TRS rules update - 60 days and 300 dollar minimum from one retailer (can be spilt)

annarchon on 16/04/2013 - 20:28

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Not sure if it should be here or in the forums. But new Tourist Refund Scheme rules comes into effect tomorrow.

Key changes are

  • Travellers can claim through the tourist refund scheme on purchases made up to 60 days before leaving Australia (under old regulations they had 30 days). This will apply to sales made on or after 17 April 2013.

  • Travellers can submit more than one tax invoice to make their claim, as long as each is a valid tax invoice from the one Australian Business Number retailer and the total value of goods purchased is $300 or more (including GST).

Travel

Comments

  • bpdoz on 16/04/2013 - 20:34
    +1

    It's going to increase my spending habits..
    Thanks op.. :)

  • Trueno on 16/04/2013 - 20:55

    So if I purchased items last week from the same retailer but different locations can I claim this tomorrow when I leave??

    • sparkles on 16/04/2013 - 21:19

      If the ABN is the same on both receipts you should, provided they add up to over $300.

    • annarchon on 16/04/2013 - 21:32

      I think for the sub 300 purchases from one retailer only applies to sales (receipt dated) from tomorrow.

    • pyramid on 16/04/2013 - 23:30

      Nope, cause this new rules apply on or after 17 april.

  • airzone on 16/04/2013 - 21:31

    Awesome… Going to HK in a few weeks, will need to see what I can take with me ;)

  • sth01 on 16/04/2013 - 22:56

    Bringing the goods back into Australia
    If the goods are to be brought back into Australia, please be aware that they may be subject to GST. Normal passenger concessions apply and include any items for which a TRS claim has been approved (excluding most personal items such as new clothing, footwear and articles for personal hygiene and grooming). If the value of those goods together with overseas purchases exceeds the passenger concession, the goods must be declared to Customs on your return to Australia. Penalties apply to undeclared taxable goods.

    what the point if you can not bring back the item??

    • robotdad on 16/04/2013 - 23:23

      You can bring them back in, they are subject to the tax-free import cap though.

      • m0nkeycheese on 17/04/2013 - 00:25

        Yeah 1k

        • illumination on 19/04/2013 - 12:25

          Is $1000 for the value of the goods or the tax that you are supposed to pay?

          So if you bring a laptop through TRS ($1100) - you get $100 back. The value of the item is > $1000. But the tax amount is only $100.

        • geek001 on 19/04/2013 - 12:28

          I think they will use the entire $1100 in the GST calculation, ie, you will need to pay $110 on the laptop, but if the laptop is bought for $999, there is no tax on it.

          When you claim TRS, just say it is a gift for your cousin, etc.. otherwise they will reject your claim based on the fact you are going to bring it back in again. Happened to someone I know at Gold Coast airport.

    • geek001 on 17/04/2013 - 11:21

      I think the whole point of this scheme is to encourage tourists to buy stuff from Australia while they are on holiday in Australia. But because there is no way of telling whether you are a real tourist or not, they made is applicable to everyone leaving Australia. Generally, if you are a genuine tourist, you would buy things from Australia while you are here and then return to your country, so this is not a real problem for real tourists.

    • illusionarybreeze on 19/04/2013 - 22:08

      The point of TRS is for tourists who aren't purchasing the item for use in Australia? For many OzBargainers though, TRS is about tricking Customs into refunding GST even though they fully intend to bring the item back into the country.

  • illumination on 19/04/2013 - 12:24

    Haha this works out really well for me. Bought an item yesterday, flying away at the end of next month and I was thinking - hmm damn missed out on TRS. Didn't know about these changes - works in my favour!

  • bargrin on 21/04/2013 - 12:10

    What happens when you buy $200 at JB on 13 April and $100 at JB on 20 April.

    Do the new rules apply to purcahses made before 17 April or would old rules apply to pre-17 April purchases such that I still need to combine to one bill?

  • lfak on 05/06/2013 - 23:47

    Hi. Does anyone know if I can use the items and throw the original box away? Before I travel. thx

    • PissLUR on 06/06/2013 - 14:22

      yes and u dont need to show the original box to the officer.

      • ozf1 on 20/06/2013 - 19:21

        Yes, but depending on the officer they may want to see her box.

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