Govt cracks down on airport TRS rebates for Aust travellers

[blackcat20]

While it's available to Australians then I'm happy to take advantage. I claimed my phone last year. We also claimed our wedding rings. Both were below the $900 threshold (x2) when we re-entered the country.

 

[AisleSeat]

I guess this hits single travellers more. Whenever we purchase something and claim TRS, its always on a family holiday, so on the way back, we pool the allowance.

 

[kpc]

For me the main issue is the long Q times to get the TRS processed esp in Syd. With the app, it takes me about 2 mins but the Qs can be horrendous in the am in Syd, eating into valuable lounge time. I know the customs officials actually hate processing TRS and this could be the deal breaker as the cost to process TRS will only get higher and higher...before it is enhanced I too take advantage of it

 

[coriander]

Where it becomes a grey area is if you purchase say $2000 worth of clothing and claim back the GST as you depart. You then bring the clothing back in.

No it's black and white - new clothing, shoes and personal items are exempt, so no need to declare on the way in.

 

[Daver6]

No it's black and white - new clothing, shoes and personal items are exempt, so no need to declare on the way in.

I wasn't aware of that. Learn something new each day

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

For those interested in the details of the duty free allowances, here’s a link to the rules:

Duty free concessions

 

[OZDUCK]

For me the main issue is the long Q times to get the TRS processed esp in Syd. With the app, it takes me about 2 mins but the Qs can be horrendous in the am in Syd, eating into valuable lounge time. I know the customs officials actually hate processing TRS and this could be the deal breaker as the cost to process TRS will only get higher and higher...before it is enhanced I too take advantage of it

I was still working in Customs when the TRS was introduced and my memory is that the processing was not something the department, including the senior management, wanted to do. The government put it out to tender but the quotes from private operators were so high that we were lumbered with the job.

 

[drron]

And this paragraph is a potential problem.

Return to Australia with goods subject to the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) provisions
If you return to Australia with goods for which you have claimed a GST refund under the TRS on departure, you must declare those goods at Question 3 on the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) if their value exceeds the passenger concession of AUD900.

GST refunds received on goods exceeding the passenger concession will have to be repaid if the items are brought into Australia.

So if you get a TRS refund on clothing on the basis of that paragraph you must declare them on return.It is what I have always thought.

 

[JessicaTam]

If I claim TRS on the way out and the purchase price is more than $900 I always declare it. Sometimes I have been questioned further about the items and how long I have been away (sometimes only 24-48 hours ), but have never been charged duty.

If I am charged then it is only fair.

 

[Princess Fiona]

For me the main issue is the long Q times to get the TRS processed esp in Syd. With the app, it takes me about 2 mins but the Qs can be horrendous in the am in Syd, eating into valuable lounge time. I know the customs officials actually hate processing TRS and this could be the deal breaker as the cost to process TRS will only get higher and higher...before it is enhanced I too take advantage of it

The last time I left SYD in January the queue was so long even for the App process that I stood for all of two minutes and then thought my lounge time was too valuable to waste for $90

 

[Matt_01]

I will claim whenever possible but always try and keep under the $900. A while back I mentioned the whole TRS thing to MrsM who is not a regular traveler, needless to say I ended up traveling with a few different 'man purses' and 'man bags'.

 

[bwhouse]

As per above, its a quite separate allowance and scheme from duty free. That's stuff bought outside the country (or airside at the airport ) and them imported. The TRS scheme is a refund of GST on goods already purchased because they are being exported. Its designed for bona fide tourists on the theory that they won't benefit from GST collected, so they get it back. if done by Australians, with full intent of re-importing and avoiding GST, beyond the $900 allowed, then that's not OK in my book.

I was under the impression that it was the exact same scheme as duty free. Afterall in almost all cases duty-free is just less GST. If you buy an item worth more than $900 (- depreciation) in a duty free store airside at the airport and bring it back into the country you should also be ticking the same box on the customs declaration and be eligible to re-pay the duty. The only 'issue' with TRS is it makes it more accessible to more purchases.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I was under the impression that it was the exact same scheme as duty free. Afterall in almost all cases duty-free is just less GST. If you buy an item worth more than $900 (- depreciation) in a duty free store airside at the airport and bring it back into the country you should also be ticking the same box on the customs declaration and be eligible to re-pay the duty. The only 'issue' with TRS is it makes it more accessible to more purchases.

This...........
(Dots to fill up the minimum character requirement)

 

[Isochronous]

Clothing also depreciates in value the moment you wear it, so arguably that could be factored into the equation.

 

[Cynicor]

@RooFlyer - there is no declaration on claiming TRS. It's 2 seperate transactions, effectively- leaving the country and getting a GST refund, then re-entering with something that is now duty-free. So you declare on re-entry, and can get in trouble for not declaring anything, not just the TRSd goods.

 

[jetpack]

If you are planning on declaring the goods on arrival back in to Australia presumably with the intention of paying back the GST can I ask why you would bother claiming TRS in the first place?

Are you hoping the customs officer wouldn't bother charging you? Based on the stories in this thread it doesn't sound like customs can be bothered processing these anyway in which case there really is no crackdown as the thread title suggests.

 

[RooFlyer]

@RooFlyer - there is no declaration on claiming TRS. It's 2 seperate transactions, effectively- leaving the country and getting a GST refund, then re-entering with something that is now duty-free. So you declare on re-entry, and can get in trouble for not declaring anything, not just the TRSd goods.

Ah, OK .. like I said up-thread, I've never done it - it was an assumption on my part. So you just rock up to the TRS counter, hand over receipts and they give you the GST back, literally no questions asked?

I still remain my objection in general to Australians using the Tourist Refund Scheme. GST is charged on goods and services in Australia to fund a big slice of the state's bills. I don't think non bona fide tourists should be able to use it.

 

[blackcat20]

If you are planning on declaring the goods on arrival back in to Australia presumably with the intention of paying back the GST can I ask why you would bother claiming TRS in the first place?

Are you hoping the customs officer wouldn't bother charging you? Based on the stories in this thread it doesn't sound like customs can be bothered processing these anyway in which case there really is no crackdown as the thread title suggests.

Because a lot of items will be under the $900 cap when you return, so you wouldnt need to declare them anyway.

 

[Denali]

Ah, OK .. like I said up-thread, I've never done it - it was an assumption on my part. So you just rock up to the TRS counter, hand over receipts and they give you the GST back, literally no questions asked?

I still remain my objection in general to Australians using the Tourist Refund Scheme. GST is charged on goods and services in Australia to fund a big slice of the state's bills. I don't think non bona fide tourists should be able to use it.

Ive not claimed but my husband has a a couple of times, usually camera related.

He goes to the counter with receipts and he has the item in his backpack to show them and refund credited to his nominated bank account/card.

Ive seen quite a few people doing it with some very expensive designer bags/clothing so for them it would be worth a couple of hundred dollars.

Its not my thing so not done it.

 

[bwhouse]

Ah, OK .. like I said up-thread, I've never done it - it was an assumption on my part. So you just rock up to the TRS counter, hand over receipts and they give you the GST back, literally no questions asked?

I still remain my objection in general to Australians using the Tourist Refund Scheme. GST is charged on goods and services in Australia to fund a big slice of the state's bills. I don't think non bona fide tourists should be able to use it.

Pretty much, they do usually remind you (if the item is over $900) that you have to declare the items if you bring them back in.

If you object to TRS then do you also object to airport duty free? Agree TRS is named poorly but it is the same thing.

The issue isn't people abusing theTRS scheme, it is people not declaring things on the way back into the country and as someone else pointed out. if you buy a shiny MacBook or camera overseas then you also need to declare that on the way back in (which I bet most people do not)