Faster, easier shopping with nationwide tax refund service
The State Taxation Administration of the People's Republic of China has announced the nationwide launch of the "refunding upon purchasing" service starting April 8 — expanding it beyond pilot cities like Shanghai.
The move allows eligible international travelers to receive their tax refunds immediately after shopping — offering a smoother and more traveler-friendly retail experience.
The service has already been running for over six years as a pilot program in Shanghai's Huangpu district. One of the most experienced participants is New World Daimaru, a major department store located on Nanjing Road.
Recently, a tourist from the United States took advantage of the service at New World Daimaru. After purchasing a pair of women's casual shoes worth 7,500 yuan (about $1,024) at the Bottega Veneta counter on the first floor, the tourist headed to the membership center on the B1 level to apply for a tax refund.
Pressed for time, the tourist opted for the faster refund option. The entire process took just over 10 minutes, and the tourist received 675 yuan in cash on the spot.
The staff followed a standardized process to ensure the refund was secure and compliant:
- Eligibility check: The staff verified the passport, entry stamp (confirming arrival within the past 183 days), and shopping receipt.
- Digital processing: The tourist's passport details were scanned into the system, and a value-added tax or VAT invoice was issued, showing 862.83 yuan in tax. A credit card pre-authorization was also completed.
- Instant refund: After signing the tax refund agreement and confirming the documents, the tourist received the cash refund immediately — with no extra stops or paperwork required.
New World Daimaru was among the first stores in Shanghai to offer tax refunds and became one of the city's pilot locations for the refunding upon purchasing program in January 2019.
Today, it ranks first among Shanghai's department stores in terms of tax refund transactions. The most frequently refunded items include sportswear, shoes, bags, cosmetics and luxury watches — primarily from international brands.
Address: No 228 East Nanjing Road, Huangpu district
Business hours: Daily, 10 am to 10 pm
Source: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Huangpu district committee at "shhuangpu"
