Practical guide
Claim a departure tax refund on eligible China shopping
How eligible overseas travelers obtain the application form at a tax-refund shop, complete Customs verification, and collect a refund at departure.
Eligible overseas travelers can request a departure tax refund for qualifying personal goods bought at registered tax-refund shops. The process requires documents from the shop, Customs verification when departing, and an application to the refund agent.
A clear next step
- At a registered tax-refund shop, present your valid identity document and ordinary VAT invoice or electronic ordinary invoice, then request the Departure Tax Refund Application Form.
- Keep the goods, invoice, identity document, and application form available for Customs verification when leaving China.
- After Customs stamps the application form, submit your valid identity document and Customs-verified form to the refund agent in the departure-port restricted area.
Sources & verification
Last verified
- 国家税务总局关于修改《境外旅客购物离境退税管理办法（试行）》的公告 For this policy, an overseas traveler is a foreign national or a Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan compatriot who has continuously resided in China for no more than 183 days. · A tax-refund shop cannot issue a Departure Tax Refund Application Form if one overseas traveler spends less than RMB 200 at that same shop on the same day. · Before departure, the traveler must use their valid identity document and the relevant ordinary VAT invoice or electronic ordinary invoice to request the application form from the tax-refund shop. · The traveler must obtain Customs verification of the tax-refund goods at departure; the refund agent requires the traveler's valid identity document and the Customs-verified application form.