Claiming GST TRS travelling on QF9

[p--and--t]

The Sing and Msia prefer shopping in Thai

And it has to be the actual invoice, not a duplicate invoice.

I abbreviated my response earlier... it should also be pointed out that a standard cash register receipt is not good enough if you purchase item(s) over $1000 on one receipt. The retailer must issue you a receipt with the name and address of the passport holder claiming the refund. e.g. if you buy an iPhone from Officeworks you need to stop the cashier before they process the purchase and tell them you will be making a TRS claim, they then enter your name and address to their system as they process the purchase and the receipt comes out in an acceptable format.

Aussies also need to be aware they if you take very expensive items worth more than $1000 out of the country, claim the GST back on departure and then reenter the country with the item(s) substantially worth the same amount (e.g. jewellery) then they may be hit for tax on the way back in for any value over your limit of $900.

Many items however (e.g. phones, laptops, shavers, clothing) are deemed to have depreciated after becoming "used/secondhand" on an extended overseas trip and are allowed back in without penalty.

It pays to read the rules

Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

You can claim a refund of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

www.abf.gov.au

 

[p--and--t]

So like... airlines?

Absolutely. Even worse with staff recruited from, or operating out of, different countries/cultures.

 

[Quickstatus]

And then is it worth the TRS queue?

 

[p--and--t]

And then is it worth the TRS queue?

Saved hundreds over the years. A laptop this trip, a phone the next trip, new shaver & electronic toothbrush the next trip, another laptop in the third year etc. (also if you have a partner allowed 2 x $900 between you on the way back)

 

[ajw373]

Wonder what the T in TRS stands for.

 

[coriander]

Many items however (e.g. phones, laptops, shavers, clothing) ........extended overseas trip
It pays to read the rules

"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."

ABF defines extended overseas trip as "owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more"

 

[Vic]

Wonder what the T in TRS stands for.

Tourist... So I guess you're saying people going to a conference or FIFO can't claim it?

You DO realise that Australian's going to tours in overseas places are actually tourists. Or perhaps there is some no spoken rule that Australians are not actually tourists...

 

[ajw373]

Tourist... So I guess you're saying people going to a conference or FIFO can't claim it?

You DO realise that Australian's going to tours in overseas places are actually tourists. Or perhaps there is some no spoken rule that Australians are not actually tourists...

Not saying anything at all really, the rules of what who can and cannot claim and what can and cannot be claimed are plain as day.

Though of course the main intent of the tourist refund scheme was to encourage foreign tourists coming to Australia to spend their money here, not for Aussies going out to claim, bring back in and avoid paying GST by virtue of going o/s on holiday or for work. Even though it is allowed noting the need to declare it over the threshold on return.

 

[DC3]

There’s a thread where the TRS thing was done to death, regarding Ozzies leaving for a holiday O/S, and claiming the GST (and opinions as to whether there was a Government crack down). Nothing seems to have changed recently, however. All quite kosher.

 

[cwd]

If the scheme wasn't available to Australians, it would remove an incentive to buy from an Australian retailer before travelling, vs buying when overseas. As it stands, no GST is collected, but at least the Australian retailer/distributor/etc. get the benefit of the purchase.

 

[OZDUCK]

You also need to remember the political climate in 2000 when GST was introduced. The Howard government was desperate to ensure that its introduction went as smoothly as possible - which it did. Working in Customs at the time after years of cost cuts it was hilarious seeing the money that suddenly became available whenever the possibility of problems in introducing or administering the GST and hence the TRS was seen.

Cutting out a large numbers of voters from a concession that they had regarded as a right for years was going to cause waves, which is the last thing the government wanted. And all future governments have had the same reaction as, after all, it is Australian voters that would be upset if the use of the TRS was narrowed.

 

[Vic]

There was always a duty free, and tax free, allowance before the GST was introduced. TRS is just a different mechanism to provide the same allowance.

 

[coriander]

Yes, TRS, or its forerunner, was better in the olden days when camera gear (no phones in those days) attracted a sales tax of 27.5%. You could, as now, pay through the nose at airports but really haggle prices down at dedicated CBD duty free shops like Downtown Duty Free. I always felt like a kid in a lolly shop in those stores prior to any oversea trip.

Disadvantage was that the item had to be in a sealed bag until you had passed CBP airside.

 

[OZDUCK]

Yes, TRS, or its forerunner, was better in the olden days when camera gear (no phones in those days) attracted a sales tax of 27.5%. You could, as now, pay through the nose at airports but really haggle prices down at dedicated CBD duty free shops like Downtown Duty Free. I always felt like a kid in a lolly shop in those stores prior to any oversea trip.

Disadvantage was that the item had to be in a sealed bag until you had passed CBP airside.

Don't forget that for the last few years of the Sales Tax regime the top rate was actually 32% so it was really a significant saving compared to the 10% rate these days.