Tax refund for travellers

Overseas visitors can claim back the VAT on goods bought at designated tax-free stores when leaving China. Most people leave money on the table because they do not know the ¥200 minimum or the instant-refund option. Here is what actually applies.

• Overseas visitor (foreign passport, or HK / Macau / Taiwan residents).
• Stay in mainland China no more than 183 consecutive days.
• Goods bought and taken out within 90 days of purchase, and not yet used or consumed.
• Bought at a store displaying the tax-free logo and issued a departure-tax refund application form.

At participating stores, you get the refund on the spot. The store / agent puts a credit-card pre-authorisation on hold; if you leave from a designated port within the promised window and meet the rules, the pre-authorisation is released and counts as your refund.

• Bring your passport — the store checks it before issuing the form.
• If you do NOT leave as promised, the agent reclaims the pre-authorisation (no refund).

1. At the tax-free store: ask for the refund form with your passport and invoice.
2. At departure: show goods, the form, and your passport to Customs for verification (goods must be with you).
3. At the refund counter in the departure lounge: collect cash (≤¥20,000), bank transfer, or wallet.

• "Minimum is ¥500." → Wrong since 2025: it is ¥200 per store per day.
• "Only at the airport." → Wrong: 即买即退 gives it to you in the store.
• "Cash cap ¥10,000." → Wrong since 2025: up to ¥20,000 in cash.
• "Flat 11%." → Wrong: 11% (or 8%) minus a 2% fee, so about 9% in practice.