I bought an expensive watch for my brother's wedding gift which cost me $2000 AUD shipped from USA.
He live overseas, so I time my purchase to be 30 days before I fly out.
I couldn't get anything local below $2000 which is the maximum budget I can afford, so I resort to buy the watch overseas.
I ordered the watch and UPS withheld it because custom need to charge GST on it.
They use some weird calculation and I had to pay $250 GST on it. I paid straight away as I was confidence that I can get it back on TRS.
I visited TRS booth on the way out and they declined my application on the grounds that the company I purchased my watch does not have ABN registered.
They told me to contact customs to fix this issue and they said that I should get my refund. It took 60 days for customs to get back to me and they declined my claim
with the following reason :
The invoice you have supplied does not show that GST has been paid, or that the retailer has an ABN, or that the goods were sold in Australia.
Goods that are imported into Australia to which DIBP apply GST on importation are not eligible for a refund of GST under the TRS.
Has anyone been in my position ? Any advice on how I can get the GST back ?
nobody wants to take responsibility for their stuff ups these days. always looking for an excuse to get out of it somehow…