TRS Brisbane - Midnight Flights

[group-of-5]

I haven't bothered claiming TRS for a long time, but will on our next trip. I haven't been able to find any answers to these specific questions, so am hoping the AFF team can help.

I know that the TRS desk should be open for the midnight flights out of Brisbane, but I have been through at that time and it has been closed occasionally with the envelope system in operation. If it was open there was only a single officer manning the desk.

I will be filling in the claim using the web app and will have the QR code printed, with receipts, ready to go. I will have a claim for about $1700 of invoices, but will be travelling with my wife, so we can use the 2x$900 pooling on return to Aus.

Q1. If the desk is manned by a single officer, can I still go to the front of the queue with my QR code, or must
I join the end of the queue with all the people who haven't used the app?

Q2. If the desk is unmanned, can I just put my QR code printout and my receipts in the envelope, or must I fill in the form as well?

Q3. The last time I had to use the form (several years ago) there was a limit of $1000 of Invoices. Is that still the case? Would I have to fill in two forms, one for me and one for wife and split the items between the two forms? I have items of $1200 and $200 from one retailer and $400 from another retailer. If I have to split the claims, how would I do that given the $300 single supplier limit and possible $1000 maximum?

Q4. My sister-in-law is travelling with us. She has a laptop of $1200 she wants to claim that she is giving as a graduation present for her child. Firstly, the name on the invoice must be hers (and not the non-travelling child) I understand, and she should declare it coming back into Aus and be prepared to pay the GST on the excess above $900 after possibly allowing for depreciation deduction. Is that all true?

Thanks in advance for all your help. Hopefully I've given enough detail to explain the circumstances.
.

 

[Daver6]

Can answer some of your questions.

2. No, you have to waste your time manually filling out the form. Very annoying.

3. No limit for the form. Well at least not they I noticed. Had no issues with a claim for about $2.4k departing PER about a month ago.

4. I believe if you have to pay GST, it isn't on the difference between value and $900, but the entire amount. Personally, I can't see how a now used laptop would be worth more than $900. However, I'm not customs, so that is just my opinion.

 

[group-of-5]

Thanks Daver6 for your responses. Still interested in any other comments to the original questions.

 

[JohnK]

I've used TRS in BNE quite a few times. Never a high amount. In recent times the desk hasn't been staffed and I've submitted form with receipts.

I don't bother declaring on return. The depreciation makes new goods almost worthless.

 

[group-of-5]

Thought I would post an update for future enquiries based on what we found on the night.

The desk was manned by a single officer. There was a single queue, and we had to line up behind a stack of people who did not use the App. The two young girls immediately in front of us pulled out dozens of items, it seemed like at least 20 different passports for their party, and didn't have their receipts ready or in any sort of order, and wanted the refunds on multiple credit cards. The customs officer was incredibly professional. I doubt I would have been as patient as he was. What these two girls subjected him to was simply impolite.

When he got to us, we had our QR code ready, goods ready for inspection and receipts ready for stamping. He asked the obligatory question as we were over $900, and I told him we were a party of 4 travelling. He asked "So you know the rules?", to which I replied "Yes, sir". We commended him for his patience with the previous group and we were on our way in less that two minutes. Refund appeared in my bank account a few days later.

So we ended up not having to use the forms (in fact didn't see any on display) and didn't have to split the claims. Also, sister-in-law didn't end up bringing her laptop, so we didn't find out what would happen with a claim over $900 either.

Thanks to all for their replies.

 

[ramamba]

Desk unmanned when flying out 14/4, filled out the form manually, enclosed the receipts in the envelope... Fast forward to today, nothing happened, no mail, no refunds. Quick search of ABF website suggest it could be upto 60 days

Is this normal for it to take this long?

PS refund requested to a local bank account.