Can TRS Officers Flag Someone to Be Checked on Arrival

Ltubzz on 25/11/2023 - 13:01
Last edited 25/11/2023 - 13:16 by 1 other user

I bought an iPhone 15 pro and wanted to claim tax return, but was stupid and was using the phone during the refund process, the TRS officer was very intimidating and kept asking me if I was going to bring it back. I said no and he said if I was to bring it back the item will be seized and I will have pay a fine.

Now I’m really scared and wondering if people can actually be flagged to check. It was only a $170 refund so not really worth it but have heard people doing this all the time with no issue.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Travel Tourist Refund Scheme

Comments

  • p1 ama on 25/11/2023 - 15:02
    +53

    I bought an iPhone 15 pro and wanted to claim tax return, but was stupid and was using the phone during the refund process, the TRS officer was very intimidating and kept asking me if I was going to bring it back. I said no and he said if I was to bring it back the item will be seized and I will have pay a fine.

    So are you intending to bring it back or not? If you are, then you are committing tax fraud.

    I'm no fan of needing to pay more taxes, but I just find it horrendously stupid to publicly admit to committing fraud on an online public forum and asking how to get away with it.

    Now I’m really scared and wondering if people can actually be flagged to check. It was only a $170 refund so not really worth it but have heard people doing this all the time with no issue.

    If you're afraid of the consequences, then don't commit crimes.

      • p1 ama on 27/11/2023 - 00:59
        +10

        Why doesn't he give the TRS a call and check-in on what his chances are then?

      • ronburgundy11 on 27/11/2023 - 12:09
        +7

        You're confusing moral and legal here. This isn't a moral lesson, it's a legal lesson.

    • burningrage on 27/11/2023 - 09:32

      What OP didn't say is whether or not he intends to travel alone with someone else. If he is, then he should be clear provided he didn't buy anymore expensive duty free goods. You can pool TRS threshold and that is NOT committing tax fraud.

      • Poor Ass on 28/11/2023 - 22:56

        Don't think it's called TRS threshold

    • tubzz on 01/12/2023 - 10:47
      -1

      Lol, arent u a great fellow obargainer, if u dont like this sort of thing, dont comment?, I didn't ask for a lecture. I ended up declaring it and was waved through as the officer seemed surprised I would declare something like that. Funny how u think its a crime but the officers did not. Chill out.

      • p1 ama on 02/12/2023 - 16:23

        great fellow obargainer

        "Fellow OzBargainer"? What are you on about mate, you've made zero contributions to this community, and this is literally your first post.

        I ended up declaring it

        Why are you having a go at me, then? My point is that you should not have claimed it on TRS and if you have, then you should declare it, which is exactly what you ended up doing.

        Funny how u think its a crime but the officers did not.

        So theft is also okay, because sometimes police officers will let you off?

  • Davo1111 on 25/11/2023 - 15:08
    +3

    Keister it.

    I reckon they'll ask to see your phone on the way back in. OFC the one you'll pull out is your shiney new iphone

  • Seraphin7 on 25/11/2023 - 15:13

    Of course they can flag you. The whole idea of this record keeping is (amongst other reasons) to look at who might be rorting the system and challenge them upon their return.

    Now many of done what you've done and had no problem. Whether or not you will fare similarly is speculative.

  • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2023 - 15:28

    You could have put a ratty old case on it to make it look old. But now they will be looking for it…

    • CyberMurning on 25/11/2023 - 15:37
      +3

      my friend bought expensive laptop here brought it to japan and over there went to daiso to buy bunch of anime stickers and put all over the laptop to make it looks ugly and old

    • plmko on 25/11/2023 - 16:13

      Item value is not based on condition.

      • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2023 - 16:30

        Yeah but if it looks years old they will assume you've had it since before the trip.

        • idonotknowwhy on 26/11/2023 - 17:52
          +1

          Not if they read the front page posts on ozbargain :)

          • AustriaBargain on 26/11/2023 - 17:53
            +2

            @idonotknowwhy: That NSA AI supercomputer Snowden talked about probably has already read it and knows whose account it belongs to. But it wouldn't reveal its hand over an iPhone so he should be okay.

            • CowFrogHorse on 13/12/2023 - 17:58

              @AustriaBargain: is this the same super computer that has never predicated any of the 100s of gun massacres in USA or the Hamas operation in Gaza last month ?

  • 2jzzzz on 25/11/2023 - 15:46
    +1

    You can and they can apply penalty rates if not declared, plus a credit card surcharge when you pay it.

    TRS is for goods not coming back.

  • T-man on 25/11/2023 - 16:03
    +5

    It's not worth your time and hassle. If you're bringing the item back, simply don't claim it and enjoy your trip.

  • Kenb0 on 25/11/2023 - 16:31
    +1

    Had a friend flagged for bringing engagement ring he bought his gf(where they were getting engaged) and he did indeed get pulled aside on arrival back to Australia

    • bobbified on 26/11/2023 - 13:33
      +1

      I wonder if he gave the ring to his gf (got engaged overseas) and she brought it back with it on her finger, would she have to pay the GST on it on the way in?

      • fox81 on 27/11/2023 - 22:42
        +2

        not sure if i know kenb0, but this was me, and she was wearing it on return.
        we were definitely flagged and they knew what they were looking for.
        the question is phrased as are you brining any item into the country where gst hasnt been paid and the value is greater than $900. we both said no on the landing card. i maintained i wasnt, and she obviously didnt know the value of the item, or that the TRS was completed (i did it without her knowledge on departure).

        in the end i only paid the gst amount.

        worst case is you pay duty and gst, depending on the item

        • Subada on 29/11/2023 - 21:09

          Did you and your fiance/wife go through customs together?

          • fox81 on 29/11/2023 - 21:29
            +1

            @Subada: alas yes. ideally i would have sent her thru on her own first

    • sauce2k on 28/11/2023 - 11:55
      +1

      simple trick is give it to someone else to bring it back in. not encouraging this behaviour but they wouldn't know.

  • brendanm on 25/11/2023 - 16:37
    +23

    Why are ozbargainers so happy for people to get the TRS refund and not pay tax, but get upset at other ways people avoid or flat out defraud the tax system?

    • KaTst3R on 26/11/2023 - 16:39
      +16

      Because most Ozbargainers also claim TRS refund but have no balls to do a major tax fraud.

    • abb on 27/11/2023 - 11:19
      +2

      Why are ozbargainers so happy for people to get the TRS refund and not pay tax

      Are they? Lot of people saying that OP should pay the tax.

      • Nebargains on 27/11/2023 - 14:56
        +1

        People have for as long as I can remember openly talked on Ozbargain and Whirlpool about buying something and using the TRS scheme to get the tax back.

  • Ocker on 25/11/2023 - 17:15

    You can bring the item back and offset the GST refund against the $900 import limit you are allowed.

    • 2jzzzz on 25/11/2023 - 17:19
      +4

      Once you exceed your allowance, you forfeit it all

  • redfox1200 on 25/11/2023 - 17:45
    +8

    Returning to Australia with your TRS goods

    If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to AUD 900 worth of goods into Australia duty-free, or AUD 450 if you are younger than 18. Families travelling together can pool this allowance (a couple with one child can bring in a total of AUD 900 + AUD 900 + AUD 450 = AUD 2250 worth of goods into Australia without paying duty or GST). This is called your passenger concession.

    if your phone value is less than this you don't need to declare, unless you have other items too above the limit.

    • R n b on 26/11/2023 - 15:24
      +2

      I have returned back plenty of trs items, never been flagged or questioned. This time as well i have iphone 15 trs claimed, lets see what they will do?? Anyway we r three people including a kid…should be ok.

      • PaKoRa on 26/11/2023 - 15:51
        +3

        yeah not only that - there is depreciation on the item…if you been out of country for long enough.

    • whyisave on 27/11/2023 - 16:35

      Everything you said is correct.

      you can bring up to AUD 900 worth of goods into Australia duty-free

      For the benefit of others,
      there's a question on the incoming passenger card,
      which asks exactly this question, and answering this question "No",
      and be at odds with the TRS refund when leaving the country.

      This is the 'gotcha' question.

    • Daabido on 28/11/2023 - 19:24
      +2

      Yeah, but as iPhones become more and more expensive, I have to keep having more kids to get under the threshold.

  • altomic on 25/11/2023 - 18:56
    +6

    post the phone back?

    • ilubbargains on 28/11/2023 - 17:38

      For peace of mind, simply post the packaging and invoices back. If they can't find any packaging/invoice in your luggage, there's no evidence

      • jackspratt on 28/11/2023 - 22:10
        +2

        And if it gets stopped by Customs at postal inspection?

  • Legend279 on 26/11/2023 - 08:18

    Done this many times, they try and be intimidating to scare you. Won’t check on the way back. You will be fine

  • golfer dad on 26/11/2023 - 10:27
    +5

    Over decades of claiming TRS, I have never been pulled up once to be checked despite being advised many times that I have been flagged and will be checked on my return. Many years ago when I first started claiming TRS, I actually declared my iPhone and the custom officer simply said with depreciation and sale prices, the value of your phone will now be under $1k so just waved me through. I don't think he could be bothered with the paperwork or he was more interested in checking people with a food declaration. On a work trip in 2019, a female work colleage claimed an expensive necklace ($4k) and she was read the riot act about being flagged and she will definitely get check when she comes back - she wasn't and went straight out. Ultimately it depends on you on how worried you are about being checked. If you are really worried/nervous about it, declare it on your return and see. Based on my many experiences, the probability seems to be zero or very low.

    • Naoki on 26/11/2023 - 16:07
      +3

      same experience. Officer said same thing, iPhone (electronics) depreciate and waved me on. I don't think they care if you are marginally over the thresholds, but all depends on the officer and what side of bed they rolled out.

  • ribze1 on 26/11/2023 - 15:32
    -4

    Buying an iphone, shows poor judgement therefore definite flagging. More likely to be a mule due to said history of poor judgement.

    • ThithLord on 27/11/2023 - 09:10

      lol, hell hath no fury like an Apple-hating sheep needing to scorn someone who uses Apple products

      • Daabido on 28/11/2023 - 19:26

        I use Apple products and thought it was damn funny.

        • ThithLord on 29/11/2023 - 09:34

          You are one sick puppy

  • gromit on 26/11/2023 - 16:00

    absolutely they can and do flag people if they suspect shenanigans. Wife has been flagged in the past and checked on her return (but not an issue as she was legitimately leaving the item overseas with her mother). Having said that, even flagged won't necessarily get you checked, only so many staff and often far higher priorities.

  • Zapwap on 26/11/2023 - 17:03

    They can certainly flag if the amount you're claiming in the tax is ridiculously high.

    I claim TRS all the time when I travel and never once got pulled up, however, this doesn't mean that they can't. Just make up your mind that in the worst case you'll have to pay the tax back, that's what I do.

    Never heard of a fine as well, maybe if you don't comply then they can seize the items in question. So, take TRS officers' intimidation techniques with a pinch of salt tax.

    • nomadspartan on 28/11/2023 - 16:58

      They fine you if you don't declare or lie to them.

  • OhNoUShiz on 26/11/2023 - 17:15

    So how do you know you have flagged? Will they verbally inform you when you are claiming the GST?

  • TheCad on 26/11/2023 - 17:30
    +1

    I say do it (its money in your pocket in the event you do lose it overseas..) just declare it on the way back in, worst case you pay it back and best case the customers officers say 'thanks for your honesty' and wave you through the line without caring. I don't think they'll be too fussed for the value of an iphone, they'll be after those with Rolex's & jewellery unless its a quiet day.

  • mangolassi on 26/11/2023 - 17:44

    I didn't have this issue when I did a TRS claim on my 14 Pro Max last year. The officer even inspected the phone, going through the settings to get to the serial number to make sure it matched the invoice and he didn't seem to care and didn't question it. Even got searched on my return and didn't get asked regarding the phone.

    However, a few years ago I claimed a camera and the officer said something similar to OP. However, I didn't get searched on return so maybe I got lucky.

  • kaleidoscope on 26/11/2023 - 17:46
    +6

    Wow… Just WOW

    It was only a $170 refund so not really worth it but have heard people doing this all the time with no issue.

    So you are going to bring back…

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Are you asking help to commit tax fraud?

  • idonotknowwhy on 26/11/2023 - 17:47

    What's to stop a dodgy person, from shipping the phone back to themselves via post while overseas, and just having a random $80 phone for the trip back?

    • AustriaBargain on 26/11/2023 - 17:54

      Customs could inspect the package. They never do, but they could.

    • kiitos on 26/11/2023 - 20:10

      Because you also declare the contents and value on mail packages as well. So in theory you could be liable to pay duty on the phone there, or a penalty for false declaration if you declare eg "gift - no value". It's probably unlikely, but you're also creating risk by mailing an expensive phone that could get lost or damaged.

  • illusion99 on 26/11/2023 - 18:06
    +1

    I got flagged and stopped on the way back after claiming on a bunch of jewellery and phone. All they did was put my luggage through the xray machine and let me go. Didn't search or ask any questions. It all really depends on who you get as some staff are really gung ho and some just dont care.

    • factor on 26/11/2023 - 23:20

      How do they flag you? Do you get through passport control ok, then only get picked up at customs/quarantine?
      So - is something printed on your e-gate ticket? At least you'd know to update your declaration if you notice the flagging.

      • quick-dry on 27/11/2023 - 00:50

        it is a code printed on the e-gate ticket.

  • Weezle on 26/11/2023 - 19:52
    -1

    Why are you scared if you're not doing anything wrong? Something doesn't add up there.

  • HCBargain on 26/11/2023 - 20:48

    You just need to give it away as a gift. Are you travelling with someone?
    Many years ago i bought an obscenely priced engagement ring (pre OzB), claimed TRS, and after proposing not up to me if the little lady brings it back.

  • ozbargainsam on 26/11/2023 - 20:52
    +2

    OP: I didn't read any of the conditions of using this 'TRS' thingy - I thought it was just free money with no catches. Why would the officer scare me like this?

    You can probably get away with it, sure, but is it something you want to risk?

  • penting on 26/11/2023 - 21:19

    Definitely. Pre-covid we brought 6 newest iphone back home to indonesia for friends and family that want us to buy it for them here (cheaper and access to newest version as indonesian government had a tussle with apple so they wont let new iphone sold there).

    On the way back custom just bluntly ask if we have the phones with us. Obviously no, so they just xray our luggage and let us go.

  • 2esc on 26/11/2023 - 22:09

    You might be flagged but they dont have the staff to check everyone all the time. They will prioritise.

  • iamnotintheuk on 26/11/2023 - 22:13

    same thing with my friend, got the warning at TRS, nothing at customs on the way back in.

  • eek on 26/11/2023 - 22:53

    Have done multiple refunds from $4k up to over $40k and have never been flagged coming back into the country.

    • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 27/11/2023 - 12:10
      +3

      What did you take out of the country that was worth $440k?

      • nightelves on 27/11/2023 - 14:43
        +5

        Starts with H and ends in n.

      • eek on 27/11/2023 - 16:07
        +3

        HAH! I wish! Should have worded it better. Items were $4K and $40K, not the refunded GST amount! At that time it was camera/lens and engagement ring respectively. I technically didn't bring them back. Partner brought the ring back on her hand instead and camera was a gift ;) I wish it were poppy plant extract or something more exciting.

    • Hyperallergic on 27/11/2023 - 13:36
      +1

      Thank you admitting to tax fraud publicly. We will be in touch with you shortly.

      • ATO
  • Drakesy on 27/11/2023 - 09:25

    The point of the trs is to claim back tax on goods that weren't bought to be used in this country.

    Its effectively fraud unfortunately if it comes back and you've declared that it won't.

    They're within their rights to do that.

  • npnp on 27/11/2023 - 09:56

    Can you claim TRS and when asked tell them straightaway that you're intending to bring it back under concession? This shouldn't be an issue right? (As long as the item is under $900). Would customs say 'nah, this system is for goods going out, not for those coming back again' something like that? I'm going overseas in Christmas and was going to declare that I'm bringing it back with me under concession (it's for a camera, travelling with family so claiming for full family concession). Why would I lie if that's exactly what I'm going to do? Any previous experience someone has done this before?

    • PissLUR on 27/11/2023 - 11:05

      If the item is less than $900, they won't ask if you're bring them back.

      • npnp on 27/11/2023 - 14:24

        Item is more than that but since I'm travelling with my family hoping to get the family combined concession (in our case up to 2700 AUD) but the question is whether I can tell the truth about item being brought back when we return. TRS means 'Tourist refund scheme' so not meant for this exercise?? That's what I want to clarify.

        • ddxsamx on 27/11/2023 - 15:10
          +1

          If you are genuinely travelling with the family and a combined concession, I would not hesitate to tell them I would be bringing it back in. (I have done this multiple times)

          They can say whatever they want.. at the end of the day, if you satisfy all of the criteria, tell them confidently you're travelling with family and under the concession and they will have nothing to respond to you with.

          They don't know you're travelling with people, so they will straight up ask.

          edit: although, you may need to research this further as I just found this article, and I cannot find anywhere about concessions anymore..

          https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/nasty-change-tour…

          • bauser99 on 27/11/2023 - 19:18
            +1

            @ddxsamx: Interesting! Having said that it looks like you can still bring back the goods provided they are under the $900/person concession….

            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.

        • PissLUR on 27/11/2023 - 15:27
          +3

          i wouldn't talk or share detailed info if not asked.

  • lint on 27/11/2023 - 10:10

    It's not outside the realm of possibility that they may genuinely flag you, but from my family's experience they say it try catch out those who will be returning with the goods they're claiming TRS on. As long as you know the rules, we've heard them say countless times that we've been flagged to check whether we've got the goods upon entry. Not once has that been true, though I see several people have genuinely been flagged.

  • joelmuzz on 27/11/2023 - 15:26

    Yes. You are flagged anyway for claiming the refund and if the officer was in your face on the way out then you can bet they probably added a note to the database if they felt you were lying.
    They know and can access a lot without warrants, lots more than police.

  • Erkel on 27/11/2023 - 15:49
    -1

    The fact that you said you were scared I take as meaning you lied to officer about not bringing the phone back. Can you be flagged? Yes. Will you be pulled aside on return? Maybe. Depends on the officer and/or how busy they are etc.

    Don't lie if you don't like the consequences. You might get lucky, iPhones are low value items, they might not consider it worth the effort.

    I've travelled heaps with expensive watches and I was always honest whether I'll be returning with them or not. Only time I was pulled aside for questioning was bringing a $100K G-Shock watch from Japan. Other than that never had problems.

    • illusion99 on 27/11/2023 - 22:02

      What's the reference number for that 100k G-shock?!

  • cyrax83 on 27/11/2023 - 16:02

    Yes I've been flagged for a decently sized TRS refund. When I returned into the country, the officer knew what flight I was on and after I did the passport scan, they escorted me to check my bags.

    • FullTimeClown on 28/11/2023 - 06:10

      when you say decent size, how much was the refund? I got flagged for $600 refund

    • cnitsuj on 28/11/2023 - 09:34

      Did they find your item and did you have to pay the GST back?

      • cyrax83 on 28/11/2023 - 10:18
        +1

        No I did not have the item with me on my return. But if I did, they would have charged me the refund, and maybe fined me potentially. I guess this is just to serve a warning that yes you can be flagged and yes they will check on your return.

        • nomadspartan on 28/11/2023 - 17:00

          They will only fine you if you lie to them or don't declare the item.

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