Tourist Refund Scheme

[NM]

Personally, I would tick the box for carrying more than $900 worth of duty-free goods on return. Then when asked about it, I would show the receipt that has the pink TRS stamp on it, and ask about having a suitable amount subtracted for "depreciation". At that point the customs agent will do the calculation of $1100 - $100 (GST) - $200 (depreciation) = $800. They will then ask if you have anything else that you are bringing in. A no response will see you waived through with a smile since you are under the $900 limit.

Note that if you are over any of the individual limits (Df goods, alcohol, tobacco) then you get charged tax/duty on the whole amount, not just the amout in excess of the limit.

 

[Dave Noble]

I would definately declare it at original value given that the Customs site makes no statement asserting a 20% depreciation or get confirmation in advance from their advice line on 1300 363 263. The wording states

If the goods are to be brought back into Australia, please be aware that they may be subject to GST. Normal passenger concessions apply and include any items for which a TRS claim has been approved (excluding most personal items such as new clothing, footwear and articles for personal hygiene and grooming). If the value of those goods together with overseas purchases exceeds the passenger concession, the goods must be declared to Customs on your return to Australia. Penalties apply to undeclared taxable goods.

If in doubt you should declare the goods to Customs on your return.

It would seem that certain articles can be brought back in happily and that others will still be liable for tax

Dave

 

[Febs]

Thanks for the replies guys. Seeing as you now have to pay tax on the whole amount (if over $900), it seems I'd be better off splitting the purchases, and only claiming the TRS refund on an amount under $900.

I would rather buy 1400 worth of camera overseas though.

Ordinarily yes, but I wouldn't find this stuff much cheaper overseas, and there's always the warranty hassles.

FWIW, the camera I'm looking at is the Sony DCR-HC26. In Hong Kong the absolute cheapest I could find it for was $480. Assume a little more bargaining, and maybe it would've been $450 (if lucky). That's for a grey import with only a store warranty.

Compare that with $509 that I found in Sydney (with a full Australian manufacturer's warranty), then less 5% from DJs (family member works there), then less the GST...makes it around $440.

Besides, I'm off to Europe where I don't think it'll be very cheap...and may even be an NTSC version.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[simongr]

FWIW, the camera I'm looking at is the Sony DCR-HC26. In Hong Kong the absolute cheapest I could find it for was $480. Assume a little more bargaining, and maybe it would've been $450 (if lucky). That's for a grey import with only a store warranty.

Compare that with $509 that I found in Sydney (with a full Australian manufacturer's warranty), then less 5% from DJs (family member works there), then less the GST...makes it around $440.

Besides, I'm off to Europe where I don't think it'll be very cheap...and may even be an NTSC version.

Cheers,
- Febs.

Not sure if many places in Europe are NTSC - thats mostly US I thought. I did the same thing recently when I was looking to upgrade Camcorder - the prices in the UK were the same as the prices I saw in Australia - i.e. 700pounds for a camera I saw for $900 - quite a mark up in Europe.

 

[kpc]

I would declare and let customs take the 20% depreciation off...rather than assuming the 20% off, and not ticking the "over $900" box. I think it is an unwritten rule that they follow rather than one that is set in stone. So declare...I find that when you declare, they are quite generous in their calculations (all done in their head rather than getting the calculator out ) unless you are obvioulsy way over the Df limit.

 

[Febs]

Thanks guys, all sorted.

I had second thoughts about the digital camera, so I bought the video camera today with bag, long-life battery and tapes. All up it came to $850, so provided I don't buy $50AUD worth of personal goods overseas, I'll be right.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[NM]

Thanks guys, all sorted.

I had second thoghts about the digital camera, so I bought the video camera today with bag, long-life battery and tapes. All up it came to $850, so provided I don't buy $50AUD worth of personal goods overseas, I'll be right.

Cheers,
- Febs.

Well done. Note that you need to carry all of those items with you as carry-on luggage and present them to the TRS desk at the airport. This inlcudes the tapes if you want to claim the GST back on them as well.

 

[Febs]

Well done. Note that you need to carry all of those items with you as carry-on luggage and present them to the TRS desk at the airport. This inlcudes the tapes if you want to claim the GST back on them as well.

Thanks.
Yes I made sure everything on the invoice is what I plan on carrying onboard anyway. The case is small and fits everything quite nicely.

(I also recently found out that electrical items are NOT covered by my travel insurance if they're in checked luggage, but are fine if they're in carry-on).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[NM]

Thanks.
Yes I made sure everything on the invoice is what I plan on carrying onboard anyway. The case is small and fits everything quite nicely.

(I also recently found out that electrical items are NOT covered by my travel insurance if they're in checked luggage, but are fine if they're in carry-on).

Cheers,
- Febs.

Fantastic. Now we expect to see a trip report complete with video links .

 

[asiaflyer]

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience with potential data matching with the TRS.

Just purchased Mrs Asiaflyer a digital slr for Christmsa, which with a short trip away this week I was thinking of claiming the gst back on via the TRS at the airport. Cost was $2k, made up of a few items, mainly the slr body and a lens at say $1k each.

I was initially inclined to claim the gst and not declare on re-entering Oz. On reading this post however I'm getting cautious. If as now seems to be the case if I declare on return, gst will be payable on the full value on return, not just that in excess of $900, it all becomes a little pointless.

So if anyone has recent experience, I'd appreciate knowing will I likely get caught by data matching if I don't declare, and if I do declare will I simply end up repaying my full TRS refund?

Thanks.

 

[kpc]

I'd appreciate knowing will I likely get caught by data matching if I don't declare, and if I do declare will I simply end up repaying my full TRS refund?

Thanks.

They definitely do data match so you will be crazy not to declare it. They allow 20% depreciation of the item only if you declare it. If after the 20% depreciation, the item is $900 or less, you won't pay any tax (GST), otherwise you will pay GST on the whole amount (minus depreciation).

 

[one9]

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience with potential data matching with the TRS.

Just purchased Mrs Asiaflyer a digital slr for Christmsa, which with a short trip away this week I was thinking of claiming the gst back on via the TRS at the airport. Cost was $2k, made up of a few items, mainly the slr body and a lens at say $1k each.

I was initially inclined to claim the gst and not declare on re-entering Oz. On reading this post however I'm getting cautious. If as now seems to be the case if I declare on return, gst will be payable on the full value on return, not just that in excess of $900, it all becomes a little pointless.

So if anyone has recent experience, I'd appreciate knowing will I likely get caught by data matching if I don't declare, and if I do declare will I simply end up repaying my full TRS refund?

Thanks.

If you had two people traveling, you could give part of the stuff to them (eg. the SLR lens) and the other part you could carry.

Or if you were going back and forward to somewhere frequently, you could leave half of the stuff for your next trip.

Or if you had to post/courier something anyway, you could post/courier half the stuff.

Maybe my suggestion are too much trouble for the benefit gained, but maybe something to think about.

 

[Dave Noble]

If you had two people traveling, you could give part of the stuff to them (eg. the SLR lens) and the other part you could carry.

That does not take away any of the tax liability

Dave

 

[simongr]

That does not take away any of the tax liability

Dave

But it provides pooled allowances I think. So two people would be $1,800 which is enough to take care of the camera less depreciation. However as this is an xmas gift and is planned to be kept secret I assume, this may not work.

 

[oz_mark]

But it provides pooled allowances I think. So two people would be $1,800 which is enough to take care of the camera less depreciation. However as this is an xmas gift and is planned to be kept secret I assume, this may not work.

I think in order to pool allowances, it does need to be family travelling together.

 

[Flying Fox]

They definitely do data match so you will be crazy not to declare it. They allow 20% depreciation of the item only if you declare it. If after the 20% depreciation, the item is $900 or less, you won't pay any tax (GST), otherwise you will pay GST on the whole amount (minus depreciation).

I'm not 100% sure on the matching. I used the TRS and claimed back approx $500 of GST (SLR bodies x2, lens, memory cards and bits).

Flew back into SYD with my family that total 4 adults & 2 infants. Did not declare. Did not get questioned. Passed through without hassles.

 

[Alanslegal]

In terms of packaging and what to or not to bring. Its probably a good idea to carry as much of it as you can mainly so that the TRS guys can easily match the good with the receipt.

I have seen the TRS guys being especially fussy over matching the items with receipt and declining refunding the GST if it is not easily matched.

 

[simongr]

I'm not 100% sure on the matching. I used the TRS and claimed back approx $500 of GST (SLR bodies x2, lens, memory cards and bits).

Flew back into SYD with my family that total 4 adults & 2 infants. Did not declare. Did not get questioned. Passed through without hassles.

If you spent only $500 then why would they match you. They are looking for people claiming refunds for goods over $900 and then bringing the same goods back into the country.

For example I queued behind someone claiming for a $3000 watch and they were asked if they were bringing it back - when they said yes teh TRS guy said that they would have to declare it on the way in - that is what they are looking to match.

S

 

[opusman]

If you spent only $500 then why would they match you.

Flying Fox said he claimed back $500 worth of GST - so the total spend would have been $5500!

 

[simongr]

My apologies - that's what comes of replying to AFF between hectic meetings