Hi,
I am heading to the States next week, and bought one laptop on eBay during the 20% OFF sales from Futu, do i need to keep the original box and packages when i make the claim at the airport?
Laptop GST Refund - Tourist Refund Scheme
chengjianer on 13/03/2016 - 23:00
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No, just the laptop and receipt showing GST paid.
If it is over $1000 you need to have your name on the receipt.
And address as well, although that shouldn't be a problem with an eBay receipt.
You do not need any original packaging.
You only need to present goods matching the receipt that you are submitting.
Thank you everyone!
I would recommend getting a QR code by submitting your TRS claim online ahead of time. The queue for the walk-in refund was longer.
And don't forget you need a credit card the chargeback can be sent to. It was surprising how many tourists weren't aware of this when I was there. I guess you know this, right?
Good advice, thank you!
Ooh, and me thinks your invoice will show the full price, you sly dog ;)
They'll look at the GST paid.
But I'm guessing, say he paid $800, the invoice will say $1000. Will earn him a nice little extra $20ish.
I bought two items from the HP store, but they gave me two invoices. I paid for both of the items with one credit card transaction. One item costs $1200 and the other item costs $180. How do I claim the GST on both items?
I was expecting one invoice with both items, but they split it. :(
I'm pretty sure it doesn't have to be on the same invoice. As long as you bought over $200? $300? from the same shop (same abn number) then its fine.
Sorry I forgot the exact figure. I had 3 invoices from the same store and claimed online. Didn't have any problems when I went to the trs desk in the airport.$300 :)
The invoice with $1200 goods must have your name and details on it.
I have two invoices, both have my name on it and both were paid with one transaction.
Good going!
And if you bring the laptop back, and it's over the GST threshold ($900 per adult, but you can pool it if travelling together), you'll get hit up for the GST again (all of it) on the way back in. In theory at least (though as 'used' you might be able to claim a lower value).
Have anyone tried to get a GST charge back from the custom?
They don't really check though. ;)
You just need to illegally make a false declaration ;)
It's amazing how much laptops depreciate in a month.
Does this scheme available for Australian citizens ? or is it just for tourists ?
well purposely for tourist but as long as you dont get caught bring the goods back to aus.
i wont :D
it is a present i bought for a overseas friend and never knew about this scheme. so as long as we dont bring it back Australian citizens are eligible for this ?
yes, i do it all the time whenever i fly overseas and brought it back to Aus :) no problem at all.
Yeah, the point of the scheme is to make it more attractive for you to buy from an Australian retailer than an overseas retailer who might otherwise have the advantage of not charging GST.
Is there a time limit on this? Like I buy a laptop from eBay now. But plan to take overseas trip in august can I still claim by then? And what the physical address or website to claim this?
I am a bit lazy to explain, so there you go:
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Tour
It has everything you need or want to know.
Is there a time limit on this?
60 days before you leave Australia.
Just to clarify: it's for tourists or citizens, residents or non-residents. There is no different treatment of any category in any way but they DO want to know whether you are resident or non-res. I think it is for stats purposes only.
Re bringing stuff back, unless it was something REALLY expensive, unlikely it will be scrutinised on the way back otherwise every laptop brought back in would need to be checked to see if GST had been claimed back and that is a beaurocratic nightmare for them.
Interestingly the incoming passenger arrival card has a little loophole (you heard it first on Ozbargain).
Whereby Q3 is "Goods obtained overseas or puchased duty and/or tax free in Australia with a combined total price of more than AUD$900.00, including gifts?
The little loophole is that the goods were not purchased tax free in the first place. The tax was paid and claimed back later. So you can truthfully answer the question as a "NO" and they can challenge you but they would not likely to win in a court as you could argue that you answered truthfully.
Nope answering NO would be a lie and you would be charged $220
Also prepare to be stopped on your way back in when you return
your Passport will be flagged as you got a TRS on a large high end item
If you have the item in your possession they will charge you the tax (plus an admin fee)This policy has been in place since Feb 1 2016 for any TRS done against an Australian Passport with a refund over $149.99
Just FYI
Interesting, I've heard this could happen but I haven't had this happen to me personally. However I've also heard that you can get another person in your party to carry the item (that had the refund) and claim it was theirs. What can customs do then? Nothing I believe (ie try and charge you the GST again)
The item simply counts towards your $900 duty free allowance on entry back into Australia, exactly as if you had bought the item overseas.
In fact, as some commenter in this thread observed, the whole purpose of this is to make the tax treatment identical between someone buying stuff overseas and someone buying stuff in Australia immediately before going OS?
If you are travelling with someone, then you can pool allowances - $900 per adult and $450 per child - so when I did this earlier this year, I had $2700 allowance to play with (me, wife + 2 kids).
Flagged? I was told that too by the trs officer so I declared when I came back in. Had I made a false declaration they wouldn't know. The officer said to go to the collections office to pay. I thought, too hard and just left as I was feeling air sick. They have my details and know where to find me. Will see what happens.
What's stopping someone from just editting a PDF document and showing it as their invoice? Is any checks done with the retailer?
The fear of prosecution, a criminal record, and a fine. All Government departments that pay out money have risk profiles. If you or your claim fall within the risk profile, expect to get extra attention.
Who has claimed recently using the app? I'm travelling next week and will be entering all the details into the app later this week but wanted to hear if anyone has used it ?
Nope