Tax Refund — 11% Back

The essentials

• Buy at a store with the 离境退税 (Tax Refund) sign, spend at least CNY 200 same-day same-store, keep the refund form and receipt.
• Refund agencies return about 11% of the item price (13% VAT minus agency fee).
• You must take goods out of China yourself, within 28 days of purchase, unused.
• Since 1 Sep 2026 the process is paperless nationwide — a tax-refund service code can complete the process in about a minute at some ports.

Two ways to get paid

1. Refund at departure (classic)

1. At the store: show passport, get the tax refund form with your purchase.
2. At the port of departure: customs verifies goods + form before check-in, then the refund agency counter pays you.
3. Cash refund up to CNY 20,000, larger amounts to your card.

2. Instant refund (即买即退)

• At contracted stores: leave a credit-card pre-authorization and receive the cash equivalent on the spot; the final settlement happens when you leave the country.

What changed in 2025-2026 (Commerce Ministry notice, 2026)

• Purchases under CNY 10,000 are now largely random-inspection only — no more opening every bag.
• Regional mutual recognition: goods verified in one area count in others (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Hunan-Fujian-Guangdong-Guangxi-Hainan, Sichuan-Chongqing-Yunnan and more).
• Departure deadline unified at 28 days; digital RMB hard-wallet refunds are being piloted.
• Shenzhen alone has 3,000+ refund stores — the densest in the country.

Practical tips

• Bring your passport when shopping — it must be on the refund form.
• Keep goods unused and in hand luggage with receipts; refunds have grown almost 13x in a year, and checks target abuse.