back in.
So really claim at your own risk.

Immigration and citizenship Website

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

This page was last updated in 2018.

 

[puchu]

Do I need to have my middle name on the invoice, or is first and last name sufficient? I have my middle name in my passport

 

[Fifa]

Do I need to have my middle name on the invoice, or is first and last name sufficient? I have my middle name in my passport

My invoices have never included my middle name so you should be fine.

 

[DejaBrew]

So it seems everything (including personal goods) claimed in Aus is not "excluded" from your limit on the way back in.
So really claim at your own risk.

I’m about to provide another data point to share on this one. When I departed MEL last night, I claimed clothing/footwear (which in addition to other items) put me well over the $900 concession. Dealt with a lovely ABF officer at the TRS counter, who asked if I was travelling alone or pooling and when I confirmed I was flying solo, she advised that I would likely be stung on my way back into the country. I suggested clothing/footwear was exempt so I’d be fine, to which she queried where I’d seen/heard that? Told her it was indicated on the ABF website and showed her the relevant detail -:

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).

She agreed that the wording is very ambiguous as it can be interpreted as personal items being different to personal goods. Basically, you can read it as personal items being clothing etc that are quite simply exempt, whereas personal goods (e.g. Phone/iPad/etc) aren’t exempt unless you’ve had them for 12 months or are importing them temporarily.

Ill find out later today, but my intent is to not declare as without the clothing/footwear, I’m well under the limit. ABF officer agreed I’d likely be fine given the ambiguity of the text. Otherwise, to use an extreme example, bringing back a deodorant or shampoo/conditioner purchased overseas (i.e. personal hygiene articles) would count towards your duty free concessions unless you’d owned them for 12 months (which would be utterly ridiculous)!!

 

[DejaBrew]

I’m about to provide another data point to share on this one. When I departed MEL last night, I claimed clothing/footwear (which in addition to other items) put me well over the $900 concession…

…my intent is to not declare as without the clothing/footwear, I’m well under the limit. ABF officer agreed I’d likely be fine given the ambiguity of the text. Otherwise, to use an extreme example, bringing back a deodorant or shampoo/conditioner purchased overseas (i.e. personal hygiene articles) would count towards your duty free concessions unless you’d owned them for 12 months (which would be utterly ridiculous)!!

Well, I dutifully indicated I did not have >$900 to declare and was promptly ushered straight out the green door.

 

[boombam]

what happens if you gift an item to a family member or friend and they bring in said item into the country within 12 months? surely you won't be telling your friend that you claimed the GST refund and give it to the friend?

 

[DejaBrew]

what happens if you gift an item to a family member or friend and they bring in said item into the country within 12 months? surely you won't be telling your friend that you claimed the GST refund and give it to the friend?

Welcome to AFF

If they brought it back in as part of the same trip (i.e. you claim TRS on the way out and said items are brought back in on the return leg of the trip) and you’re all travelling together, then it likely depends on where everyone stands with their respective duty free allowances. If under the limit, then all good. If over, them you can potentially get away with it by pooling duty free allowances. Otherwise, you/they may have an interesting conversation with ABF officials. If they brought the items back in at a later stage, then I wouldn’t see that as an issue.

 

[Flyinfish]

OK I'm confused. I'm going overseas for a week soon and have bought some perfume locally thinking I could claim GST back. I have the correct paperwork. If the perfume is new and unopened on departure but I bring it back with me opened and used, I need to declare it and repay GST?

 

[SYD]

OK I'm confused. I'm going overseas for a week soon and have bought some perfume locally thinking I could claim GST back. I have the correct paperwork. If the perfume is new and unopened on departure but I bring it back with me opened and used, I need to declare it and repay GST?

Not if your total purchases in Oz and OS are under your DF allowance.

 

[DejaBrew]

OK I'm confused. I'm going overseas for a week soon and have bought some perfume locally thinking I could claim GST back. I have the correct paperwork. If the perfume is new and unopened on departure but I bring it back with me opened and used, I need to declare it and repay GST?

Not if your total purchases in Oz and OS are under your DF allowance.

And don’t forget if you’re travelling with family, you can pool your duty free allowances.

 

[Flyinfish]

OK! Thanks so much! The start of this thread suggested otherwise. I'll be well under $900 all up so no worries. Any ideas on foodstuffs I may have problems with bringing in? I'm stocking up on French goodies in Noumea. Are things like pate and cheese OK if they are produced in France and the packaging is unopened?
Also, is it better to prepare your TRS claim online before you front up at the airport?