TRS refund question..

LTommy Kim on 22/09/2017 - 22:50

Hi people.
I have question about TRS refund.
I and my GF is Australian permanent resident.
We are going back to our country for holiday for 4weeks end of this year and I am planning to buy camera body and lenses (round $7000.00 AUD)
Therefore, I will claim TRS refund this time and I will bring all my camera gears back to Australia.

TRS policy is

Bringing goods back into Australia for which you have already received a TRS refund

If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to AUD 900 worth of goods into Australia duty-free, or AUD 450 if you are younger than 18. Families travelling together can pool this allowance (a couple with one child can bring in a total of AUD 900 + AUD 900 + AUD 450 = AUD 2250 worth of goods into Australia without paying duty or GST). This is called your passenger concession.

I claim TRS with my name, and when I and my GF are coming back to AUS, if my GF bring all my camera gears, do TRS people know the gears are mind?

Financial

Related Stores

customs.gov.au
customs.gov.au

Comments

  • Xiaomi on 22/09/2017 - 23:15
    +1

    I've been through customers at International Airports, Cruise Terminals and never once have they inspected my cameras, or any other assets (watches, jewellery). I've claimed on phones, laptops, and when coming back into Australia no one cared. You'll be fine, probably best to just have some photos on the camera and perhaps send the original box back by mail if your overly concerned. Keep the camera on you with photos on it (you don't want it to look brand new, you will most likely than be taxed if inspected).

    • Tommy Kim on 22/09/2017 - 23:22

      When I claim TRS at Airport. Do I need to show all the original boxes as well as camera and lenses?

      • jjjaar on 23/09/2017 - 22:44

        No. You can use the item beforehand. Last time I just had my camera around my neck and lens in my bag. They didn't want to see the lens and literally just flashed the camera at them and that was fine.

    • xoom on 22/09/2017 - 23:42

      Looking at the passenger arrival card. There is a question asking about this specific thing. TRS.

      Do you answer 'no' knowing full well you are bringing back over $900 or more worth of duty free goods? Or 'yes' and they still don't care regardless?

  • retiredfeline on 22/09/2017 - 23:18
    +2

    Do you mean $700 or are you very keen on cameras?

    • Tommy Kim on 22/09/2017 - 23:21

      I mean $700…. I

      • retiredfeline on 22/09/2017 - 23:24

        Well you are under the concession for one person so no problem.

        • Tommy Kim on 22/09/2017 - 23:25

          Sorry. all gears are over 7000.00 trs will be aroung 700.00

        • retiredfeline on 22/09/2017 - 23:33

          @Tommy Kim: Strictly speaking you are supposed to declare on return that you are over the concession; it's on the form. You can claim any amount on leaving (also name on invoice for over $1k). The concession and the tax is the same whether you bought it here or overseas. It's just that with the TRS you got a refund because you bought it here and you could possibly be a visitor not bringing the goods back. The TRS for locals is actually a extension of the tourist refund to allow locals to buy before travel.

          So it's up to you what you want to do.

        • xoom on 22/09/2017 - 23:50

          @greenpossum: and if caught. They might not just make the op pay the tax back but also get fined for evading customs duty.

          Not scaremongering. Just don't want the ops next post to be. I got caught by border force and was not only made to pay back the tax but also got fined.

        • retiredfeline on 22/09/2017 - 23:54

          @xoom: Well judging from all kinds of previous "hard luck" posts re run-ins with rules, OzWhingeOzBargain is the place to post.

      • PJC on 23/09/2017 - 00:10

        I am planning to buy camera body and lenses (round $7000.00 AUD)

  • juventino on 23/09/2017 - 00:01

    they will put a gps tracker on your camera and a swiper on your passport so the custom will know when you bring back the item on to Australian shore.

    On your arrival card, they will check if you try to lie about it and will issue you with fine accordingly

    • Flying Ace on 23/09/2017 - 06:31

      Ignore this advice OP.

      You will be fine.

  • spal on 23/09/2017 - 08:42
    +1

    Usually, I don’t say anything negative to people looking for advice, and at times I have been guilty of suggesting things which are not very ethical. However, in your case I would like to say that, if you can afford $7000 on camera, don’t you think that you could afford to do the right thing for your adopted country. I can understand one iPhone or a laptop but $7000 worth of gear is a lot. Sorry, if I have offended you. This just my thoughts. Enjoy your travel with your family mate.

  • Samsungnote10 on 23/09/2017 - 10:45

    ive used TRS a few times, and it can be a pain but worth it lining up

    the only thing im confused is about names on invocies for items above $1000, do they have to match the traveller?

    ive just bought a laptop, and am going to give it to a relvaite to take the item and invoice overseas to claim GST back

    • xoom on 23/09/2017 - 11:10

      Whoever takes it overseas must have their name on the invoice.

  • lainey13 on 23/09/2017 - 22:08

    You should be fine doing what you've suggested. I would also suggest exiting separately just to be safe.

  • jjjaar on 23/09/2017 - 22:45

    Fill out your forms on the app first. Sometimes they have an app only queue that is faster.

    • xoom on 24/09/2017 - 07:36

      I did exactly this. Filled out forms in the trs app. It gave a qr code which i saved in my phone. Scanned my phone at the trs counter. In and out with in 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile the unprepared plebs were in a really long queue.

      • werdnanostaw on 24/09/2017 - 10:41

        However…

        When we left Perth last month the TRS counter was unmanned (at 1730 on a weekday!). There was a sign that said:

        Fill in form, put in envelope and put in slot. DON'T put in invoice.

        It didn't mention what to do if you had used web site and had pre-filled form with QR code. I didn't want to risk not getting refund by only putting in QR code print out so I filled in form. I included QR print out. They returned it to me with receipt so I still don't know whether QR print out would have been sufficient.

        Once I got to departure lounge I took photos of laptop serial number and laptop in lounge so I could prove I had taken it out of country.

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