Chinapedia | Shop now in China! Foreign tourists' complete tax refund guide

Lifestyle

2025.04.28 09:20

The instant tax refund policy enhances foreign visitors' shopping experience in China (File Photo)

As China witnesses a surge in international tourism, the government has rolled out a series of measures to enhance convenience for foreign visitors, including the newly launched instant tax refund policy introduced in April. Designed to streamline the shopping experience, the policy allows eligible travelers to claim instant VAT refunds at designated stores.

Who is eligible to get a tax refund? What are the procedures for applying for a tax refund? Here is a complete guide for foreign travelers!

Two France visitors just finished shopping in China (File Photo)

Eligibility Criteria

Visitor Status:
- Foreign passport holders.
- Residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan with valid travel documents.
- Individuals who have not resided in mainland China for more than 183 consecutive days.
Purchase Requirements:
- Minimum single-day expenditure of 500 RMB at the same tax-refund store.
- Items must be purchased within 90 days prior to departure and remain unused/unopened.

Tax Refund Rate

The tax refund rate is 11% or 8%. The refund agency will charge 2% for the service, so the amount of refund tax a traveler gets is 9% or 6% of the commodity prices.

Tax Refund Procedures

Visitors need to claim the Refund Application Form for Overseas Visitors and the ordinary VAT invoice from the store by presenting their passports.
Upon departure, visitors need to present to the Chinese customs:
- Tax refund goods
- Refund Application Form for Overseas Visitors
- Invoice
- Passport or other valid ID
After the customs have checked the above documents, visitors need to go to the tax refund agency and provide:
- Passport or other valid ID
- Refund application form verified by customs
- Invoices for tax refund goods

Refund Application Form for Overseas Visitors (Shanghai Municipal Offce For Port Services)

Instant Tax Refund

Visitors can get an immediate tax refund at stores with signs of "Tax Free" or "Tax Refund". The streamlined process enables tourists to instantly reinvest their cash refunds into further purchases, stimulating greater consumer engagement and expenditure.