Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) 60 Days Confusion

Related Stores

customs.gov.au

• 

  insular on 02/12/2014 - 16:28

  +2

  if the TRS wording says 60 days BEFORE departure, then i wouldnt include the day of departure (but i would include the day of purchase)

  i'd say as long as your worst case scenario isn't 61 days you'd be fine. but this is cutting it close, and if its automated in their computer you could lose out.

  if it depends on who's serving you, i doubt they'd notice, they usually process quickly if you dont have much.

  • 

    CyberMurning on 02/12/2014 - 16:37

    +1

    i believe that would be built in their pc they punch in the date and system say ok or not to pay out.
    so yeah better make sure!

  • 

    18 on 02/12/2014 - 17:01

    to be exact, the website says
    "they are purchased in the 60 days before you leave Australia"

    So if it doesn't include the departure date, I will be able to get GST back, if it does… then I get $0 back.. I have never done this before, how closely do they check the dates? Do they enter it in? Cause the 3/12 and 31/1 looks like 2 months, but December and January have 31 days .__.

    • 

      insular on 02/12/2014 - 17:40

      get a calendar out and literally count the days, that's what i did and i was cutting it too close so i held back a purchase a few weeks to be sure.

      you don't have that option. just buy and hope for the best.

      • 

        18 on 02/12/2014 - 17:42

        I did count the days… It's 60 days from today, 61 days from tomorrow.

      • 

        jackofspade on 02/12/2014 - 17:59

        @18:
        I think you meant 61 days from today.
        Try entering your details using their web app http://www.customs.gov.au/trs/TRS-applications.asp

• 

  18 on 02/12/2014 - 17:51

  Since I am purchasing from The Good Guys, does anyone know how I could perhaps have a later date on the receipt? Cheers.

  • 

    CyberMurning on 02/12/2014 - 20:28

    +1

    I really want to know this as well.
    Argh too late to call the customer service and ask

  • 

    travelwiz on 10/02/2015 - 16:36

    +1

    you can ask nicely if they'll refund & you buy it again same day with the correct date on the invoice or have heard some people simply knock up their own inv & change the date.

    I rang a store & asked them to fax a copy of receipt I had lost & they said can't, but type it up yourself (I wasn't changing dates)

    Also, bought a lot of gear from a ski shop over a period of months. Some below the $300 minimum.

    Asked them to consolidate all the invoices & they said sure, we'll refund the lot & sell them to you again today.

    It was worth it. Close to $5k & so I got around $450 back.

    Also one of the items was skis, so I had to get sighted at airport before I checked in. At customs office they asked to see some of the gear on the inv & then stamped it, so didn't have to show any of it at refund desk inside airport.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 02/12/2014 - 17:51

  60 days.

• 

  Amaris on 02/12/2014 - 17:52

  +4

  There is a TRS app for iOS and Android. You can enter all the details before getting to the airport. Helps to skip the usually long queue and use a dedicated counter as well. The app may indicate if you can or cannot claim.

  https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tourist-refund-scheme/id9108…

  • 

    18 on 02/12/2014 - 18:28

    Thanks, the message saying must be 60 days works between these dates. Hopefully this is very reliable! Can sometime rundown the process of getting a tax refund? Cheers.

    • 

      Amaris on 02/12/2014 - 19:40

      +1

      If you have the app;
      1. Start a new claim, once you fill in all the details including invoice number/s and bank details, it will generate a QR code.
      2. Take the phone with the QR code, the items you want to claim GST back and the invoices to the airport
      3. There is a separate queue for people who have the QR code. Usually only one or two people using the counter dedicated for people with the app
      4. The Customs Officer will scan the QR code, look at your invoices and stuff and complete the claim.

      If you don't have the app;
      Take the invoices and the goods and queue up at the GST claim office which is usually just past passport control.

      However, I don't think it is 60 WORKING days, just days!!

      • 

        18 on 02/12/2014 - 21:46

        yeah its just days… How long does the process take? And Would I need to take the box of the phone?

      • 

        Austin 316 on 02/12/2014 - 22:09

        @18: Yes, you would definitely need to take the box as they will check it to confirm you have a new phone. They might just check things randomly if you have a lot to claim or else they will check everything for fewer items.
        The time it takes usually depends on how busy airport is at that time. With an average no of flights, it can take upto 45 mins or more so reach early to make sure you have ample time.

      • 

        Amaris on 02/12/2014 - 22:48

        @Austin 316:

        You definitely do not need to take the packaging. Check your facts.
        http://customs.gov.au/faq/TRS.asp#Q305

        I recently claimed for an iPad. Didn't take the box. No one except me in the dedicated queue for those with the app.

      • 

        cd93 on 02/12/2014 - 23:32

        +1

        @18: I just made one a few days ago, they told me it takes up to 60 days to come (Credit Card) not sure of others. Just need the phone and the recipe and the claim form.

      • 

        18 on 03/12/2014 - 01:56

        @cd93:

        I read somewhere that you have to declare your good you claimed for TRS when you return back into Australia, is this true as I plan on taking my phone? Will I have to pay back the tax? Cheers.

      • 

        Austin 316 on 03/12/2014 - 08:25

        @lahiruwan: Wow, thanks for that info. I wasn't aware of that. Now I don't need to take the boxes with me next month so will save me heaps of space :)

      • 

        jman123 on 03/12/2014 - 16:59

        +1

        @18: You only need to declare it if the value of it is over the passenger concession threshold which is $900. See here: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4352.asp

      • 

        cd93 on 03/12/2014 - 18:51

        +1

        @18:
        As said above, if its over $900 you need to declare it

• 

  jman123 on 03/12/2014 - 17:01

  +1

  Under law the calculation is: date of purchase is not counted but must depart within 60 days. It is regulation 168-5.09 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 1999:

  168‑5.09 Time of export
  The goods must be exported within 60 days after the day on which they were acquired.

  • 

    travelwiz on 10/02/2015 - 16:38

    no the goods must be exported with 60 days of invoice date (is it 60 days? it used to be 30 I thought)

    It's the invoice date that counts.

    Strictly speaking, the date shouldn't come into it & $300 min shouldn't either.

    If you paid the GST, you should get it back whenever you leave the country, no matter how long.