I'm shortly heading to Australia (on a student visa) and have read somewhere that if you're bringing your own laptop and you don't have proof that it's over 12mths old then you'll have to pay GST!! Unfortunately for me, although my laptop will be over 12mths old, I actually only purchased it a couple of months ago. Does anybody know how I might get around the tax issue - I don't want to have to pay tax in Oz when I've already paid it here in the UK.

Any help greatly appreciated

Thanks

Can only speak from personal experience here - we brought over our laptop on the plane, it was only 3 months old, but no one questionned it in customs - good job really, because the receipt was in a container somewhere in the Pacific at the time!!!

I agree Liliy
Brought mine over on the plane with me no one took any notice of it even though they knew what it was so don't worry if I was you

Can you claim back the UK VAT if you are exporting the machine ?

I've never been quizzed on mine even though I bought it in Oz before the GST regime began.

You will need a means of plugging into Aussie Mains (why not bring a UK four socket strip and wire an Aussie plug on the end when you arrive ?). It's the same, or similar voltage (220/240 volts).

You will also need an adaptor or substitute modem lead.

Don't expect to be able to work much with it on the plane if you travel economy and the jerk in front reclines his seat you've no chance. Some airlines don't even allow you to use then onboard.

If you go via Singapore Airport you may be able to avail of free Infra Red terminals and connectto the web for free as long as you laptop battery lasts out.

Also consider obtaining a cheap domain name with Email forwarding, configure Outlook Express (or your other Email Client) to give out a reply address of say '[email protected]' and have your domain name forward Emails to '[email protected]' when you are in the UK and '[email protected]' when you are downunder. Then just keep paying the annual bills for the domain name.

If the organization you buy the domain name off doesn't have this Email forwarding service http://www.mydomain.com does.

Thanks for the comments - maybe I'm just worrying over nothing. I think I might just take a chance.

Cheers

No problem with my laptop coming in as well. Brought it in the laptop bag with all the cables. Just make sure you have an Aussie power adaptor handy.

Had more trouble with them interested in inspecting my shoes (which were clean, of course)!