China Introduces Overseas Tourists Tax Refund

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

28 December 2010

China’s Ministry of Finance has disclosed that foreign visitors to Hainan will benefit from a tax refund on goods purchased on the island, with effect from January 1, 2011.

Based on a tax rate of 11%, the refund will be available for foreign tourists, and for residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, who leave within 90 days from the purchase of the goods and who have stayed no longer than 183 consecutive days previously on the island or elsewhere in China.

The scheme will make a refund available on purchases of not less than CNY800 (USD120). It will cover such products as clothing, cosmetics, watches, jewellery and electronics; but not food, tobacco, alcohol or motor vehicles. The purchases will need to be in an unused condition.

Reported to be a pilot for roll-out in other areas of the country at a later date, it is hoped that the rebate will increase the number of tourists arriving on the island, and their spending, so as to boost its credentials as an international tourist destination.

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