Instant Tax Refund Service for Overseas Travelers Available at Changsha IFS

摘要：Recently, Hunan's first batch of stores that provide instant departure tax refund service began trial operations at the Changsha I

(Photo/Zhou Shuyi, Changsha Evening News)

Recently, Hunan's first batch of stores that provide instant departure tax refund service began trial operations at the Changsha International Finance Square (IFS), one of the busiest shopping malls in Changsha. Eligible overseas travelers can instantly claim value-added tax (VAT) rebates at more than 30 brand stores in the mall.

The instant tax refund service, as a convenient measure, is an upgraded and optimized version of the "Departure Tax Refund" policy, aimed at providing overseas travelers with more convenient and diversified tax refund options.

Compared with the traditional departure tax refund process, the instant tax refund service allows travelers to claim their tax refunds at shopping malls, instead of waiting until they depart from the country at ports. This enables them to more tangibly experience the convenience of the refund process, fostering a zero-time-lag cross-border consumption experience.

Guide to Instant Tax Refund Service for Overseas Travelers

Location: the temporary "Instant Tax Refund Service Center", Membership Center on the 2nd Floor of Changsha IFS

Tax Refund Preparations

Eligible overseas travelers can go to the temporary Instant Tax Refund Service Center with their passport (for foreign travelers) or valid personal identification document (for residents from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan of China), VAT invoice, the Tax Refund Application Form, and a credit card capable of a pre-authorization guarantee to handle the relevant procedures. Overseas travelers can receive a 9% tax refund on-site. After receiving the cash, they can continue to make additional purchases.

Tax Refund Requirements

The following three requirements must be met simultaneously to enable the service:

Firstly, the overseas traveler personally holds a credit card capable of a pre-authorization guarantee.

Secondly, the overseas traveler must depart from the Chinese mainland through either Changsha Huanghua International Airport or Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport within 17 days of the invoice date. All tax-refundable items purchased must be transported out of the country either as personally carried items or as checked accompanied baggage.

Thirdly, at each tax refund store, a single overseas traveler can only purchase a maximum of 50,000 CNY worth of tax-refundable goods per day.

The term "overseas travelers" refers to foreigners and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan who have resided continuously within the Chinese mainland for no more than 183 days.