A tax free sign seen in Shanghai. YIN LIQIN/CHINA NEWS SERVICE
China unveiled on Monday a new package of measures to make tax refunds easier for foreign visitors, as Beijing seeks to stimulate inbound consumption and support the recovery of international travel.
The policy, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and five other government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration, outlines eight steps aimed at improving the country's departure tax refund system for overseas travelers.
The measures upgrade an earlier policy released in 2025 and are designed to make the process "more convenient, faster and easier" for foreign shoppers, according to an official notice.
A key component of the plan is expanding the number of tax refund stores. Authorities will encourage more eligible retailers to register as tax refund outlets and optimize their geographic distribution, particularly in areas with high concentrations of international visitors such as major shopping districts, tourist attractions, markets and ports of entry.
