From our friends at Australian Frequent Flyer.
https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/nasty-change-tour…
Looks like the TRS refund loophole used for a long time has been closed since Sep 2021. With International borders opening today I thought it would be timely to read up on the latest rules.
Short version:
If you claimed the TRS refund on the way out you need to pay the GST if you bring the item back in.
my thoughts exactly haha
A lot of people mentioning examples like wedding rings and other jewellery like a watch. Does that mean they would really go through that much to prove you are trying to bring it back? Like what could be a tiny item could take ages to find? Not worth the GST paid on it :P
In the border security ep, the dumbass was wearing them
If this rule is followed, why one someone even claim GST at the first place?
Sense?
Well the scheme is called the Tourist Refund Scheme, so you could assume it's targeted at tourists purchasing in Australia.
It's been this way for years. No change
No, the change is that your TRS claims previously counted towards your duty free limit on return and you only needed to pay GST if you went over the limit. Now it's payable no matter what value.
If you planned on bringing it back in, your claim was rejected on the spot. I remember it was a gotcha question at TRS line in Sydney.
Yeah, I think if they see claims for high value items collectively worth way more than $900 they start to ask questions at the TRS counter. But I don't think they asked if the total claimed is less than that since it was within the rules before.
Thought this was already in place. Was called out in 2018 for claiming my iPhone and returning with it.
Was it valued at over $900?
Yes, it was. Is the <$900 the new part?
That's the point of this change, you used to be able to bring back $900 worth per person ($450 for kids) without having to pay the GST back. Now they aree removing that.
What if you travel with a friend, gift it to your friend while overseas and the friend brings it back, and vice versa for something your friend claimed.
If they're smart, they'll record serial numbers.
the queue for refund will be a few hours in which no one can go as cudtom won't process the refund before 30 mins of your plane departure time.
If travelling as a group or pairs, just give the item to another person when coming back
Do we have to show the item we are claiming TRS on or they can booked in the luggage and only the receipts will be enough?
You have to show it so that they can see it's leaving the country and you are supposed to take on as hand luggage. However for big/bulky items you can get it checked before dropping off your bags. I haven't done it, but there is an office at the airport (I assume somewhere around the check-in counters)
My partner is a New Zealand citizen. How will this work for them, since they aren’t necessarily classed as PR or citizens?
If for example they bring back an item such as a laptop or a phone after they get the TRS refund and they take it out the country within 12 months, does this fall under the category of temporary import and thus not be subject to the requirement that the GST be repaid?
Has anyone travelled recently, brought back goods?
Has anyone returned to Australia with a trs claimed item?
Did the customs officer check?
Just saw this thread and was planning to claim an Insta360 X3 on TRS - I'm used to the old $900 threshold rule. Keen to see if anyone has been caught out.
On the way out I'm planning on telling them I'm giving it as a wedding gift (we actually are going to a wedding). On the way in I'll let my wife carry it and go through customs first.
edit: It looks like they've changed the wording from the link in the original post. It quoted:
"GST refunds received on goods claimed under the TRS will have to be repaid if the items are brought into Australia."
but it now says
"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. "
… but there's no mention of said allowance.
edit 2: apparently they reverted the rule and you won't have to pay back the TRS amount upon return of you're below the threshold (still don't know what that number is). A couple of recent posts on WP: https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/3q680ql9?p=49#r722619…. Obviously YMMV.
Have you been overseas yet and did they catch you/your wife on the way back into the country?
Guess i was lucky. Claimed refund for a watch on the way out then wore it on my wrist when i got back.
What’s the change exactly??🤷♂️