前三季度办理离境退税境外游客增长2倍多

Core Insights - The number of outbound tax refund applications and the amount refunded have significantly increased, attributed to both the rise in foreign travelers and the simplification of the refund process [1][2] - The Chinese government has implemented a nationwide promotion of the "immediate refund upon purchase" service to enhance the experience for foreign travelers [2] Group 1: Tax Refund Growth - From January to September, the number of outbound tax refund applicants increased by 229.8% year-on-year, while the refund amount rose by 97.4% [1] - In the first three quarters, the total number of inbound and outbound travelers reached 510 million, a 14.3% increase compared to the same period last year [1] - In the third quarter alone, the number of foreign travelers at various ports reached 20.134 million, marking a 22.3% year-on-year increase [1] Group 2: Policy Enhancements - In April, the State Administration of Taxation expanded the "immediate refund upon purchase" service from pilot regions to nationwide [2] - A joint notice from six departments, including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance, aims to optimize the outbound tax refund policy and enhance the consumption environment for foreign travelers [2] - The tax authority has improved system functionalities, increasing the efficiency of tax refund issuance by over 45% [2]