You can get tax back on purchases in Chinese stores — about 11% of the cost in your hands. The conditions (a 200 ¥ threshold, export within 90 days), two ways to get the refund and the main mistakes because of which the money is not paid out.
Tax-free in China (Tax Free) is a refund of part of the VAT on purchases that a tourist takes out of the country. Bought sneakers, electronics, perfume or a bag in Shanghai or Chengdu — and spent 200 ¥ or more in one store in a day? Then part of the sum can be refunded at the border. In your hands you get about 9% of the receipt amount (about 6% for some goods). The rules have applied since the 2025 reform; about the transition itself, see also the piece Tax Free in China 2026. We go through from what amount tax-free works in China, what percentage is really refunded, who is entitled, how to do everything correctly and why refunds are refused.
What tax-free in China is and what percentage is refunded
Tax Free is an international practice: VAT is already built into the price of goods in a store, and when the purchase is taken abroad the tourist can get this tax back. In China the procedure is called the tax refund (Tax Refund), in Chinese “离境退税” (refund on departure).
The standard VAT in China is 13%, but not all of the tax is refunded. The formula under the official rules: the receipt amount including VAT × (refund rate − 2% fee). The refund rate is 11% for the main category of goods and 8% for some goods, so in your hands you get about 9% (or about 6%). On a large purchase it is tangible: from 5,000 ¥ you get back about 450 ¥, from 20,000 ¥ about 1,800 ¥.
From what amount tax-free in China
The minimum threshold is 200 ¥ in one store in one day. The bar used to stand at 500 ¥, then it was lowered, and now a refund is available even for small purchases. Important details:
- the amount is counted per store (one accredited point) per day; several receipts from the same store in a day are added together;
- purchases in different stores are not added to each other — 150 ¥ here and 150 ¥ there do not reach the threshold;
- there is no upper ceiling on purchases, but from a refund amount of 20,000 ¥ the money is paid out only by transfer, and applications from 10,000 ¥ are checked more closely by customs (more below).
How much percent is actually refunded
The popular figure “13% is refunded” is wrong: 13% is the standard VAT, and a part of it is refunded, minus the operator’s fee. By the official formula the real refund = the receipt amount × (refund rate − 2%). The refund rate is 11% for the bulk of goods and 8% for a separate group, so in your hands you get roughly 9% or 6%.
| Receipt amount | Rate 11% (in hand ≈ 9%) | Rate 8% (in hand ≈ 6%) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 ¥ | ≈ 18 ¥ | ≈ 12 ¥ |
| 1,000 ¥ | ≈ 90 ¥ | ≈ 60 ¥ |
| 5,000 ¥ | ≈ 450 ¥ | ≈ 300 ¥ |
| 20,000 ¥ | ≈ 1,800 ¥ | ≈ 1,200 ¥ |
The exact rate depends on the product category, and in the store it is usually visible on the refund form. The sums in the table are a calculation by the formula, not a promise: rounding and the fee may shift the figure slightly.
Who can get what refunded
You are entitled to a refund if all the conditions are met at once:
- Tourist status. You are a foreign citizen and have been in China for no more than 183 days.
- A recent purchase. The goods were bought no earlier than 90 days before the departure date.
- The minimum amount. From 200 ¥ in one store in one day (the threshold was recently lowered from 500 ¥ — you can count several receipts from one store in a day).
- The right store. The purchase was made at a point with a “Tax Free” / “Tax Refund” sign. Almost all large shopping malls and brand stores have them.
- The goods are eligible for a refund. They have not been used, are in factory packaging, with tags. Food, cosmetics in opened packaging and consumables are, as a rule, not eligible.
Step 1. Process the purchase in the store correctly
This is where the refund is most often lost. The order is as follows:
- You pay for the goods and keep the receipt (fapiao).
- You go to the tax refund counter in the same store or mall. The employee will draw up a special Tax Refund form — for it you need your passport (not a copy, the original).
- You do not open the packaging, do not tear off the tags, and do not wear shoes and clothes. At the border the goods must be seen as new.
At the exit you should have a set: the receipt + the Tax Refund form + the goods themselves in packaging. Without the form from the store the money will not be refunded at the airport — the receipt on its own does not work.
Two ways to get the money
1. Right in the store (即买即退)
If the store is connected to the new simplified system, the refund is processed right at the checkout — you get the money immediately. In return a pre-authorization on the bank card is usually left as a deposit. At the border on departure customs may still ask you to show the goods and receipts to confirm the export; if you do not present the goods, the deposit will be charged. The method is convenient, but is not yet found everywhere.
2. The classic refund at the airport
It works at all of China’s international airports and requires nothing to be left as a deposit. The downside is that it will take time on the day of departure. We go through it in detail below.
How the refund at the airport goes: step by step
The key rule: do not check your purchases into baggage before the customs check. First the goods must be seen by a customs officer.
- The customs check (Tax Refund Verification). Find the customs control counter for the tax refund. You present: your passport, boarding pass, Tax Refund form, receipts and the goods themselves in factory packaging. The customs officer checks and puts a stamp on the form.
- Check-in and baggage. After the stamp you go through flight check-in and drop your baggage.
- Getting the money. In the departure area (after security control) you find the Tax Refund counter. There they look at the customs stamps, add up the purchases and pay out the money.
An important nuance with the order. At different airports the customs check counter is either before check-in or after it — more often before. If the check is after check-in, the purchases will have to be carried in hand luggage. Hence the typical problem: liquids (perfume, cosmetics) cannot be carried on board in hand luggage. In practice the question gets resolved — often it is enough for customs to see the receipt and the form, and the perfume itself can be checked into baggage. But it is better to find out the order at your airport in advance.
The way of receiving. For a refund amount up to 20,000 ¥ you can choose: cash yuan, a transfer to Alipay or WeChat, or to a bank card. For a Russian without a working card the most practical is cash or Alipay/WeChat. For an amount of 20,000 ¥ or more cash is not paid out, only a transfer.
Common mistakes and hacks
- You put on the new item — you lose the refund. Wore the sneakers, sprayed the perfume, tore off the tag — the goods are considered used, the refund will be refused. Everything must be new until the border.
- You checked it into baggage before customs. Then there is nothing to present at the check. Keep purchases at hand until the stamp is put on.
- You arrived at the last minute. Airports in China are huge, the counter still has to be found, and closer to departure a queue builds up. The procedure itself takes 5–10 minutes, but allow an extra hour.
- Receipts in different stores. The 200 ¥ threshold is counted per store per day. Small purchases in different points may fall short of the threshold — plan large spending in one place.
- You lost the form. Without the paper Tax Refund form from the store there will be no refund. Put all forms and receipts in a separate envelope.
The cash limit: how much money you can take out of China
Two limits of 20,000 ¥ are constantly confused, although they are different rules:
| Rule | What it is about |
|---|---|
| Cash refund — up to 20,000 ¥ | A refund amount up to this threshold can be received in cash or by transfer, more — only by transfer |
| Taking out cash — 20,000 ¥ | This is a customs threshold: an amount above this limit must be declared on departure |
In practice the refund from purchases rarely approaches 20,000 ¥ (that is purchases of roughly 220 thousand yuan), so there is no problem for a tourist. But if you are taking home accumulated yuan, keep the limit in mind and for a large sum check the customs rules. How to exchange and spend yuan is in the article currency exchange in China.
Tax free and duty free: what is the difference
| Tax free (VAT refund) | Duty free | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A refund of part of the tax after buying in an ordinary store | A store where goods are sold without taxes and duties |
| Where | Stores with the Tax Refund sign across China | Duty-free zones — in airports, on Hainan |
| When you get the benefit | At the border, after the purchase is checked | At the moment of purchase |
| Passport needed | Yes | Yes |
About duty-free trade on the island, see the separate piece duty free on Hainan. It is a separate system and is not connected with the VAT refund.
What to buy with tax free and where
The refund is processed in stores connected to the program: large shopping malls, chains, brand boutiques, some electronics and clothing stores. Small markets and street stalls do not take part in the program. If you need to understand which things are worth bringing from China at all, start with the article what to buy in China as a tourist and with a review of chain stores — for example MINISO and supermarkets — but check in advance whether the specific point takes part.
Which airports and exit points are suitable
The main scenario is the international airports of large cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Sanya and others. A map of airports and the peculiarities of screening we covered in the article China’s airports. If you are flying out of China on a domestic flight with a connection, the procedure depends on where you leave the country: the refund is processed at the exit point, so for a connecting route allow time for the check and find out the procedure at the airport you need.
How quickly the money arrives
When receiving in cash or by transfer at the airport, the money is paid out on the day of departure, after the customs mark. If you choose a transfer to a bank card, crediting can take from several days to several weeks — not the best option for a Russian. The most practical are cash yuan or Alipay/WeChat: how to set up wallets.
Customs check: when purchases are inspected
Under the official rules, refund applications for amounts up to 10,000 ¥ are checked selectively, and applications from 10,000 ¥ are checked by customs individually — you need to have the purchases with you. The goods must be unused and unpacked at the time of departure, and are carried in hand luggage or in baggage. The refund is paid in yuan: up to 20,000 ¥ in cash or by transfer, above that only by bank transfer; withdrawal to Alipay is also available.
What changed in 2026: the purchase threshold is 200 ¥ in one store per day (previously 500 ¥), for applications up to 10,000 ¥ the check is selective, the other conditions (90 days between purchase and departure, 183 days of stay) remained the same.
Is it worth the bother at all
A refund of about 9% is pleasant on large and “right” purchases: electronics, branded clothing and shoes, accessories that are really cheaper in China. But honestly: for many goods brand stores in China are more expensive than Russian marketplaces even after the refund — the Chinese themselves complain about prices in brand boutiques. Before buying, compare the price with Ozon/WB and local outlets. Tax Free is a bonus to a good purchase, not a reason to buy just anything.
Frequently asked questions
Which goods are not eligible for a refund?
Used, opened and consumable ones: food, open cosmetics and perfume “for a sample”, as well as separate categories under the operator’s rules. The general principle is that the goods are taken out new and in packaging.
What if the store has no Tax Refund sign?
Then there will be no refund — the form is issued only by accredited points. If you plan a refund, ask about Tax Refund before paying and buy where it exists.
Can the refund go to a Russian bank card?
Technically the transfer goes to a card, but Russian cards do not work abroad. It is more practical to take it in cash (up to 20,000 ¥) or on Alipay/WeChat if the wallet is set up.
Does tax-free work on Hainan?
Yes, the scheme on Hainan is the same as in the rest of China: a receipt from 200 ¥ in a store with the Tax Refund sign, a mark on departure and the refund at Sanya or Haikou airport. Separately on Hainan there is duty-free trade (duty free for domestic trips) — that is a different story and is not connected with the VAT refund.
Does the refund apply to toys and collectible figures (Pop Mart and similar)?
As a rule yes, if it is an ordinary retail item bought in a store with the Tax Refund sign for 200 ¥ or more per day — the “toys/souvenirs” category is not excluded under the general refund rules. But every store has its own accreditation in the refund system: ask at the checkout whether the specific point takes part in the program before counting on a refund. Separate categories of goods (for example food, books, some types of electronics) are excluded from the program by the Chinese authorities — check the exact and current list of codes/categories with the seller or at the Tax Refund counter at the airport, it is reviewed periodically.
Tax-free in China: from what amount?
From 200 ¥ in one store in one day. Receipts from one store in a day are added together.
Tax-free in China: what percentage will be refunded?
About 9% of the receipt amount for the main category of goods and about 6% for some goods: a refund rate of 11% or 8% minus a 2% fee. Not 13% and not 11%.
How long to wait for the refund?
If you receive it at the airport in cash or on a wallet — on the day of departure, after the customs mark. To a card — longer.
Can I get tax-free if I live in China on a work visa?
The right to a refund belongs to foreign citizens who have been in China for no more than 183 days. If you have lived in the country longer, a refund is not due.
Do I need to show the goods at customs?
Yes. Refund applications up to 10,000 ¥ are checked selectively, but you may be asked to show the goods in any case. Do not check purchases into baggage before the check.
Can I get a refund for an online purchase?
The program is designed for purchases in physical stores with the Tax Refund sign. For online orders, check the conditions with the seller before paying — you should not count on a refund by default.
What is tax free in China?
It is the same as tax-free and Tax Refund (离境退税) — a foreign tourist gets back part of the VAT paid when buying goods that they take out of the country. Three names — one and the same mechanism.
How do I get a tax refund in China?
Buy goods worth 200 ¥ or more in one store with a Tax Free/Tax Refund sign, have the refund receipt processed, take the purchase out new and with tags within 90 days, and get the money at the airport on departure or right at the checkout if the store is connected to the simplified system. Step by step in the sections above.
Does the refund work only at the airport?
Main scenario — international airports. Some sea and land checkpoints also process refunds, but the set of points is limited — check for your own exit route in advance.
Can I get tax-free straight to an Alipay or WeChat wallet?
In a number of stores and points the refund is processed to a mobile wallet, but the set of methods depends on the point. If you have no Chinese card, ask at the checkout which options are available here specifically. How to set up wallets from Russia is described in the article topping up Alipay and WeChat.
Do I need to keep receipts and the passport?
Yes. The passport is needed at processing, and the receipts and tags until the check at the airport. Do not check purchases into baggage until the customs mark has been passed.
What’s next
Set up payment before the trip: sort out the ways to pay in China and topping up Alipay and WeChat from Russia — then it is convenient to take the refund onto a wallet too. And check the visa rules: for tourism of up to 30 days a visa-free regime applies.
The amount threshold, the refund rate, the list of accredited stores and exit points are periodically changed by the Chinese authorities; the set of ways to receive the money depends on the airport. Check the current conditions before your trip. The figures were checked against the official summary of rules of the Shanghai Government (updated September 18, 2026) and are given as of October 2026.
