New TRS rules? Goods no longer included in cap?

[dajop]

So what happens if you are a frequent visitor? You buy an iPad, claim back GST on departure, come back to Australia three months later and leave again after a week. Do you have to pay back the TRS amount? What about if instead of coming back 3 months later you come back only having been out of the country for 6 weeks and leave again after a week, do you have to pay back the TRS, but get to claim it back again (as you purchased it within 60 days)?

 

[Lynda2475]

This is aimed at punishing Australian residents, as a non resident frequent visitor, you can just argue the goods are leaving again with you (show your onward ticket) and as are not staying in AUs permanently not subject to GST. How you do this on the form is another matter.

 

[kpc]

I guess buy and claim gst back, then someone else bring back to Oz? Border Force definitely do tag your flight details if you claim TRS on large items!

 

[coriander]

Border Force definitely do tag your flight details if you claim TRS on large items!

I think you mean expensive items - a diamond ring is pretty small compared to an iPad .
Seriously, this seems replacing one loophole with another.
ATM they don't ask if or who you're traveling with. They can't realistically link travelers by family connections or even PNR, can they?
If they tag you, will they also then have to tag partners, family members?

This exercise once again seems to be a solution in search of a problem.

 

[robeen]

So after being stuck in Fortress Australia for last 2 years I've managed to finally get out of the country with a short trip to Singapore. At the airport, I claimed the GST refund on a mobile phone worth $850 and was on my merry way. I then had a careful look at the TRS receipt and it looks like any TRS goods are not included in your incoming passenger concession:

"If TRS goods return to Australia they must be declared and the full refund paid back. TRS goods are not included in your passenger concession. Penalties apply to undeclared goods"

The ABF TRS site seems to confirm this wording

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

The officer who processed my claim at the airport made no mention of this. It looks like TRS for Australians returning with the original goods claimed is no longer possible, am I missing anything or has someone who has claimed TRSand returned recently got any experiences to share?

This is just another example of the way our ‘government’ jumps in on what looks to them like a money-making scheme without giving it proper consideration in terms of the impact. Of course it will impact on Australian businesses….all of whom have been doing it tough these past two years…if they have managed to survive at all! We should be looking at every way that our local merchants can be supported….of course the benefit has to be mutual to attract its use…that’s a no-brainer!

 

[SOPOOR]

This is just another example of the way our ‘government’ jumps in on what looks to them like a money-making scheme without giving it proper consideration in terms of the impact. Of course it will impact on Australian businesses….all of whom have been doing it tough these past two years…if they have managed to survive at all! We should be looking at every way that our local merchants can be supported….of course the benefit has to be mutual to attract its use…that’s a no-brainer!

even though the TRS queue is always full, does this potential reduction in local sales make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things? do people really purchase overseas over local for 10% difference?

ive claimed a few things such as phones laptops, but I wouldnt be buying these overseas anyway

 

[dajop]

Of course it will impact on Australian businesses….all of whom have been doing it tough these past two years…i

My bolding. Many small businesses have been doing it tough, particularly in certain sectors. But big businesses? Some have been thriving.

The businesses that have been really struggling - thinking restaurants, bars, night clubs, etc - are not affected by this at all. Even the small retailers who didn't have the capacity to pivot online - such as clothes retailers and the like are probably barely affected by these change.

 

[Lynda2475]

ive claimed a few things such as phones laptops, but I wouldnt be buying these overseas anyway

For me it often influences how regularly I update devices, if I can combine a sale with an extra 10% GST saving because Im travelling I will. Especially if its something I would use whilst away i.e. phone, tablet or headphones.

 

[neilmeister]

So the 'free lunch' ended. Australians wealthy enough to fly overseas and carry items now have to actually pay GST on them, like everyone else. Boo hoo!

 

[ninja-tim]

from what ive heard if you do a big trs they will note it on your record/passport, not sure whether that = guaranteed to be checked, but its for really expensive items

that being said, if you are travelling as a couple, can one person take it out and the other person bring it back in?

If you are on same itinerary you may be linked? Or if married it may be linked via passport? Can anyone confirm?

I remember claiming an expensive watch >$1000. Was told I would be checked on the way back. I wasn't. YMMV tough.

I remember a mate telling me he claimed a engagement ring on the way out, then got his mate to bring it back. My mate got checked for the wedding ring. Not sure of the value.

There might be a $ limit on what will trigger a review at customs on the way home.

 

[Daver6]

So how does it actually work? Claim GST back on item. Get stopped on the way back in. I'm sorry Mr Border man. I actually lost the original item while overseas. This one I'm carrying now is a replacement I purchased while overseas. I paid cash for it, but I lost the receipt.

 

[ninja-tim]

So how does it actually work? Claim GST back on item. Get stopped on the way back in. I'm sorry Mr Border man. I actually lost the original item while overseas. This one I'm carrying now is a replacement I purchased while overseas. I paid cash for it, but I lost the receipt.

Guilty until proven innocent.

 

[SOPOOR]

So how does it actually work? Claim GST back on item. Get stopped on the way back in. I'm sorry Mr Border man. I actually lost the original item while overseas. This one I'm carrying now is a replacement I purchased while overseas. I paid cash for it, but I lost the receipt.

do laptop receipts have teh serial number on them? you could easily its a different one,

much easier with a ring/watch, very hard to confirm if its the same or different even if the description is similar

 

[Lynda2475]

So the 'free lunch' ended. Australians wealthy enough to fly overseas and carry items now have to actually pay GST on them, like everyone else. Boo hoo!

Not exactly it is the inconsistency anyone who shops at a duty free store can still get $900 allowance duty free, but if you buy from a regular store and use TRS you cant. This is actually giving preferable treatment to foreign owned duty free chains over Australian businesses.

 

[aussiejohn]

I wouldn't worry too much. Once Gerry Harvey finds out about this and starts losing sales, it will be fixed pronto. He loves meddling with the tax system. Often wonder just how well the Harvey Norman Tax on low value imports is working. Not very well I suspect.

 

[SOPOOR]

I wouldn't worry too much. Once Harvey Norman finds out about this and starts losing sales, it will be fixed pronto. He loves meddling with the tax system. Often wonder just how well the Harvey Norman Tax on low value imports is working. Not very well I suspect.

He's just going to complain even more.... if that's even possible

 

[DC3]

Gerry Harvey, of Harvey Norman Holdings

 

[aussiejohn]

Gerry Harvey, of Harvey Norman Holdings

I'm sure most people know who I was talking about, but I have amended my post for you.

 

[DC3]

Totally off-topic I know, but Gerry Harvey and Ian Norman were the Harvey Norman co-founders

 

[aussiejohn]

Totally off-topic I know, but Gerry Harvey and Ian Norman were the Harvey Norman co-founders

Fairly common knowledge I suspect, I've known it for more years than I care to remember HN was the successor to the old Norman Ross chain of stores as I recall.