Tax refund policy refined to spur inbound spending

退税政策细化刺激入境消费

China has introduced a new policy that enables foreign visitors to claim departure tax refunds for purchases as low as 200 yuan ($27) per day at the same store, significantly reducing the previous threshold of 500 yuan.

中国出台新政策，允许外国游客在同一家商店每天购物满 200 元（27 美元）即可申请离境退税，将此前 500 元的起退门槛大幅下调。

This is part of the country's latest move to optimize the departure tax refund policy for foreign visitors. The updated policy will streamline refund procedures and attract more overseas visitors, government officials said on Sunday.

政府官员周日表示，这是国家为优化外国游客离境退税政策推出的最新举措。更新后的政策将简化退税流程，以吸引更多海外游客。

According to a policy document jointly released on Saturday by six government branches, including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance, the country will encourage the establishment of more departure tax refund stores in major commercial areas, pedestrian streets, tourist attractions, resorts, and airports to expand nationwide coverage.

根据商务部、财政部等六部门周六联合发布的一份政策文件，我国将鼓励在主要商业区、步行街、旅游景区、度假区及机场等地设立更多离境退税商店，以扩大全国覆盖范围。

Measures will also be taken to promote the inclusion of international brands, popular domestic products, and time-honored brands, as well as souvenir, gift, and specialty stores, as part of the tax refund network.

中国政府还将采取措施，推动国际品牌、热门国货、老字号品牌，以及纪念品、礼品和特色商店纳入退税网络。

The policy move comes as China is ramping up efforts to boost consumption amid fresh trade tensions triggered by the United States' imposition of arbitrary tariffs on many trade partners, including China.

在美国对包括中国在内的许多贸易伙伴任意加征关税引发新的贸易紧张局势之际，中国正加大力度促进消费，此次政策举措正是在这一背景下出台的。

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, noted that inbound consumption contributed about 0.5 percent to China's GDP last year, compared with 1 percent to 3 percent in other major economies, underscoring substantial growth potential.

商务部副部长盛秋平在北京的新闻发布会上指出，去年入境消费对中国 GDP 的贡献率约为 0.5%，而其他主要经济体这一比例为 1% 至 3%，这凸显出入境消费领域巨大的增长潜力。

He said the tax refund mechanism plays a critical role in lowering shopping costs for foreign visitors and attracting greater inbound consumption. "For example, under the prevailing value-added tax system, the refund rate for general goods is set at 11 percent, effectively providing a more than 10 percent discount."

他表示，退税机制在降低外国游客购物成本、吸引更多入境消费方面起着关键作用。“例如，在现行增值税制度下，普通商品退税率设定为 11%，实际上相当于提供了超过 10% 的折扣。”

Under the policy, foreign visitors can claim VAT rebates directly at departure tax refund stores, enabling them to reuse the refunded amount in real time for further shopping. Previously, VAT rebates were only available for withdrawal upon departure, according to information released by the State Taxation Administration.

根据国家税务总局发布的信息，新政策实施后，外国游客可在离境退税商店直接申请增值税退税，从而能够实时重复使用退税款用于后续购物。而此前，增值税退税款仅能在离境时提取。

The upgraded tax refund policy, initially implemented in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, has been expanded to a nationwide rollout.

这项升级后的离境退税政策最初在北京、上海及广东省深圳市等城市试点实施，目前已在全国范围内全面推行。

The Commerce Ministry said that last year, the total spending by inbound travelers reached $94.2 billion, up 77.8 percent year-on-year.

商务部表示，去年入境游客消费总额达到 942 亿美元，同比增长 77.8%。

Miao Muyang, director of the industrial development department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said the upgraded policy will not only help expand inbound tourism, but also promote the outbound reach of more high-quality domestic products.

文化和旅游部产业发展司司长缪沐阳表示，这项升级后的政策不仅有助于扩大入境旅游，还将推动更多优质国货走向海外。

In addition to raising the cash refund limit from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, the government will also strengthen cooperation between tax refund agencies and payment institutions to offer refund services through multiple channels, including mobile payments, bank cards, and cash.

除了将现金退税限额从 1 万元提高至 2 万元，政府还将加强退税机构与支付机构的合作，通过移动支付、银行卡及现金等多种渠道提供退税服务。

"These adjustments are aimed at encouraging foreign visitors to purchase a wide range of products in China," said Jia Ronge, director of the Finance Ministry's tax policy department.

财政部税收政策司司长贾荣鄂表示，“这些调整旨在鼓励外国游客在中国购买多种产品。”

In the first quarter of 2025, customs authorities at Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport collectively verified 4,801 departure tax refund applications submitted by overseas travelers, a year-on-year increase of more than 122 percent, while the total refund amount came to 240 million yuan, up 82 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from Beijing Customs.

根据北京海关统计，2025 年第一季度，北京首都国际机场和北京大兴国际机场海关共审核海外旅客提交的 4801 份离境退税申请，同比增长超过 122%；与此同时，退税总额达 2.4 亿元，同比增长 82%。

Zhao Zhao, deputy head of customs at the Daxing airport, said that China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, available to ordinary passport holders of more than 50 countries, has significantly boosted the number of foreign visitors and their spending amounts in China.

大兴机场海关副关长赵钊表示，中国针对 50 多个国家普通护照持有者实施的 240 小时过境免签政策，显著提升了来中国的外国游客数量及其消费金额。

Data from the National Immigration Administration shows that foreign nationals made 9.22 million entries into China through various ports in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 40.2 percent, indicating that inbound travel is continuing to gain momentum.

国家移民管理局数据显示，今年第一季度外国公民通过各口岸入境中国达 922 万人次，同比增长 40.2%，表明入境旅游持续回升向好。

Tsimber Maksim, a Russian tourist, said he bought many items in Shanghai last week, including clothes for his children, sneakers, and household goods.

俄罗斯游客齐姆贝尔・马克西姆表示，上周他在上海购买了很多商品，包括给孩子的衣服、运动鞋和家居用品。

Maksim received an 11 percent refund after he submitted an application, listing all the purchased items and their corresponding prices and taxes, at the customs declaration counter at the Daxing airport.

俄罗斯游客马克西姆在大兴机场的海关申报柜台提交了一份列明所购物品及其价格和税款的申请后，获得了 11% 的退税。