TRS Question bringing goods back & definition of couple/family

dsar on 18/12/2019 - 00:07

Hi Ozbargain,
I’ve purchased an iPhone for $1747 from officeworks less than 60 days from when I depart for an overseas trip. I plan to claim TRS refund on this and plan on bringing it back in the country.
According to https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/touris…
It’ll be over my individual concession ($900 value). However I’ll be travelling with my girlfriend, so I believe I can combine it with her thus meeting the ‘family concession’ of a ‘couple’ would be $1800 in this case.

Is this correct? I’m a bit concerned around ‘family’ concession however in the example they use ‘couple’. Advice on this is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

Travel

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customs.gov.au
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Comments

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 18/12/2019 - 00:31
    -4

    Have you asked the abf?

    • dsar on 18/12/2019 - 10:46

      Not going to lie, did not know this was an option. I'll be calling them today :)

      • dsar on 18/12/2019 - 11:05
        +1

        Update: Called them, they mentioned is no issue in regards to combining the concession for a couple. They asked me to e-mail [email protected] to see what documents may be useful to prove our relationship if questioned.

        Do you think a Facebook Status screenshot is enough? /s

  • RM on 18/12/2019 - 00:42

    Yes, your limit will be combined and should not have a problem.

  • whooah1979 on 18/12/2019 - 05:20

    Swap the iPhone with your travel companion’s smartphone.

  • spal on 18/12/2019 - 06:32

    You only need to travel together. You will have your tickets too to prove that you traveled together as a family. Also, few things in valuing goods on return are important. Value would be after taking off the GST itself. GST is not payable on GST. If you open the package and use your phone, then it is no longer a new phone. It will need to be valued as a used phone. Customs don’t particularly like these situations. Source, I was let go off once. They were actually annoyed that I declared it and I was sent to the red channel. That is when the Customs Officer said to me that they have to take the depreciation into account.

  • crashloaded on 18/12/2019 - 07:25
    -2

    The family thing with customs is always a weird one. Wouldn't "Family" suggest someone with the same surname?

    • Donaldhump on 18/12/2019 - 08:12
      +1

      What era do you live in

      Sole couples don't get married , there is literally no point.
      Women keep their surname

    • LuffyTuffyFluffy on 18/12/2019 - 08:14
      +2

      Not all legally married couples share the same surname.

      • crashloaded on 18/12/2019 - 08:17

        True. I always think of the word family in relation to immediate family, ie. birth relatives.

        • LuffyTuffyFluffy on 18/12/2019 - 08:20

          De-factor relationships are also considered family. Generally speaking family refers to parents and children living as a unit.

    • Austaurean on 18/12/2019 - 08:18

      defacto, different surnames..
      Plus the way the govt and Centrelink for example utilise people in a relationship, it would be annoying for it to suddenly not apply for TRS.

      • Seraphin7 on 18/12/2019 - 09:31

        it would be annoying for it to suddenly not apply for TRS

        Agree, but never forget that when it comes to collecting their bit, the government will happily apply different rules to different scenarios.

        • crashloaded on 18/12/2019 - 09:37
          -1

          Kinda like wives.

    • mrkorrupt on 18/12/2019 - 08:50

      in some cultures, women do not change their surname

  • djones145 on 18/12/2019 - 08:51
    +4

    customs: are u a couple
    you: yes

    two ways it could go
    girlfriend: massive smile
    or
    girlfriend: we are just friends…

    lol

    • Seraphin7 on 18/12/2019 - 09:31

      So … either way you're stuffed?

      • dsar on 18/12/2019 - 10:58

        Sure hope I don't come back single at least.

  • elgrande on 18/12/2019 - 09:44
    +2

    OP future post:

    "Non serious ex-girlfriend is trying to take half of my assets, using TRS form as evidence of serious relationship"

    • dsar on 18/12/2019 - 10:49
      +2

      "Non serious ex-girlfriend is trying to take half of my assets, using TRS form as evidence of serious relationship"

      How do I delete someone else's comment?

      • pyramid on 18/12/2019 - 11:11

        Press Alt+F4 on your keyboard.

      • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2019 - 11:13
        +1

        Call it a micro aggression.

  • ausdday on 18/12/2019 - 10:21

    And don't forget to mention OzBargain community said so, when you are stopped by the ABF at the airport.

  • redfox1200 on 18/12/2019 - 10:55

    are you australian? just use your passport and walk straight out. unless you have something else you need to declare.

  • pao2x on 18/12/2019 - 13:09

    You don't need to declare. Technically if you are claiming TRS you should not even bring it back in unless paying back the tax, regardless of duty free allowances which is a wholly different matter.
    But you don't need to declare it

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