I've just bought a laptop (more than $1000) and got an invoice with my name and address. I'll be heading overseas very soon and claiming GST back via TRS.
Name on the invoice: Ben Smith
Name on the passport: Benjamin John Smith
Will I get knocked back?
I've contacted the seller to send me updated invoice, but haven't received a response.
ANd if you bring it back, remember to declare it. Then line up in the declarants line, talk to an officer, repay back what you got refunded and pay a credit card fee. Thus ending up worse off financially and time wise
ANd if you bring it back, remember to declare it.
It'll be "used" on the way back and worth less than the $900 limit.
So what if its used? GST can and does apply to used goods.
If you bring goods back into Australia for which a GST refund via the TRS has been claimed, the goods must be declared, and if the value of those goods (combined with any other overseas/duty free purchases) exceeds the passenger concession allowance, any applicable GST and/or duty may need to be paid unless another concession (example, all personal clothing – except furs) is available.
Depends on how expensive the laptop is in the first place. If it's, say, a MacBook Pro, it'd still be worth over $900 coming back in…
You'll be fine, B.
Why are you claiming the GST back?
Its called Tourist Refund Scheme for a reason. Note the word Tourist. The point of the scheme is for people leaving and not bring the goods back to get the GST refunded.
Now it seems that people think its an entitlement to claim, just because they are taking goods overseas with every intention to bring them back.
You must be young.
Ask your parents on how the government at the time sold us the idea of GST.
Huge loophole.
And, if they really wanted to; they can easily restrict TRS claim to only non-residents.
Until then…
Its called Tourist Refund Scheme for a reason. Note the word Tourist. The point of the scheme is for people leaving and not bring the goods back to get the GST refunded.
You would be incorrect and best advised to read the rules of the scheme before commenting
The name will be fine. However, is the laptop priced significantly in excess of $900? If so, you may still be liable for GST on the way back in.
(Generally, there's a bit of wriggle room for new things priced not that much in excess of $900 as by using them, they experience a bit of depreciation.)
Apart from what others have said about being taxed on your way in that it would be valued less than the invoice value as it is used. Also to note, you can use the item immediately on purchase within Australia too and you will still receive the GST back. On your way back the duty-free limit is $900 per person. So, if two persons are travel you may be within the duty free allowance. Regarding it being a scheme for tourist and it is a rort, name of the scheme is not necessarily the best judgement of the full intention of a scheme. It is not a rort or a loophole. This is a legitimate scheme. If government wanted they could have closed it like they did for mail imports.
Just asking….. Are you genuinely a Tourist traveling back and forth…or is this possibly Tax Fraud?
I would imagine the ATO will consider a traveler different to a tourist, depending on your Visa and or Status.
Why the Neg for asking a question to assist all those who may answer?
Look in a legal sense yes this is tax fraud. But weather its enforced is another question, its really hard to determine.
Worst comes to worse you get a penalty + having pay back the GST. Do it a few times and you are probably looking at a court hearing but thats IF you get caught which is again next to nothing.
At the end of the day, if you wanted to look at this another scope, we loose on GST which is then replaced through higher taxes/excise's :-(
If I were OP and were to be a dual citizen, I would strongly use a foreign passport for this.
You will be fine. It's a very popular abbreviation and common sense will prevail.
Safe travels to both you and Faith.