Tourist Refund Scheme

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Dave, if it was as simple as that then I would have done the tax return already. I am working in Brisbane full time and I do not have the time to look for receipts, statements, invoices etc from 4 years ago. Anyway we are getting way off topic in this thread....

Umm, but it is as simple as that. Put in the return based on what you do have and then you can subsequently put in a revision if you find something extra that can be claimed. I have done amentments and it is v easy

Dave
 
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I have an ABN although it would be difficult to claim expenses such as laptops when in fulltime employment and not working as contractor.

I can see one get out of jail card in being able to claim the laptop, able to work from home, but that will not be until I do 2008/2009 tax return in 4 years time as I have not even done 2004/2005 tax return yet....

The criterion for the deduction of the laptop through the tax return is business use. You can claim the proportion of business use as a deduction. However, this criterion doesn't apply for salary packaged laptops which are 'treated' as 100% business (ie you get the full deduction).
 
Umm, but it is as simple as that. Put in the return based on what you do have and then you can subsequently put in a revision if you find something extra that can be claimed. I have done amentments and it is v easy
It is not as simple as that. Why do you have to insist? I think I know my situation a little better than you....
 
With the TRS, note that if you refund to an Amex, you'll probably end up with a negative MR points posting due to the crediting of your card.

Some other Credit cards will also do the same thing...

Maybe cash is best?
 
With the TRS, note that if you refund to an Amex, you'll probably end up with a negative MR points posting due to the crediting of your card.

Some other Credit cards will also do the same thing...

Maybe cash is best?
ANZ Visa do the same. It is a fairly easy process to call them to point out that the transaction relates to a tax refund and not to a refund of a purchase transaction on the card. In my case, the transaction was from the EU refund scheme, which actually related to cash transactions. The CRS understood precisely the problem and promptly credited the missing points.
 
How will the TRS work if I claim for a gift I have purchased for someone that they will bring back into the country?

1. Purchase jewelery (~$10k for example)
2. Leave country, claim GST back
3. Give jewelery to recipient
4. Recipient comes to Oz

Has anyone here had experience with this before? :confused:

Thanks!
 
my best is that, I did mine this year electronically at 16:59 on the 30th June .. Had no need for a "group Certificate" since I could get the relevent information off of my June payslip and had it all prepared a week before the end of june; didn't want to wait any longer than necessary to get my refund :)

Must have been a fairly simple return. I don't find out some details (e.g. interest payements) till early July.

Of course, when one owes tax (me :( ), dragging the process out as long as possible is a reasonable course of action IMHO. (and FWIW it was submitted last week!)
 
How will the TRS work if I claim for a gift I have purchased for someone that they will bring back into the country?
I have not had personal experience but I cannot see how this will be an issue. You have claimed the GST amount back from TRS and left the country with the gift. You then give the gift to a third party and they do not need to be aware that you claimed back the GST amount. They can then wear the jewellery when entering the country. Why would they liable for any duty on the jewellery?
 
I can't see how it can be an issue either, although the part of the equation I left out is that I'm traveling with "recipient" in both directions.

I'm not trying to go out of my way to do something deceitful - rather just trying to take advantage of every opportunity that I can!
 
I can't see how it can be an issue either, although the part of the equation I left out is that I'm traveling with "recipient" in both directions.
I don't think that is relevant. How many people buy laptops in Australia then claim back the GST when departing and return with laptop a few days/weeks later? I don't think what you are doing is deceitful in any way.
 
I have not had personal experience but I cannot see how this will be an issue. You have claimed the GST amount back from TRS and left the country with the gift. You then give the gift to a third party and they do not need to be aware that you claimed back the GST amount. They can then wear the jewellery when entering the country. Why would they liable for any duty on the jewellery?
The person brining the item back into the country must declare it on their inbound passenger customs declaration card as they are bringing into the country an item that was obtained overseas of a value greater than $900. The fact that it was a gift and purchased by someone else is irrelevant when it comes to bringing things into the country.

Whether or not someone is likely to be caught making a false customs declaration does not alter the fact that it is against the law to make a false customs declaration.
 
With the TRS, note that if you refund to an Amex, you'll probably end up with a negative MR points posting due to the crediting of your card.

Some other Credit cards will also do the same thing...

Maybe cash is best?

I'm not sure if they hand out cash as such but I have had them EFT the funds directly into my AUS bank account. So it avoid the problem with CC associated points being deducted.
 
With the TRS, note that if you refund to an Amex, you'll probably end up with a negative MR points posting due to the crediting of your card.

Some other Credit cards will also do the same thing...

Maybe cash is best?

And that's why I just get it put back onto my Wizard, and then withdraw the cash from that; much better exchange rate than exchanging cash!
 
The person brining the item back into the country must declare it on their inbound passenger customs declaration card as they are bringing into the country an item that was obtained overseas of a value greater than $900. The fact that it was a gift and purchased by someone else is irrelevant when it comes to bringing things into the country.

In the case where someone is declaring a gift, the value is unlikely to be known. In this instance is it accepted practice to state the value as unknown?

I will obviously know the value, but it's not polite to go round telling people how much you spent on gifts for them, is it?
 
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In the case where someone is declaring a gift, the value is unlikely to be known. In this instance is it accepted practice to state the value as unknown?

I will obviously know the value, but it's not polite to go round telling people how much you spent on gifts for them, is it?
I assume Customs would be able to seize the item until it can be valued. If the valuation shows to be under the duty-free threshold, the item would be returned to the owner. If its over the limit, then may choose to collect the owed duty/tax before the item is returned.

I expect it is up to the assessing customs officer as to whether they think the value of the item may exceed the duty-free allowance. If they think it may exceed the threshold they have the authority to hold the item until its value is known. I don't know who would be responsible for having a piece of jewellery valued in such circumstances and who would pay for the valuation. However, keep in mind the likelihood that someone travelling overseas with a valuable piece of jewellery will want to have some sort of insurance cover for the item. I expect most insurance policies will require some sort of pre-declaration of the value of the item.

Now this is all conjecture about what could happen. The reality of the process may be very different.
 
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The person brining the item back into the country must declare it on their inbound passenger customs declaration card as they are bringing into the country an item that was obtained overseas of a value greater than $900. The fact that it was a gift and purchased by someone else is irrelevant when it comes to bringing things into the country.

Whether or not someone is likely to be caught making a false customs declaration does not alter the fact that it is against the law to make a false customs declaration.
Unfortunately the law has no idea that the jewellery was obtained overseas. As far as customs is concerned the jewellery was a gift from someone in Australia while in Australia. I am not saying to lie deliberately but customs only needs to know what you feel they need to know.

Maybe I am naive and just asking for trouble but I bring back many things from overseas, some I have bought while others are gifts, and as I am not sure of the value they are under <$900 for the purposes of the customs declaration.

Does anyone seriously declare clothes, gifts or jewellery on a customs declaration? So if someone buys a $3,000 suit overseas they should note this on a customs declaration? In my opinion it is irrelevant that it may just be illegal but if someone was wearing this suit customs would have no idea it was purchased or gifted overseas unless it was declared on the form or customes were tipped off. They won't come up and say "geez that is a noice suit did ya buy it overseas on this trip?".

On my first trip overseas back in the 90's I came back with a $600 leather jacket, jewellery for myself and family worth well over $1,000, countless gifts from aunts, uncles, godmother, cousins, friends and souvenirs I bought myself etc. I would have absolutely no idea what these gifts were worth, but they were worth lots, but I was not going to declare these items so I can pay stamp duty in Australia after I had paid the relavant duty and VAT overseas. Sorry I am not that silly to pay through the nose twice.

Now if I got caught the leather jacket was purchased in Australia many years ago, and as far as I am aware there is no legal requirement to have a receipt for everything in your possession, the jewellery was taken overseas to be repaired as there is no 14 carat stuff in Australia and the gifts are worth very little.

And I understand this is a public forum and we should not be giving advice on what to do or what not to do when leaving or reentering Australia but on needs to make informed decisions wisely. The chances of getting caught out and customs being aware are very miniscule. Now there is a huge YMMV on this one and I can safely say that to date no one I know of has had any issues coming back into Australia with purchases or gifts.

P.S I have probably cursed myself and will be questioned by customs when I reenter Australian after my next trip to Greece with gifts from the relatives....
 
I assume Customs would be able to seize the item until it can be valued. If the valuation shows to be under the duty-free threshold, the item would be returned to the owner. If its over the limit, then may choose to collect the owed duty/tax before the item is returned.

I expect it is up to the assessing customs officer as to whether they think the value of the item may exceed the duty-free allowance. If they think it may exceed the threshold they have the authority to hold the item until its value is known. I don't know who would be responsible for having a piece of jewellery valued in such circumstances and who would pay for the valuation. However, keep in mind the likelihood that someone travelling overseas with a valuable piece of jewellery will want to have some sort of insurance cover for the item. I expect most insurance policies will require some sort of pre-declaration of the value of the item.

Now this is all conjecture about what could happen. The reality of the process may be very different.

Definitely a case of YMMV. Numerous times I've come back with jewellery I have bought (including a v. expensive watch!) and while I have worn it, I have still declared it. Each time it has been well over the limit, and they've simply said "nice <insert article in question here>, on your way".
 
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Definitely a case of YMMV. Numerous times I've come back with jewellery I have bought (including a v. expensive watch!) and while I have worn it, I have still declared it. Each time it has been well over the limit, and they've simply said "nice <insert article in question here>, on your way".

Certainly varies. I have been hit up for tax for a piece of jewellery.
 
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