WITH the dollar so strong Australians are heading overseas for shopping bargains, particularly to the US. But there are limits on how much can be brought back to Australia and exceeding them can be expensive.
The limits
When returning to Australia, there is a combined $900 limit on “general goods” you can bring in tax free (in addition to duty-free alcohol and tobacco). There is no limit per item, so if you want to bring $900 worth of perfume, you can do so.
Families travelling together can pool their allowances but if you exceed your limit, you can be charged tax on all your purchases, not just the items that exceed the limit. It is not a case of whether you get asked, either, because all travellers must make a declaration on their incoming passenger card.
The exemptions
Clothes and footwear are exempt from the $900 limit, so baggage allowances are your only consideration if you want to restock your wardrobe. Australian traveller Kirk Muddle returned home from a recent trip to the US with “a ludicrous amount of clothing”, saying it is a great time to be shopping there.
“When you can buy Calvin Klein jeans at $29 a pair; of course, you buy three pairs,” Muddle says. “I left home with one bag and came home with three.” He says another bargain he found was… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
