Australian customs

[Bubba Gump]

Thanks Far side,

I was in the process of finding the correct number to give them a call myself. Could only find a toll free number that I couldn't dial from overseas! Thanks again to all, I now feel a lot more confident about bringing my fishing gear back.

Cheers

[themissus]

Thanks from me also for all the info. We are heading to the Solomon Islands next Sunday and I hadn't considered there might be a problem getting back in with any of the gear we are taking.
Cheers Kim.

[Bubba Gump]

Thanks from me also for all the info. We are heading to the Solomon Islands next Sunday and I hadn't considered there might be a problem getting back in with any of the gear we are taking.
Cheers Kim.

You lucky sod!!

[themissus]

Gear packed and ready to go, just waiting for the days to tick over, they are going sooooo slow.
Cheers Kim.

[Roo]

5 to go

[insideout]

[quote=Bubba Gump;748903]Thanks for all the helpful info.

As far as paying duty on my new equipment goes I am not sure. I am a resident in Paris/France so surely what equipment I buy over here, I should not have to pay duty on when traveling back to Australia. I only come back for between 4-6 weeks of the year. Surely every person that travels to Australia on a fishing trip doesn't have to pay duty on the new gear they have purchased for the trip?

Cheers

ahhh..........i could handle being a resident in paris.......sweet!

[Roo]

to take it a step further....I recently found out you can claim the GST back on gear purchased here when you go overseas as a tourist, so long as it is on a "Tax Invoice" totalling more than $300 and has the GST component clearly defined.....and you must have bought it no more than 30 days before departure. i was spewing i'd got a new surfboard for my trip....36 days before departure. all the major fishing gear purchases were well before that so i can't claim a cracker!!!!

Cheers Roo.

[Janelle]

Roo is right you can claim the GST back at the airport if you do have your Tax Invoice, it is over $300 and taken out of the country within 30days of purchasing the item. However the goods must be hand carried or in your carry on luggage. If the goods don't fit in cabin baggage limits they are not eligible. It is called the TRS (tourist refund scheme). Primarily designed to encourage tourist to buy here and export our goods.

Keep in mind if you are an Aussie though that when you bring the goods back they may be subject to GST. If the value of the goods you bought here, together with overseas purchases exceeds your passenger concession limit then you have to declare them on your return to Australia. We used to do this all the time with people buying jewellery and believe me if you get caught not declaring then you have to pay the GST as well as cop a fine.

If you live overseas it is a completely different matter. You do not have to pay GST on the goods you bring into the country to use on your trip, they are just part of your personal possessions. If you are an Aussie living overseas who is coming back then the rules are slightly different. I think it works on how long you have owned the goods for. It used to be that if you owned it for a year prior to returning then you count them as personal possessions but if you bought it just prior to returning it was counted as a purchase for tax purposes. Not exactly sure of the fine details now.

Cheers,
Janelle