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北京率先升级!高效退税 记者实探三大商圈“即买即退”新体验
Xin Jing Bao·2025-05-20 13:04

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of the "immediate refund" tax refund service in Beijing aims to enhance the shopping experience for international travelers and stimulate consumption growth in the tourism sector [1][2][3]. Group 1: Implementation of Immediate Refund Service - The "immediate refund" tax refund service was expanded from pilot programs to nationwide implementation in April, with Beijing being one of the early adopters [3][5]. - Beijing has established three initial centralized refund points located in major shopping areas: Wangfujing, Financial Street, and China World Mall, which began trial operations on May 15 and will officially operate from June 1 [1][3][4]. Group 2: Impact on Tourism and Consumption - In the first quarter of 2025, Beijing received 891,000 inbound tourists, marking a 61.3% year-on-year increase, indicating a recovery in the global tourism market [2]. - The convenience of the tax refund process is expected to enhance the attractiveness of products to international travelers, potentially leading to increased secondary consumption [4][5]. Group 3: Operational Efficiency and Customer Experience - The process for foreign travelers to obtain tax refunds at centralized points involves four main steps, and the entire process can be completed in just a few minutes [4]. - The tax refund service has been reported to significantly reduce the time and complexity involved in obtaining refunds, thus improving the overall shopping experience for international visitors [4][6]. Group 4: Future Developments and Policy Enhancements - The Beijing tax authority plans to continue exploring further convenience measures for the "immediate refund" service to attract more international travelers [7]. - The cumulative limit for tax refund amounts for same-day processing has been increased from 50,000 yuan to 220,000 yuan, benefiting over 95% of travelers utilizing the service [6].