welcome to my blog

Published: April 11, 2023

International travel from Australia is experiencing a surge as COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, allowing travelers to finally visit those incredible destinations they’ve been dreaming of for so long. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure purposes, now is the perfect time to pack your bags and embark on your next adventure. With the global vaccination efforts well underway and many countries reopening their borders to tourists, there are countless opportunities to explore new cultures, indulge in exotic cuisine, and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. So why wait? Start planning your next international trip today and get ready to experience all the world has to offer.

After completing their shopping, both international travelers and Australian residents may be eligible to receive a refund for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and/or Wine Equalization Tax (WET) on certain items they take out of the country by ship or aircraft. This program, called the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS), is an initiative of the Australian Government. The TRS is applicable for goods that are purchased from a retailer who has an ABN and is registered for GST, and the prices of which include GST or WET.

So, let’s delve into the process of successfully claiming the TRS and at the end I would also share some tips which I think could be useful in this purpose.

Claiming TRS

Travelers can claim the TRS at the international airport if their purchases meet the following requirements:

  • Goods are purchased from a single business with the same Australian business number (ABN), but not different stores within that business if they have different ABNs
  • Goods must total AUD$300 (including GST) or more
  • Goods are purchased within 60 days of departing Australia
  • You must have the original paper tax invoice/s for the goods
  • You must get a valid paper tax invoice in English with:
  • your name (and only your name) as it appears in your passport if the invoice is $1,000 or more
  • a description of the goods that allows TRS officials to match the goods to the invoice
  • the retailer’s name, address and ABN (ACNs and ARNs not accepted)
  • the amount of GST or WET paid (or total price including GST)
  • the date of purchase
  • You, as the travelling passenger, must have paid for the goods yourself
  • You carry or wear the goods on-board the aircraft or ship as cabin baggage unless they are oversized or subject to aviation security measures (and the airline requires them to be checked in as “hold” luggage)
  • Residents of Australia’s external territories (e.g., Christmas Island, Norfolk Island, and the Keeling Islands) can also get a GST refund if they export the goods to their home territory as baggage or as cargo
  • You must have oversized, and restricted goods sighted by ABF Client services before checking in andtake the stamped invoices to the TRS Facility on the day of departure
  • You must claim in person by showing your passport, boarding pass and original tax invoices to the TRS Facility on the day of your departure: 
  • more than 30 minutes before your scheduled departure at an airport
  • 1-4 hours before your scheduled departure at a seaport
  • Declare any goods you bring back to Australia, for which a TRS claim was made by you or another person when the goods left Australia.
  • On returning to Australia, you must declare the goods at Question 3 on your Incoming Passenger Card (IPC)
  • Penalties may apply if you fail to declare these items
  • 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. 

Allowances for TRS (Dos)

  • You can make several purchases over several days
  • You can calculate the GST refund amount yourself by dividing the total price in dollars by 11
  • You can ask your domestic airline to make your goods available to you before your international connection
  • Take your passport to ensure the name on the passport is the same on the tax invoice
  • Only claim at your last port of departure from Australia (this may be different to where you originally boarded your aircraft or cruise ship)
  • Only get refunds paid to you or another person by:
  • credit card (Amex, Diners, JCB, MasterCard, Union Pay, Visa)
  • Australian bank account
  • mailed cheque (not recommended)

 

TRS restrictions (don’ts)

TRS has a large number of restrictions that must be understood before applying. Here they are in full:

You can’t

  • get a cash refund
  • use photocopied, reprinted or duplicate invoices
  • ship goods separately
  • claim:
    • when it is less than 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time
    • at a domestic airport
    • online
    • before the day of departure
    • after you leave Australia
    • if you are operating air or sea crew
    • if you are buying for a business
    • if the invoice has a name other than your own as the buyer
    • alcohol except wine with alcohol content less than 22%
    • tobacco and tobacco products
    • dangerous goods which are prohibited on an aircraft or ship for safety reasons; liquids, gas cylinders and fireworks
    • goods wholly or partially consumed in Australia; food, drinks, perfume
    • cosmetic enhancements that are attached permanently; hair implants, dental work / implants, hair extensions and breast implants
    • gift cards and vouchers; goods purchased with gift cards or vouchers are eligible for a refund subject to all other TRS requirements being met
    • unaccompanied goods; freighted and posted goods unless the goods are being exported to an External Australian Territory by a resident of that territory
    • goods purchased overseas and imported into Australia
    • GST-free goods; abalone, baby food, medications, medical aids and appliances, lenses for prescription spectacles, nebulisers, CPAP breathing machines
    • services; accommodation, taxis and tours, house plans and drawings, car rental, shipping/postage charges, warranties and labour charges, training and educational courses or the course documents/materials (physical or digital).

 

Starting the Process by Lodging online

You can complete your claim online before you fly. This process won’t actually lodge it, but it can reduce your time at an airport TRS facility, as the officer won’t have to type in all your details. The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs has developed online and mobile Tourist Refund Scheme apps that allow you to enter the information required.

These apps allow you to store details in a Quick Response (QR) code that can be scanned at some TRS facilities. To lodge your TRS claim in Australia with apps you must:

  • Enter your travel details
  • Enter details of the goods for which you are claiming a refund of GST and/or WET
  • Enter how you prefer to receive your tax refund
  • If you have more than ten invoices, enter them in batches of ten and print a QR code for each batch
  • On your departure day, present the TRS facility your goods, original paper tax invoices and QR codes

On The Day of Departure (Most Important):

I will now detail the process of lodging the claim at the airport, specifically at Sydney International Airport, as this was where I began my travel. Please note that the following description and all the photos provided pertain to those who wish to lodge the claim at the TRS facility at Sydney International Airport, as this will be their final port before departing Australia.

As you arrive at the airport you would see the information desk along with some retailers and a few signage where it says Rideshare & Pick-up. This is a very spacious area and with lots of displays. It is also located at level 1. Now, to get to TRS office you keep going down the hallway towards Arrivals B.

As you come near the end, you would notice the signage for Australian Border Force – TRS ABF Client Services – which would be on the next level.

After taking the lift, as you come up to the level 2, there you would find the TRS office. Depending on the time of the day and number of people present at the time of your visit, you might have to wait a bit until your turn comes. The officers would sight the invoices as well as the goods however, they would only sign off those invoices for which the concerning items you intend to carry only inside your checked baggage or as oversized item.

In short, the TRS facility at level 2 would sign off those items that you don’t carry with you. And hence, since you still have few items to take with you in your carry-on luggage, all those invoices would be left out at this stage.

 

Once your items have been verified and the invoices signed, you will return to level 1 to check in your baggage at the counter of your airline. After checking in your baggage, you will proceed to the immigration procedure. Upon entering the departure terminal, you will join the immigration queue which typically takes only a few minutes, depending on your travel document.

After completing the immigration process, you will arrive on the other side of the terminal where you will find all the duty-free shops. The final step in claiming your refund is to locate the TRS office within the departure terminal and present any items that you still have in your carry-on luggage. The TRS office is located on the left-hand side near gate 8. Once you show them the items, they will verify the claim and provide you with a receipt indicating the amount you will receive. That’s it! In the next few days, the refund will be deposited into your nominated account (if you selected bank transfer as your preferred method of receiving the refund).

Helpful Tips To Maximize Your Gain

Tips:

  • Lodge TRS online and get a QR Code
  • Have your invoices printed in case of digital copies (Make sure the invoices have “TAX INVOICE” written on them)
  • Got some big-ticket items to purchase that you want to claim the GST? Well, you only got some sixty (60) days from the day you purchase till the day you claim. So, buying too early during a sale might come with a loss later! (Keep Reading)
  • You can buy as much clothing you would like; you can bring all of it back. But for the rest, its only up to 900 AUD worth that you get exemption. So, buying big ticket electronics can get you out of concession quickly!
  • Purchasing from Amazon (AU) is NOT recommended unless the item itself is worth more than 300 AUD as Amazon doesn’t give you invoices with their ABN in most cases. You have to collect the invoice form individual seller for each item. So, if you want to make several purchases with smaller amounts Amazon is not the best option.
  • For smaller amounts purchasing from MYER, JB HI-FI, Officeworks etc. are recommended as for all the items I purchased from MYER for instance, such as bags, pans, clothing etc. always had MYER ABN on them. It is worth noting that MYER marketplace items have MYER ABN instead of the ABN of that individual seller. And since the ABN is same, all those purchases count towards 300 AUD threshold.

 

 

For more information, visit the website, email trs@abf.gov.au or

Telephone:
If you are calling the TRS from within Australia: 1300 555 043
If you are calling the TRS from outside Australia: +61 2 6245 5499.

References

  • Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS), Australian Border Force
  • Tourist Refund Scheme, Australian Government, Australian Taxation Office
  • Tourist Refund Scheme, Sydney Airport

error: Content is protected !!