Complete Guide to China Tax Refund
Essential Shopping Guide for International Visitors
🎯 Who is Eligible for Tax Refunds?
If you are a foreign national or visitor from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan who has resided in mainland China for no more than 183 consecutive days, you can apply for departure tax refunds.
💰 How Much Can You Save?
- Minimum Purchase: RMB 200 per store per day to qualify for refunds
- Refund Rate: Up to 11% tax refund (equivalent to 10% discount on purchases)
- 13% VAT items → 11% refund
- 9% VAT items → 8% refund
🛍️ What Items Are Eligible?
Refundable Items: Clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, bags, electronics, gifts, tea, porcelain, traditional Chinese medicine, time-honored Chinese brands, and other consumer goods
Non-Refundable Items: Items prohibited from export, goods already enjoying duty-free policies
📋 Tax Refund Process (3 Simple Steps)
Step 1: Obtain Tax Refund Form When Shopping
- Shop at stores displaying “Tax Refund” signs
- Present your passport or travel permit when checking out
- Request the “Departure Tax Refund Application Form” (stamped invoice)
- Ensure the application form matches your shopping receipts
Step 2: Customs Verification at Departure
- Before departure, bring your passport, shopping receipts, and tax refund application form
- Go to the customs tax refund counter at the departure port
- Customs will verify your goods and stamp the application form for confirmation
Step 3: Collect Your Refund
Traditional Method: Present stamped application form at airport/port tax refund counters
New Method: For stores supporting “Refund-on-Purchase,” you can collect refunds immediately at designated locations
🚀 “Refund-on-Purchase” Service Explained
What is “Refund-on-Purchase”?
Shop and get your tax refund immediately at designated mall locations—no need to wait until the airport! Save time and hassle.
Requirements
- Shop at stores supporting “Refund-on-Purchase”
- Minimum purchase of RMB 200
- Valid ID and credit card (for pre-authorization)
🏙️ Major Cities Tax Refund Guide
🏛️ Beijing
Centralized Refund Points: Wangfu Central Mall Tax Refund Counter
Major Shopping Districts & Malls:
- Wangfujing: Wangfu Central, Oriental Plaza, APM, Beijing Department Store
- Sanlitun: Sanlitun Village
- Others: SKP, China World Mall
Notable Stores:
- International Brands: Luxury brand boutiques
- Time-Honored Chinese Brands: Tongrentang, Lao Fengxiang, Ruifuxiang
- Specialty Items: Tea shops, porcelain stores, traditional medicine shops
Payment Methods: Credit card pre-authorization, cash and bank transfer supported
🏢 Shanghai
Centralized Refund Points: HKRI Taikoo Hui, Shanghai Village
Major Shopping Districts & Malls:
- Nanjing Road: No.1 Department Store, The Place
- Huaihai Road: K11, iapm Mall
- Xujiahui: Plaza 66, Pacific Department Store
- Pudong: IFC Mall, Super Brand Mall
Special Services: Shopping village model—collect refunds on-site and continue shopping
Payment Methods: Cash, bank cards, mobile payments
🌸 Guangzhou
Centralized Refund Points: Tee Mall (first “Refund-on-Purchase” location)
Major Shopping Districts & Malls:
- Tianhe District: Tee Mall, Taikoo Hui, Grandview Mall
- Yuexiu District: Beijing Road Shopping Area
- Haizhu District: Pazhou area malls
Service Features:
- City-wide refund service (500+ tax refund stores)
- Coverage across 11 districts
- Cash available within minutes
🐼 Chengdu
Centralized Refund Points: Chengdu IFS Mall, SKP (planned)
Major Shopping Districts & Malls:
- Chunxi Road: Chengdu IFS, Taikoo Li
- Others: SKP, MixC Mall
Service Scale: 429 tax refund stores, 49 offering “Refund-on-Purchase”
🌊 Shenzhen
Leading Digital Tax Refund City
Major Shopping Districts & Malls:
- Futian District: KK Mall, COCO Park
- Nanshan District: Sea World, MixC Mall
- Luohu District: MixC Mall, KK Mall
Special Services:
- Alipay “Tap-to-Refund”: Open Alipay, tap the refund terminal, scan QR code for instant refund
- Tax refund mini-program: Digital processing
- 1,000+ tax refund stores (most in China)
- Multiple land border refund counters
Refund Locations: Futian Port, Bay Area Port, airports, etc.
💳 Tax Refund Payment Methods
Cash Refund
- Maximum RMB 20,000 per transaction
- Amounts over RMB 20,000 must be processed via bank transfer
Bank Card Refund
- Supports major bank cards
- Faster processing time
Electronic Payment
- Alipay refund (Shenzhen and other cities)
- WeChat Pay (select areas)
equired Documents
- Passport or travel permit for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan visitors
- Shopping receipts
- Tax refund application form
- Departure proof (boarding pass or ticket)
Product Requirements
- Items must be personally carried
- Customs may require on-site product verification
📍 Quick Processing Tips
Recommended Routes
- Plenty of Time: Choose “Refund-on-Purchase” service for immediate refunds after shopping
- Tight Schedule: Traditional airport refunds, but allow sufficient time
Best Practices
- Confirm tax refund availability before shopping (look for “Tax Refund” signs)
- Keep all shopping receipts
- Research refund locations in your city beforehand
- Plan departure time accordingly
