If you're visiting Australia and planning to pick up a guitar, some headphones, or any music gear before you fly home - this one's for you. Australia's Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) lets international travellers claim back the 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax) on purchases made here. It's real money, it's straightforward, and most visitors don't know about it until after they've already left.
What Is the Tourist Refund Scheme?
The TRS is run by the Australian Border Force and lets international travellers claim a refund of the GST paid on goods bought in Australia. For music gear, that means you're effectively getting 10% back on whatever you spend—at the airport, before you board. On a $500 purchase, that's a $50 refund. On a $2,000 guitar, it's $200 back. That adds up.
The Basic Rules
To be eligible, you need to meet a few conditions. You must spend $300 or more (GST inclusive) with a single retailer - either in a single transaction or across multiple transactions with the same retailer. The purchase must be made within 60 days of your departure, the goods must be in your carry-on luggage or available for inspection at the TRS facility, and you must present the original tax invoice at the TRS desk before you go through customs. Always confirm the current rules at the Australian Border Force website before you travel, as conditions can change.
What Counts As a Valid Tax Invoice?
This is the part people sometimes miss. Your receipt needs to be a proper tax invoice, not just a payment receipt. It must show the retailer's name and ABN (Australian Business Number), the date of purchase, a description of the goods, and the GST amount - either itemised or shown as part of the total. When you buy from Mannys, just let us know you'll be making a TRS claim and we'll make sure your receipt has everything you need.
Where to Claim at the Airport
TRS facilities are located at all major Australian international airports—Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Look for the TRS counter in the departures area, past customs. You'll need to arrive with enough time to queue and have your goods inspected, so don't leave it to the last minute. You can also lodge your claim online before you arrive at the airport using the ABF TRS app (available on iOS and Android), which can speed things up at the counter.
What Kind of Gear Makes Sense to Buy?
Almost everything we sell qualifies—as long as it hits that $300 threshold and fits in your carry-on or can be shown to ABF officers. Popular choices from international visitors include guitars (acoustic, electric, and bass) from Gibson, Fender, Taylor, PRS, and more; studio-grade headphones from Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic, and Sony; audio interfaces from Focusrite, Universal Audio, and MOTU; effects pedals; and DJ gear & controllers from Pioneer DJ/ AlphaTheta, Rane, and Native Instruments.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Buy
Australian power is 230V/50Hz. If you're buying something with a power supply - an amp, an audio interface, a keyboard - make sure it's compatible with your home country's voltage and plug type, or that it comes with a universal power supply. Our staff can check this with you before you buy.
Your warranty is valid in Australia — if something goes wrong, you're covered. You'll need to arrange and cover the cost of shipping the item to us and back, but we'll handle everything in between. Ask our staff about warranty terms before you buy and we'll give you the full picture.
Depending on your home country and currency, Australian retail prices can be very sharp - especially when you factor in the TRS refund on top.
Come In and Talk to Us
Our staff are musicians and gear people. We're not going to try and sell you something that doesn't work when you get home. If you're visiting Australia and you want to make the most of your time here - whether that's one purchase or a full rig refresh - come into one of our stores and have a chat. We have stores in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. You can also browse and buy at mannys.com.au, and we ship Australia-wide.