I'm a travel bargain aficionado, this airport hack saves me big bucks

While the list of requirements to make a claim under the Tourist Refund Scheme appears quite long, it’s actually pretty easy to score a little bonus as you exit Australia.

When you love travelling, but don’t earn the big bucks, sometimes you have to get a little creative.

From house-sitting stints to save up money for those big adventures to nabbing cut-price airline tickets, or buying books for the road from the op-shop, I’ve always got my eyes on the dollar-saving prize.

Once, in a questionable spur-of-the-moment decision, I even left my car (admittedly a pretty lousy one) at a regional railway station near Victoria’s Avalon Airport to save on parking while I headed to India for three weeks. Unfortunately, my ageing wheels were still there on my return.

But one of my smarter money-stretching moves has been cottoning on to Australia’s Tourist Refund Scheme, which is available at international airports or seaports. While the name is a little confusing, this ripper of an idea is not just for overseas tourists, but applies to anyone leaving the country who meets the criteria.

And while the list of requirements appears quite long, it’s actually pretty easy to score a little bonus as you exit Australia (note: refunds may take up to 60 days, so it’s more of a post-holiday perk).

One of my smarter money-stretching moves has been cottoning on to Australia’s Tourist Refund Scheme.

The scheme allows travellers to claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax or Wine Equalisation Tax paid on certain goods bought in Australia. The deal is you must spend at least $300 on physical goods from a supplier with an Australian Business Number within 60 days of departure. And those goods must be going on holiday with you.

When you turn up at the airport, or seaport, you must take your passport (obviously), boarding pass, and the original paper tax invoice for items bought, including the amount of tax paid, the total price and date of purchase. If your purchase exceeds $1000, the invoice must include your name as it appears on your passport. The basic rule of thumb is that GST is a tax of 10 per cent, so if you brought something worth $99 including GST, you’ll get $9 back.

In the past, I’ve timed the purchase of computer accessories and an iPhone (bought outright) around upcoming trips, getting a tidy little refund for minimal effort.

I timed the purchase of an iPhone (bought outright) around an upcoming trip, getting a tidy little refund for minimal effort.

And with my latest phone just dying, I’m wondering if it’s time to again book an overseas trip, simply so I can visit the TRS office again for a little refund. You and I both know it makes perfect fiscal sense.

Other travellers have claimed for GST on items such as jewellery, bags, cosmetics, artwork, clothing, watches, footwear and homewares, for example.

I’ve also just learnt you can also use this dollar-saving strategy on some oversized goods, such as a surfboard or golf clubs, not that I was really thinking of investing in a new five iron. However if you’re thinking of claiming for fireworks, hair implants, gift vouchers, or GST-free goods such as medication and abalone – or a fair few other things – you’re out of luck.

To get a refund on smaller goods, you’ll need to be ready to take them as carry-on luggage.

In Melbourne, the TRS office is just after customs. When I last visited, I got lucky with barely a queue, but there can be big lines, so allow plenty of time if you’re trying for a tax refund on your way out.

To get a refund on smaller goods, you’ll need to be ready to take them as carry-on luggage. But for oversized items, you must visit the Australian Border Force Client Services counter before checking in. They’ll verify your invoice, which you can then present to the TRS office after you’ve made it through customs.

One last tip: if you’re returning to Australia with the goods, don’t forget to declare them on your way back in, via your incoming passenger card. 

If you’re returning to Australia with the goods, don’t forget to declare them on your way back in.

The general limit for duty-free goods is $900 per adult or $450 per child, but there are some exceptions to this and you may be able to boost your limits by combining family members.

And if you want to speed things up on your day of departure, pre-fill your info via the TRS app.

Bon voyage, fellow bargain hunters.

Originally published as I'm a travel bargain aficionado, this airport hack saves me big bucks