China expands departure tax refund policy to Shanxi, Qinghai

China is set to roll out its departure tax refund policy in Shanxi and Qinghai provinces from Jan. 1, 2026, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday.

The policy allows overseas tourists to claim back value-added tax on eligible purchases made at designated tax refund stores before leaving the country. Eligible regions can adopt the policy after filing with relevant government organs.

China began implementing the departure tax refund policy for overseas travelers in 2015. Since then, the scale of departure tax refunds has continued to grow, benefiting a growing number of overseas travelers.

In April this year, the country introduced a package of measures to optimize the policy, including lowering the minimum purchase threshold for refunds, raising the cash refund ceiling, expanding the network of participating stores, and broadening the range of products covered.