How to get "Duty free" with e-ticket?

[Warks]

I know duty free these days is basically GST free apart from grog and fa_s but GST off something as exepnsive as a DSLR camera is still worth getting. My situation is that I am flying to LAX in November on points so I don't have a ticket as such (do they eventually issue one?). I'd like to get a camera but how do I prove I am travelling? How soon before I fly can I buy? That is, could I buy now because I have a booking? Or is it limited to a short time before flying?
I haven't really looked at this sort of shopping in years so forgive me fore not keeping up with it. I normally don't even buy duty free grog as I couldn't be bothered carrying it.

 

[JohnK]

My situation is that I am flying to LAX in November on points so I don't have a ticket as such (do they eventually issue one?).

When I booked an award trip in May for travel in June and payed the taxes by credit card online I was given a booking reference by the Qantas website. A week or so later I received an e-ticket in the mail set out like an itinerary.

I'd like to get a camera but how do I prove I am travelling?

As explained above e-ticket/itinerary should be proof enough that you are travelling.

How soon before I fly can I buy? That is, could I buy now because I have a booking? Or is it limited to a short time before flying?

I haven't seen anything that says there is any time limit on when you can purchase duty free as long as you have proof of travel. If I need anything special then I normally purchase around 1-2 weeks prior to departure.

I haven't really looked at this sort of shopping in years so forgive me fore not keeping up with it. I normally don't even buy duty free grog as I couldn't be bothered carrying it.

Here a couple of links from customs which you may find useful.

http://cn.gamesinfo.com.au/pdf/customs.pdf

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm

Good luck.

 

[AlwaysUpThere]

The benefits of an expensive purchase (like a DSLR) may not be there as the allowance only allows for goods TOTALLING AUD900 per adult (families travelling together may pool their entitlement).

Full details at http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4728

My understanding is that if you have more than this, you must pay duty/GST as applicable on the WHOLE amount, not just the excess. This of course applies if you declare - yet if you buy it in Australia, they will have records of the purchase should there be any dispute.

General information at http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4258

To answer your other questions, goods purchased in Oz before departure must total at least $300 is a single receipt from a participating store, up to 30 days prior to departure. (Can have multiple purchases and from different stores, but minimum receipt value is $300 each to be eligible.) Goods MUST be carried in the cabin - taken through immigrations processing and the receipts together with the goods presented to the customs area (normally between the Immigration Counters and Security points.)

The only exception to this $900 limit is if you're migrating (or returning after overseas residency) and all the goods have been owned for at least 1 year (I've enjoyed this benefit twice!).

 

[NM]

There is not need to purchase from a Duty Free store anymore. Under the Tourist Refund Scheme (known as TRS), any departing passenger can claim back the GST from any purchase of good valued over $300 (in a single transaction) at the airport when departing. The purchase must be made in the 30 days prior to leaving. There is no requirement to leave the good sealed until departure so you can start using it immediately.

You much carry the item with you and have an official tax receipt that shows the amount of tax that was paid.

So you can go buy your camera from any store you like, get the best price you can, and then take the camera and receipt with you to the airport and get a refund of the tax paid. Obviously the good must be in your carry-on luggage and not checked luggage since the agent must view the goods and this is done after you have passed through outbound immigration control and customs.

Note that inbound duty-free allowances still apply, so even though they will refund the GST on a $4000 camera, when you come back into Australia you must declare it as it will be over your $900 duty-free limit.

Check out the customs web site for all the terms and conditions.

 

[Guest]

big thumbs up for TRS

I claimed the GST back for my new camera that I purchased 29 days before departure. They refunded the GST straight back onto my CC.

Very easy, very fast.

 

[NM]

big thumbs up for TRS

I claimed the GST back for my new camera that I purchased 29 days before departure. They refunded the GST straight back onto my CC.

Very easy, very fast.

Yep, I used it for a watch I purchased. Very simple and problem-free. Immediate refund back to the credit card on which the purchase was made (Amex in my case). Process took about 2 mins in total.

 

[Warks]

Thanks guys, great info and feedback. Where would I be without this site?

The only pproblem I can see with the TRS is the 30 day limit. I would like to buy it this weekend - sales on everywhere as usual and my old camera has shuffled off this mortal f-stop. As I'm not flying until mid November that puts me outside that period.

 

[NM]

Thanks guys, great info and feedback. Where would I be without this site?

The only pproblem I can see with the TRS is the 30 day limit. I would like to buy it this weekend - sales on everywhere as usual and my old camera has shuffled off this mortal f-stop. As I'm not flying until mid November that puts me outside that period.

Speak to the shop and see if they will lay-by it for you, for final payment and collection 30 days before your flight? If they think they will get the sale, the may be willing to do that.

 

[MetroAir]

d00t wrote:
big thumbs up for TRS Smile

I claimed the GST back for my new camera that I purchased 29 days before departure. They refunded the GST straight back onto my CC.

Very easy, very fast.

Yep, I used it for a watch I purchased. Very simple and problem-free. Immediate refund back to the credit card on which the purchase was made (Amex in my case). Process took about 2 mins in total.

I agree very easy - can take a bit longer if you're taking wine. My wife and I took a dozen bottles of champagne on a cruise (I know - not a flight) and it took a while to work out the WET as well as the GST.

But straight back to cc when they did.

Cheers

 

[infoworks]

The TRS desk (at least the only one I have seen) is near gate 8.