VAT Refund for Travelers to China

Claim back up to 13 % of the VAT you paid on souvenirs and tech when you leave China—now even faster with Alipay & WeChat e-refunds.

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🚀 Quick-Start Guide

1️⃣
Shop at a participating store — Look for the blue “退税 Tax-Free Refund” logo; ask cashier for the special VAT-refund invoice (退税专用发票) before paying.
2️⃣
Keep goods sealed — Do not use the item; customs may ask to see it.
3️⃣
At the airport — Arrive 90 min earlier; on Departures level find “VAT Refund” counter before check-in.
4️⃣
Get customs stamp — Show passport, boarding pass, original receipts, unused goods → officer stamps refund form.
5️⃣
Choose your refund method —
• Cash (CNY/EUR/USD) — blue desk, refund on the spot.
• Card credit — swipe card; refund in 7-15 days.
• Alipay / WeChat e-refund — scan the blue merchant QR on mini-program; foreign Visa/Master clears at ~1 % FX.

What is China’s VAT-refund scheme? — 60-second primer

Official name & law
离境旅客退还境内已购旅客免税商品增值税办法 (“Administrative Measures on VAT Refund for Overseas Visitors”, MOF/STA 2018-rev).
Who can claim
Non-resident tourists who stayed ≤ 183 days in the Mainland and bought eligible goods at “Tax-Free Refund 商店”. Passport & departure stamp required.
Refund rate (2025)
VAT is 13 % on most consumer goods → refund = 11 % (13 % minus 2 % handling fee). Luxury watches/wine: VAT 17 % → refund = 14 %.
Minimum spend
¥500 in one shop on one day (same receipt) to qualify. Multiple receipts cannot be combined.
Claim channels
① Airport desk – cash CNY/EUR/USD or card credit. ② E-refund in Alipay / WeChat Pay International mini-program (pilot in PEK T3, PVG T2, CAN T2).
Processing time
Cash: < 10 min at desk. Card refund: 7–15 bank days. E-refund: ≤ 3 days to foreign Visa/Mastercard (blue merchant QR flow).
Language support
Forms bilingual CN/EN; mini-program auto-switches to phone language; long-press 🔤 translate bubble for any Chinese tip.
Why bother
Example: ¥5 000 electronics receipt → ¥550 back to card—covers your airport maglev ticket and duty-free snacks!
Good to know
Goods must be unused & exported within 90 days of purchase; random customs checks scan QR on refund form.
TL;DR
Spend ≥¥500 in a “Tax-Free Refund” store, keep the special blue receipt, show the goods & receipts at the airport desk, scan the blue QR to push the money to your foreign card—and pocket ~11 % back in 3 days.

🏆 Success Recipe

1

Ask cashier to split payment

Two separate ¥500+ receipts from same store can each be refunded.

2

E-refund queue is shortest

At PEK T3 & PVG T2 the mini-program line averages < 5 min.

3

Use blue QR for refund

Blue merchant code pushes money direct to foreign card; green personal QR fails.

4

Keep photo copies

Snap receipts & stamped forms—if cash desk queue is crazy, file e-refund after security.

Why it helps: These habits help you avoid the most common pitfalls and keep your experience clean and stress-free.

🔄 2024–25 Updates

📱

May 2025: Alipay & WeChat e-refund pilot expands to Guangzhou Baiyun T1/T2.

Alipay & WeChat e-refund pilot expands to Guangzhou Baiyun T1/T2.

💸

Feb 2025: Minimum-spend threshold stays ¥500 despite VAT law revision—rumoured raise cancelled.

Minimum-spend threshold stays ¥500 despite VAT law revision—rumoured raise cancelled.

🛫

Oct 2024: Handling fee cut from 3 % → 2 %, raising effective refund to 11 %.

Handling fee cut from 3 % → 2 %, raising effective refund to 11 %.

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

❗

Missed customs stamp

Quick fix: No stamp = no refund; go to “Secondary Validation” window near Gate E04 (PEK T3) before boarding.
🔵

Green QR displayed

Quick fix: Ask staff for blue merchant QR 商户码 to push refund to foreign card.
⏳

Cash desk queue 60 min

Quick fix: Use e-refund mini-program; customs stamp plus photo upload accepted.
💳

Card refund pending 30 days

Quick fix: Check bank blocked CNY credits; open dispute with refund ID via VAT-desk hotline +86 010-12360.

🔄 Backup / Alternatives

🏪

Duty-free store instant-savings

Price already VAT-free, no paperwork.

  • • VAT-free price
  • • No paperwork
  • • Instant savings
🏨

Hotel concierge service

Some 5-star hotels (Hyatt Beijing, Kerry Pudong) courier receipts and post the refund to Visa (¥120 fee).

  • • Concierge handles claim
  • • ¥120 fee
  • • Visa refund
👫

Friend with CNY wallet

Cash them the refund if you leave via small airport without desk.

  • • CNY wallet
  • • Small airports
  • • No desk

🛠 Technical Notes

  • • Eligible goods: Tangible items only; no food eaten, no services.
  • • Ineligible: Luxury cars, gold bullion, hotel bills, postage stamps, consumables opened.
  • • Refund formula: VAT × (1 – 2 % fee). 13 % → 11 %; 17 % → 14 %.
  • • Time limit: Export goods & file claim within 90 days of purchase.
  • • Payment caps (blue QR): ¥5 000/txn • ¥10 000/day • ¥50 000/month; ≈ 1 % FX spread.
  • • Customs hotline: +86 010-12360 (EN 9 am–5 pm CST).

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