Tourist Refund Scheme

[Alanslegal]

i believe its near the bottom of the escalators that take you up to the departures level

 

[JohnK]

Silly question but is a tax invoice sufficient to claim back the GST paid? I just realised that I only have a tax invoice for the golf clubs not a receipt.

 

[markis10]

A Tax invoice is what you need.

 

[Vinny]

Silly question but is a tax invoice sufficient to claim back the GST paid? I just realised that I only have a tax invoice for the golf clubs not a receipt.

According to this

Advice for travellers

How you make a claim

You will need to present the following at the Customs TRS facility when you depart Australia:

• your goods (unless aviation security measures, effective from 31 March 2007, in regard to liquids, aerosols and gels prevent you from doing so) to prove you are taking them out of the country
• the original tax invoice totalling $300 (GST inclusive) or more from the retailer (to provide information for Customs officers)
• your passport
• your international boarding pass or other proof of travel

However...

Goods/purchases that do not attract refunds under the TRS

The following goods are excluded from the TRS:

• alcohol such as beer and spirits (you can buy wine and wine products under the TRS) and tobacco products (these goods can be purchased from duty-free shops)
• GST-free goods-no refund can be claimed if no GST was paid
• consumables wholly or partially consumed in Australia
• goods which are prohibited on aircraft or ships for safety reasons. These include items such as gas cylinders, fireworks and aerosol sprays (all airlines provide information to passengers on prohibited items)
• goods which fail to meet airline cabin-size or ship hand luggage restrictions
• unaccompanied goods (including freighted or posted goods)
• services such as accommodation, tours and car rental and labour charges
• goods purchased over the Internet and imported into Australia
• gift cards/vouchers (although goods purchased with gift cards/vouchers are eligible for a refund subject to all TRS requirements being met)

Please note: You will not receive a refund unless Customs is able to verify that you are taking the goods with you. The goods must be taken on board the aircraft or ship on which you are travelling. You therefore need to include the goods in your hand luggage or wear them onto the aircraft or ship, unless aviation security measures, effective from 31 March 2007, in regard to liquids, aerosols and gels prevent you from doing so.

It was looking good for you until the cabin-sized hand luggage restriction condition.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks Vinny. I have the original tax invoice but do not have a receipt.

It was looking good for you until the cabin-sized hand luggage restriction condition.

That website, or the interpretation, is incorrect! I called customs and asked where I take the golf clubs to be sighted when I take them overseas. I was advised I need to take them downstairs to arrivals first where they will sight them and then I can claim the GST back after immigration.

Only problem I see is I was told I must declare them on the way back. I asked even though they will be valued at <$900 GST free. And I was told I should still declare them and it is up to the customs officer to determine if the 20% depreciation applies.

Golf clubs are worth $1100 and with $100 GST refund value drops back to $1000. And if we depreciate new value by 20% then the golf clubs are well below the threshold. Otherwise it is a pointless exercise to get back $100 GST and then pay $100 GST.

 

[kpc]

That's correct based on what I have been previously told. To get the 20% depreciation for items over $900, you MUST declare the item (s) on arrival in Australia

Only problem I see is I was told I must declare them on the way back. I asked even though they will be valued at <$900 GST free. And I was told I should still declare them and it is up to the customs officer to determine if the 20% depreciation applies.

 

[Vinny]

Yep I was told the same thing, both on the website and calling. I was quite prepared to do this to save a few hundred bucks on a new MacBook.

On exit ex SYD, 10% of the purchase price was refunded to my credit card.

On arrival I had my purchase along with tax invoice and declaration card and was waived on by customs who just said they have bigger things to worry about and thanked me for my honesty.

 

[JohnK]

Not declaring on the way back is too risky and I would not want to do it.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Yep I was told the same thing, both on the website and calling. I was quite prepared to do this to save a few hundred bucks on a new MacBook.

On exit ex SYD, 10% of the purchase price was refunded to my credit card.

On arrival I had my purchase along with tax invoice and declaration card and was waived on by customs who just said they have bigger things to worry about and thanked me for my honesty.

I purchased a MBP, 10% off with D!ck Smith, and then got another 11th off, so 'around' ~20% off.

Advice for travellers

The GST refund is calculated by dividing the total amount of the purchase by 11

 

[JohnK]

i believe its near the bottom of the escalators that take you up to the departures level

Correct. It is between the 2 arrivals areas. It was harder finding the TRS after security as there are no signs and it is located between the Workd of Cognacs and World of Wines.

Not declaring on the way back is too risky and I would not want to do it.

I was advised today not to declare my $1100 Titleist golf clubs when coming back into Australia.