A further minor point - if you reclaim the GST on exit you should then
declare the items on re-entry as Michael said - and there is a limit of
$900 on the amount you can bring in duty-free, so you could be charged GST
on the difference between $900 and the price you paid. If travelling with a
partner you can pool your allowances to get $1800 exempt.
I have never quite understood the rules - if I do that with an item on one
trip and then take that item overseas again do I have to re-declare it next
time I come in?
On 16 January 2017 at 09:09, Martin Butterfield <>
wrote:
> I was interested in Michael's comments (not that I expect to visit anywhere
> in the USA in the next 4 years) as the relative pricing seemed to go
> against my experience. However he is, to use an appropriate metaphor,
> right on the money.
>
> I did a quick and nasty comparison, picking one shop in SF and one high-end
> model of binoculars as a test case. I used my favourite Australian purveyor
> of optical goods and the same model of binoculars as the benchmark. The SF
> price was ~$US1950 and the Australian price ~$A2600. After adjusting for
> exchange rates, saving GST on the Australian price and adding on SF sales
> tax it emerged that the Australian price was much (~15%) better.
>
> Of course that might reflect the model I chose and the shops I chose. But
> I'd certainly suggest doing the research before devoting a chunk of limited
> time in SF to acquiring the optics over there.
>
> One further point is that saving the GST in Australia requires accessing
> the TRS facility in the airport on departure. While that is now a lot
> better than it was, I'd still allow at least an hour between clearing
> Security and boarding your flight for that process.
>
> Martin
>
> Martin Butterfield
> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>
> On 16 January 2017 at 06:53, Michael Hunter <>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > > From: Michael Hunter <>
> > > Date: 16 January 2017 6:49:43 am AEDT
> > > To: "" <>
> > > Cc:
> > > Subject: Optics
> > >
> > > Try googling " binoculars San Francisco."
> > > Unfortunately prices in currency adjusted terms are about the same.
> > > On top of that you pay State sales tax in California.
> > > You might try buying them tax free in Aus before you leave but would
> > need to declare them on your departure, and to be legal, on your return
> if
> > you personally bring them back into Aus. when they might be recorded on
> > computer even if you don't .
> > >
> > > Good Luck. There is some good birding in the vicinity if you
> > rent a car and drive, again check Google.
> > >
> > > Cheers. Michael
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > <HR>
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