A friend of mine wants to buy a smart phone which costs over 1000$ including GST and wants to claim the GST back using TRS.
He's a tourist here in Sydney staying with me, so does not have any proof of address to show if required.
1) What is the address that needs to be included in the tax invoice? (can he give my address or his home address which is on his passport?)
2) Doesn't have a credit card either. Can he fill in my bank account details? I can transfer the claimed amount to him later.
I replied to your comment here but again, your friend should put his address in his home country on the invoice. The store employee should be familiar with the process. If his English isn't the best I suggest you go with him to ensure he gets the correct thing.
I'm assuming he is buying a iPhone? If So warn him that the warranty is only valid in Australia… It is NOT worldwide
As for the bank account question does it seems he can get the money back via cheque delivered to his home address in his country. (If he doesn't have a credit card how is he paying for a $1000 phone??)
After he has bought the phone he should go onto the TRS webpage and fill-out the online form here
If he needs more information in his native language scroll to the bottom of here where there are information guides in different languages.
I've said it on every time a question about the TRS comes up the Australian system is embarrassing. I waited for almost an hour and came very close to missing my plane as did 2 other passengers. He should leave at least an extra hour even if he fills out the form online which I did as well.
Make sure you stress that getting the GST back is not worth missing your plane for - if his flight goes to final call either ask the TRS agent to hurry things along or duck under the barrier and go.
@knick007
Thanks for the response, really appreciate you taking time to give all the information. I've even mailed the customs, but they haven't got back with any answers. Will try calling them during the weekdays.
Yup, he's getting the iPhone 6 plus, with a debit card, that's why I mentioned he doesn't have a credit card. Knows about the warranty as well, but he'll be saving a good 250$ with TRS as opposed to getting it from where he is from.
Point noted about being early at the airport to get done with TRS ASAP.
Yup, he's getting the iPhone 6 plus, with a debit card,
A debit card from his own country? Will they charge him some ridiculous conversion fee? Careful…
he'll be saving a good 250$
That's better than my $70 back for a 40 minute wait, every little bit counts I guess but I was in a seriously bad mood despite about to get on a plane for a 2 month holiday when (and this was at 11:40 PM) I got my turn.
When I did the same process a year earlier in Singapore it took 5 minutes, in France 10 minutes…
He's done his math with the debit card, so all good… Yeah another friend of mine told me Singapore was super easy. Let's see how it works out. Thanks again.
If you buy from apple shop, they dont put your address on the receipt. If you paid by credit card, it will have your name on the receipt as long as it matched your passport. For other type of payment, cash or debit cards, I am not sure.
In Feb, I bought an iphone and an ipad over $2000 without address on one receipt, but I paid by credit card so it has my name on the receipt. No problem claiming the TRS. They dont even have time to check all these things in the airport as there were so many people. They let you just filled in the form and dropped in the drop box for claiming under $5000.
Cheers,
They will if you ask them to…
Interesting there was a dropbox. Someone else told me about it as well yet the TRS website makes no mention of it.
I did ask apple to put my address on the receipt, but the guy said there is no need. Too many people come and buy over a thousand dollar and none said any problem without the address.
The drop box has been there for years. It comes to work during high season. The amount may vary from time to time. First time I used the year before was $1000, then this year was $5000. It varies depend on seasons.
Wow I'm even more disappointed now. I waited 40 minutes and there were others behind me late like me for their flight but I wasn't offered any dropbox
Address should be of the person claiming the GST back and should match some form of official documentation. After all he is claiming the GST back for himself technically as he is exporting the product. can he use his home or workplace overseas? If not I don't think they really look at it form experience as long as name matches passport.
Bank account details shouldn't matter though - plenty of people have put locals in because the refund will be in AUD. I know my friend's parents did this and no issues.