Feeling like you paid too much tax on your Aussie shopping?

If you’re leaving Australia with items you bought here — whether you’re a tourist or Aussie heading overseas — you might qualify to get some of the GST (and in some cases Wine Equalisation Tax) back through the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS).

✅ Key takeaways

• ✅ Spend $300 or more at a single retailer (including GST), and buy within 60 days before your departure. 

• ✅ You must have a valid tax invoice: store ABN, purchase date, GST shown, itemised descriptions, etc. 

• ✅ The goods must be taken out of Australia — in your carry-on or worn. If they’re oversized or need to go in checked baggage (liquids, aerosols, gels etc.), there’s a special process with Border Force. 

• ✅ Anyone who buys and takes the goods overseas qualifies — not just tourists. Australian residents are eligible too. 

• ✅ Excluded things: services (hotels, tours, car hire), used or partially consumed goods, alcohol other than wine with WET, tobacco, dangerous goods. 

• ✅ At the airport, arrive with enough time (about 90 minutes suggested before flight), have your passport, boarding pass, goods, and tax invoices ready. You can use the ABF’s TRS app beforehand to speed things up via QR codes. 

• ✅ Refunds typically take up to 60 business days. How fast depends on your refund method (credit card, bank account, cheque). 

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- Want more detail? Read the full article Claiming Your TRS Refund in Australia on our site.

- Visit our homepage for more tax tips & accounting advice: Baron Tax & Accounting