Day trip for TRS refund?

[mini2]

Bought a rather expensive toy and paid a few thousand in GST - have anyone here tried flying to AKL or CHC and return on the same day just to get the GST back? Did Customs pulled you up on the day trip?

Trying to figure out the feasibility of this. Just before anyone ask 'your tix gonna cost you money', not quite, I haven't used my Amex SYD -> CHC/AKL return tix for the year yet.

Thanks in advance

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Bought a rather expensive toy and paid a few thousand in GST - have anyone here tried flying to AKL or CHC and return on the same day just to get the GST back? Did Customs pulled you up on the day trip?

Trying to figure out the feasibility of this. Just before anyone ask 'your tix gonna cost you money', not quite, I haven't used my Amex SYD -> CHC/AKL return tix for the year yet.

Thanks in advance

You have to declare the incoming goods in excess of AUD900, duty would be payable.

 

[Mark3000]

Yes, too risky I would say

 

[TheRealTMA]

Legally, I believe you are out of luck. ATO GST rules say

"If a traveller brings goods back into Australia for which they have made a claim for a GST refund under the Tourist Refund Scheme and the value of those goods (combined with any other overseas purchases) exceeds AUD $900, they must be declared to Australian Customs and Border Protection Services and the GST refund will have to be repaid. GST is payable on the entire value of the items, not just the amount that is over the AUD $900 limit. Penalties may apply to undeclared taxable goods."

 

[mini2]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I think I'll just park this in the too hard basket.

 

[Pointcollector]

As pointed out, you must declare it on the way back if you made a TRS claim, however you can also seek to have the goods depreciated. Managed to convince an obliging Officer of the depreciation and got a 2700 camera and gear depreciated along with pooling my wife's duty free threshold with mine. Good luck!

 

[Mark3000]

What is the item?
If you wanted to be devious, what about posting it back to yourself or giving it to a friend to bring back in?

 

[Cynicor]

You'd be fine using smart gate to return, but you would be breaking the law. Depends how much gst we are talking.

 

[exceladdict]

Could you take a few family members with you and pool the allowance on return?

Even an iPhone 6s plus exceeds one person's threshold if bringing back in to the country. Mrs Excel borrowed some of my allowance when we last departed and returned.

 

[Comoman]

You'd be fine using smart gate to return, but you would be breaking the law. Depends how much gst we are talking.

No disagree I'm afraid (Smartgate being safe). Took 4 x iPhones to Singapore for friends there whilst going for a meeting - got TRS refund. Returned 2 days later, used Smartgate and was stopped at the last Customs/AQIS sorting area and sent to Customs side. Polite check re: TRS - "no, left iPhones in Singapore". Quick check (had hand luggage only) and on my way, I assume my Smartgate ticket had a special letter for the day....

 

[CaptJCool]

So it's the overseas Rellie has to take the item out. Say I buy my new phone just before I leave, and don't apply for TRS THEN it doesn't count In the duty allowance.

If I bought it off eBay or amazi or some other offshore location, one I get it cheaper anyway and 2. I pay no GST and 3. It's not tracked via TRS, AND then I depart Aus a week later, is that in or out of the allowance ?

How would anyone know if I bought it beforehand or on the first day away and then I didn't come back for 3-6 months

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So it's the overseas Rellie has to take the item out. Say I buy my new phone just before I leave, and don't apply for TRS THEN it doesn't count In the duty allowance.

If I bought it off eBay or amazi or some other offshore location, one I get it cheaper anyway and 2. I pay no GST and 3. It's not tracked via TRS, AND then I depart Aus a week later, is that in or out of the allowance ?

How would anyone know if I bought it beforehand or on the first day away and then I didn't come back for 3-6 months

See this guide - page 20 - they are exempt from duty if previously exported from Australia (and not subject to a previous TRS claim) and also page 4 where you can register that item in advance:
http://www.border.gov.au/Enteringor...ts/GuideforTravellers-KBYGFinalAccessible.pdf

 

[exceladdict]

So it's the overseas Rellie has to take the item out. Say I buy my new phone just before I leave, and don't apply for TRS THEN it doesn't count In the duty allowance.

If I bought it off eBay or amazi or some other offshore location, one I get it cheaper anyway and 2. I pay no GST and 3. It's not tracked via TRS, AND then I depart Aus a week later, is that in or out of the allowance ?

How would anyone know if I bought it beforehand or on the first day away and then I didn't come back for 3-6 months

Bringing in an item worth more than $900 is, by my understanding, importing an item for which GST must then be paid by you. Regardless of where it was acquired.

If you buy from overseas and import via courier etc, and correctly declare it's value, you should be forced to pay GST.

In this case though your large GST claim on the way out may flag you for a scan on re entry. Or, if you honestly fill out the arrival card, a good customs officer should ask you about the value of items you carry.

 

[medhead]

The allowance is only for items purchased without paying GST. Anything on which GST is paid, and hasn't been claimed via TRS does not count towards the import allowance.

Anything purchased overseas and imported via courier is subject to GST when imported. So yes, there is an expectation that GST is paid when the item in imported, the law says they should be forced to pay GST. The fact that GST isn't always charged is a problem for border force.

Bringing in an item worth more than $900 is, by my understanding, importing an item for which GST must then be paid by you. Regardless of where it was acquired.

If you buy from overseas and import via courier etc, and correctly declare it's value, you should be forced to pay GST. The question asks about goods obtained overseas or purchase duty or tax free in Australia being over the $900 allowance. If the item is purchase tax inclusive in Australia then it doesn't count.

In this case though your large GST claim on the way out may flag you for a scan on re entry. Or, if you honestly fill out the arrival card, a good customs officer should ask you about the value of items you carry.

 

[Mark3000]

How would they know though if it was second hand and not packed with a receipt? If you mailed it back or had a friend bring it through

 

[TomVexille]

How would they know though if it was second hand and not packed with a receipt? If you mailed it back or had a friend bring it through

I suspect that any large TRS claim is flagged for Border Force to check upon return. I seem to recall an episode of Border Security where someone's bags were checked for some rather expensive jewellery that they had claimed on the way out of the country.