China Haul Guide

China Tax Refund for Tourists 2026: How the Departure Refund Works

Foreign visitors can reclaim the VAT on eligible shopping when they leave China. Here is the exact mechanism — threshold, two claim methods, and where the instant refund pilot runs.

1. What the departure tax refund is

China's Departure Tax Refund Policy (离境退税) lets foreign visitors reclaim the value-added tax baked into eligible purchases when they take the goods out of the country.

The refund applies to tangible goods bought at participating tax-refund stores. Nationwide the network has grown past 8,000 stores, concentrated in the big shopping hubs. The State Taxation Administration runs the program; the 2.0 upgrade streamlined the airport process and enabled instant refunds.

2. Eligibility & the ¥200 threshold

The effective refund is the VAT rate minus a service commission — typically around 11% back in practice. The ¥200 threshold is the gate, not the refund amount.

3. Two ways to claim: airport vs instant

Airport refundInstant refund (ji mai ji tui)
WhereRefund counter at departure airportIn-store, at the tax-refund store
When you get paidOn leaving ChinaImmediately, at checkout
Best forAll participating storesPilot cities only (see below)

4. Step-by-step

4.1 At the store

  1. Shop at a store displaying the Tax Refund sign.
  2. Show your passport at checkout; the store issues a tax-refund form (and often an instant refund on the spot in pilot cities).
  3. Keep goods, receipt and form together.

4.2 At the airport

  1. Arrive early; find the tax refund counter before security/immigration as required.
  2. Present passport, form, receipt and goods for verification.
  3. Choose cash or card refund; collect and go.

5. Cities with instant refund

The instant refund pilot (买即退 / ji mai ji tui) runs in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu, Sanya, plus parts of Guangdong (Guangzhou and Shenzhen). Outside these, use the airport refund. See the best entry cities and each city page for local detail.

Plan your refund strategy per city in the city guides hub.

All the headline figures in one place: China Haul by the Numbers 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How does China tax refund work for tourists?

Buy eligible goods at participating tax-refund stores, keep the refund form and receipt, then claim at the departure airport counter — or get an instant refund in pilot cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu, Sanya, and parts of Guangdong).

What is the minimum to get a tax refund in China?

The threshold is ¥200 of eligible spending at a single store on the same day. Below that, no refund form is issued.

Which cities have instant tax refund in China?

The instant-refund (ji mai ji tui) pilot runs in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu and Sanya, plus parts of Guangdong (Guangzhou and Shenzhen).

How much refund do you get in China?

You reclaim the VAT minus a service commission — typically around 11% of the purchase price in practice. The ¥200 figure is the eligibility threshold, not the refund rate.

Will China tax refund rules change in 2027?

The program has been expanded repeatedly (stores past 8,000, instant-refund pilots added). Treat 2026 as the baseline and confirm 2027 changes on the State Taxation Administration sources.

Sources & official references

Policy numbers change. Before you book, confirm the current eligible-country lists, ports and participating tax-refund stores on the official English sources below.