离境退税“即买即退”给“China Travel”再添新动力

Core Viewpoint - The implementation of the "immediate refund" service for outbound tax refunds starting from April 8 aims to create a more convenient and friendly shopping environment for foreign travelers, stimulating consumption and promoting a dual circulation of domestic and international markets [1] Group 1: Policy Implementation - The "immediate refund" policy allows foreign travelers to receive a refund of 11% of the value-added tax (VAT) on purchases at the point of sale, enhancing their shopping experience [3] - The policy has been rolled out nationwide, with Zhejiang province already establishing 163 tax refund shops and additional service points in major tourist attractions and resorts [3] Group 2: Regional Developments - Hunan province has launched its first pilot for the "immediate refund" service at the Changsha International Financial Center, allowing foreign travelers to process refunds directly at designated points after shopping [5] - Chengdu in Sichuan province has also adopted the "immediate refund" model, with 49 shops currently offering this service, thereby increasing the attractiveness of Chengdu as an international shopping destination [9] Group 3: Eligibility Criteria - Foreign travelers must meet two conditions to qualify for the "immediate refund": they must not have been in the country for more than 183 days and must be departing from Changsha or Zhangjiajie airports within 17 days [7] - Additionally, the total purchase amount for tax refund items in a single shop on the same day must be between 500 RMB and 50,000 RMB [7]