China’s “instant tax refund” policy for overseas travelers has surged 12.96 times YoY since its national rollout in April 2025, per the State Taxation Administration. Total refund sales and tax refund amounts grew 9.35 times over the same period. The policy allows eligible overseas shoppers to receive VAT refunds in cash on the spot at registered stores, with over 8,000 locations now participating — a 100% increase since the policy expanded. Regional upgrades include Beijing’s city-wide cross-store processing, Sichuan’s QR-based digital refunds, and Shenzhen’s integration with Weixin Pay HK and digital RMB wallets.

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