TRS Duty Free Limit Questions

ATangk on 10/07/2019 - 15:50

Hi all,

I’m trying to debate about TRS and duty free allowance with a certain view and want to see how everyone thinks about this:

For passengers re-entering Australia, there is a duty free allowance of $900.

This would permit me to buy something of value at $990, claim $90 in TRS and then the value of the goods would be $900. No issues here.

However, I argue that any ‘used’ item instantly depreciates in price. So if I had electronic goods totalling $1100, and TRS claim $100, their duty free price is now $1000, exceeding the duty free allowance. But these goods are now used.

Could I, if the situation arose, be able to claim that their price is less than $1000 due to depreciation of used goods?

What does OzB think about this?

Travel

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Comments

  • 87percent on 10/07/2019 - 15:58
    +2

    no

  • GG57 on 10/07/2019 - 16:00
    +2

    Let us know how it turns out for you

  • iforgotmysocks on 10/07/2019 - 16:01
    +8

    You could ask customs during your interrogation?

  • Seraphin7 on 10/07/2019 - 16:01

    You are confusing the two issues.

    TRS is for outgoing passengers. The duty free allowance is for incoming passengers.

    Surely you're not talking about (to use your example) buying $1,100 worth of gear, getting $100 back on TRS, paying for and undertaking international travel, bringing the goods back into the country and claiming that they've now depreciated to under $900 and therefore you get to keep your original $100?

    Seems a lot of effort for little reward.

    • ATangk on 10/07/2019 - 20:18

      I’m not going just to do that, I bought QC35’s amongst other things to an overseas work trip.

      • burningrage on 10/07/2019 - 22:06

        If you travel by yourself, you may get flagged at passport control. Check your arrival card usually marked on top left with letters. I can't remember what the letters exactly mean but certain letter = flagged at quarantine/customs.

      • Seraphin7 on 11/07/2019 - 09:17

        Well, in that case, you need to realise that the inbound duty free limit is a total limit (not per item). It's going to be hard to make it worth your while AND claim that thousands of dollars worth of gear has all magically depreciated to under $900.

        As @burningrage has noted, there is every chance you'll be flagged for inspection on your return.

    • wanttotravelmore on 18/07/2019 - 16:27

      limit is $900 per person. We had a group of 9 people & total spend was about $4400 & TRS guy wanted all 9 people at counter, before we could get our roughly $400. We had gear sighted at customs before we checked in as didn't want to carry some of it in hand luggage & some of gear we couldn't carry on aircraft anyway as too big & they stamped a heap of invoices. Each inv has to be $300 or more.

      It was like the trs guy thought we were trying to fiddle something, which we weren't but we were entitled to the refund.

  • apple2016 on 10/07/2019 - 16:33

    I think there is a 90 day limit on devices on which you have claimed TRS. If you re-import the same product within the 90 days its would not be considered as used i think.

    • 2jzzzz on 10/07/2019 - 18:27
      +3

      This is literally something you have made up.

    • wanttotravelmore on 18/07/2019 - 16:30

      think the 90 day limit is the date on the invoice can be no longer than 90 days before flight. We had gear bought over a period & just got one shop to reissue the inv, which they manually typed out with new purchase date. They said they could have done it through their point of sale, as a refund & then a rebuy.

      They said we could have done it ourselves on any piece of paper, preferably not in crayon.

      Handwritten is fine, as long as very clear, with business name, address & ABN & GST amount calculated.

  • Hellfire on 10/07/2019 - 16:55

    Yes. I've done exactly the same thing a number of times over the years. It actually has to be used - you can't just bring a $1000+ iphone that's NIB overseas and back again.

  • burningrage on 10/07/2019 - 17:19

    Usually I would claim it as personal effect if asked.

    Obviously don't make your returned goods spanky and squeaky clean.

    There was a case about someone bought Tiffany engagement ring and somehow, somewhere they got caught and I couldn't understand for the life of me of how that could possibly have happened.

    • 2jzzzz on 10/07/2019 - 18:28

      Serial numbers, numbers on diamonds, admissions, detailed description. Doesn't matter if you declare it as personal effect. You'd have to prove it was older than 12 months.

      • burningrage on 10/07/2019 - 22:02

        Never get asked about that but obviously don't make it show.

        If it's ring, keep 'em in the suitcase, ipad with the kids, phones out of the box and put stickers/case whatever.

        You would have to looked very very suspicious or unlucky if you get flagged. The only exception would be camera and laptop. I know a friend who got done on laptops because he was stupid to say it was new (bought in Singapore but got done in Melbourne, I mean how stupid was that?) but I have heard camera can be a TRS cop magnet too.

    • Davo1111 on 10/07/2019 - 20:41

      There was a case about someone bought Tiffany engagement ring and somehow, somewhere they got caught and I couldn't understand for the life of me of how that could possibly have happened.

      yeah it was on border security, the tv show. Basically they flagged the person because she got the tax back on a 35k ring, and then when she returned she was wearing it, and admitted they were the ones.

      • burningrage on 10/07/2019 - 22:03

        There you go… the admission killed the bird.

  • clx on 10/07/2019 - 17:49

    There are some anecdotal observations in the comments section of this article: https://www.ausbt.com.au/govt-cracks-down-on-airport-trs-reb…
    But those people did declare.

  • 2jzzzz on 10/07/2019 - 18:29
    +1

    Have talked to an officer and stated that there is 20% depreciation for goods between 0 and 3 months, 40% for 3 to 6 month and 60% 6 to 12months.

    • burningrage on 10/07/2019 - 22:03

      WOuld be nice to have that in writing from TRS website.

  • brokenglish on 10/07/2019 - 18:32

    I thought Duty Free shops have lower their prices because they're exempted from GST therefore not eligible for TRS refund?

    • ATangk on 10/07/2019 - 20:20

      I’m not talking about items bought in the airport, but using the TRS office to claim goods purchased before leaving.

  • Westuff on 15/07/2019 - 09:44

    TRS is Tourist Refund Scheme.
    Tourists dont return in short turn around times.
    If you are not a Tourist you shouldnt expect to get through without getting some scrutiny

    • GG57 on 15/07/2019 - 13:16
      +1

      From the TRS site "The TRS allows Australians and overseas visitors to claim a refund, (subject to certain conditions), of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax paid on goods bought in Australia and then taken out of Australia."

  • boxall on 29/08/2019 - 20:42

    Is it $900 ex GST or $900 inc GST?

    Big difference as i am looking at taking a $979 phone with me. Just overseas for 6 days.

    • ATangk on 29/08/2019 - 21:15

      900$ in duty free is 900 no GST

      • boxall on 29/08/2019 - 21:22

        Cool so $979 scrapes in. Is this documented somewhere as it appears very grey.

        • ATangk on 29/08/2019 - 22:22

          It says it is $900 in duty free goods. If it is duty free it is not taxed. Taxation is different everywhere but the duty free price does not.

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