China: China further streamlines departure tax refund services.

China's State Taxation Administration has introduced new measures to make departure tax refund services more digital and convenient for overseas visitors, according to a recent notice. These measures will enable the electronic transfer of tax refund applications and sales invoices, supporting paperless processing throughout the entire refund procedure. Beginning Sept. 1, 2026, participating tax refund stores will be able to upload overseas visitors' valid identification documents when issuing refund-upon-purchase applications, enabling refund agencies at the place of purchase to review departure tax refund documents online. Refund agencies at the point of departure will verify visitors' identity information and process the refunds in accordance with existing regulations. The administration will also promote pilot departure tax refund services at online stores and expand an existing information-entry QR code into a nationwide service code, allowing visitors to submit information and check refund details online. The notice calls for a severe crackdown on illegal activities such as fraudulent proxy purchasing and the smuggling of tax-refunded goods back into the domestic market. Any tax refund store found to have participated in or organized such activities will be disqualified from offering departure tax refund services. Shotlist: Beijing, China - July 18, 2026: 1. Screenshot of statement of State Taxation Administration of China; FILE: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - 2026 2. Sign of tax refund; 3. Various of international tourist claiming tax refund; FILE: China - Date Unknown 4. Various of international tourists receiving tax refunds at store; 5. Seal reading "immediate tax refund, tax already pre-refunded"; 6. Various of overseas visitors receiving tax refunds; FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 7. Various of stores offering immediate tax refund services; FILE: Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, southwest China - Date Unknown 8. Various of people in shopping mall, tax free signs; FILE: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - April 2025 9. Various of foreign tourists shopping at stores; FILE: Shanghai, China - 2025 10. Signs of tax free at store; 11. Various of customers at store; 12. Employee assisting foreign visitor in tax refunding; FILE: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - Feb 2026 13. Various of staff packing tax free products in special bag; 14. Various of customs officers inspecting tax free products, handling tax refund procedures; FILE: Shanghai, China - Date Unknown 15. Screen showing "tax refund self-service verification"; 16. Screen showing "tax-refund verification"; 17. Various of tax refund service in progress. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]