Claiming Your GST Back When You Leave Australia

Being the most opted backpacker hostel, Mumma’s hostel has hosted many travellers and backpackers in Northbridge who are travelling through Australia on a tight budget. This blog aims to help such people who wish to save money on their purchases as we are sure that many travellers are unaware that they can claim their GST back when they head back to their country.

Before the refund scheme, the travellers needed to show their passport and tickets to buy duty-free articles from suppliers. The goods purchased this way would remain sealed till the travellers pass the security check on the airport. 

The refund scheme has changed the whole buying experience of the travellers, making the buying process equivalent to the buying process of any other Australian.  How? Read on!

What Is The Tourist Refund Scheme?

The TRS or Tourist Refund Scheme allows you to get your GST back at the time you are flying back to your country. The scheme is confined to a few goods, including electronics, when bought in Australia. The purchased goods should leave with you to your country, on your carry-on luggage. The following are the airports from where you can initiate the request for a GST refund:

• Melbourne
• Sydney
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Adelaide
• Darwin
• Cairns
• Coolangatta

Conditions To Claim Your GST Back

In order to claim a GST refund, you and your purchase need to meet the following criteria.

1. You need to buy the goods in person, before 60 days from your departure
2. The total amount of good purchased should be more than AUD 300
3. You should have a valid invoice of your purchase
4. Your purchase should be with you in your carry-on luggage

Goods Not Under The Tourist Refund Scheme

• Medicines
• Alcohol 
• Cigarettes
• Services (on Hotels, Backpacker Hostels, Restaurants, and like)
• Already Used Products Like Perfume

Note: You can ask for GST refunds on laptops, mobile phones, cameras, and more, that you purchased and used during your visit or stay. 

Things You Will Need For Requesting A GST Refund

The refund can be both, in cash as well as on credit card but you will need to have the following while you are at the refund desk on the airport:

• Passport
• Boarding Pass
• Receipts Of Goods Purchased
• The Goods 

Hope this article helps the future travellers and backpackers in Northbridge, Perth, and actually save their receipts to get a GST return, in turn saving more money. If you are looking for a quality yet affordable backpacker hostel, contact Mumma’s Hostel. Call us at 0490 888 766 to book a stay with us now!