On May 19th, China’s Tourism Day, Hangzhou released new measures for its 2025 “Instant Tax Refund” policy and launched the groundbreaking “Hangzhou New Special Products” at Hangzhou Tower. This event showcased how technology and culture merge to redefine travel!

5月19日，中国旅游日当天，杭州发布离境退税“即买即退”新举措，并在杭州大厦首发“科技新特产”，展现科技与文旅的深度融合！

Key Highlights of the Event

活动亮点速览

“Hangzhou Tech Treasures”:Where Sci-Fi Meets Reality

“杭州科技新特产”：未来科技触手可及！

Easleep AI Sleep Tech:Brain-computer interface devices to improve sleep.

GoGo Exoskeletons:Lightweight robots assist hiking and daily movement.

Rokid AR Lite:Dive into a 300-inch virtual screen with Rokid AR Glasses.

Tom Cat Emotional AI Companions:Meet Tom Cat, a robot offering “emotional support” through AI.

深海豚Easleep多功能智能睡眠仪、助力外骨骼机器人、汤姆猫AI情感陪伴机器人……杭州科技新特产，让旅行充满未来感！

The event also detailed the “Instant Tax Refund” policy for departure tax refund.

活动还详细介绍了离境退税“即买即退”政策。

What is Departure Tax Refund

“Instant Tax Refund” policy？

什么是离境退税“即买即退”政策？

The Departure Tax Refund “Instant Tax Refund” is a facilitation measure, which allows overseas travelers purchasing tax-refund items at designated “Instant Tax Refund” stores in regions where the departure tax refund policy is implemented to sign an agreement and complete a credit card pre-authorization, after which they may immediately claim a prepayment in RMB equivalent to the VAT refund amount.

离境退税“即买即退”是离境退税的一项便利化举措，是指境外旅客在已实施离境退税政策地区的“即买即退”商店购买退税物品时，签订协议书并办理信用卡预授权后，即可在该“即买即退”商店现场申领与退税款等额的人民币款项（预付金）。

Who can apply?/ 适用对象

Foreigners and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan who have resided continuously in Chinese mainland for no more than 183 consecutive days.

在我国境内连续居住不超过183天的外国人和港澳台同胞。

Conditions/ 退税条件

“Instant Tax Refund”when Shopping at Pilot Stores/在试点商店购物享“即买即退”

1. Shopping and application are made at pilot stores implementing the “Instant Tax Refund” policy for tax refund upon departure in Hangzhou.

在杭州市试点实施离境退税“即买即退”商店购物且申请办理退税

2. Purchase Amount: The total amount of tax-refundable goods purchased by the same overseas tourist on the same day at the same pilot store fpr tax refund upon departure should reach at least 200 CNY and should no more than 222,000 CNY.

同一境外旅客、同一天、在同一家离境退税试点商店购买金额≥200元且≤22.2万元。

3. Departure: The departure date is within 90 days from the purchase date of tax-refundable goods.The purchased goods must be carried by the overseas tourist himself (herself) when departing from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.

离境日距离退税商品购买日≤90天，购买商品由本人携带从杭州萧山国际机场离境。

4. The tax-refundable goods have not yet been opened or used.

退税商品尚未启用或消费

5. A credit card pre-authorization guaranteed and a commitment to leave within 25 days after the purchase are required.

需信用卡预授权担保，并承诺开单后25天内离境。

Refund Method/退税方式

Cash (CNY):Get refund immediately.

Alipay:By installing the Alipay International App,travelers do not need to provide bank card information, and the tax refund will be paid directly to their Alipay account balance.

选择退款方式：现金或提前下载支付宝国际版，无需提供银行卡信息退税款直接退付至支付宝账户余额。

Step-by-Step Guide /

操作流程详解

Step1:The store issues a recepit and provide an advance payment /第一步： 商店开单预付

Look for “Instant Tax Refund” signs in stores. Hangzhou has 162 tax-free shops, 14 of which offer “Instant Tax Refund”.

认准“即买即退”标识：杭州已有162家退税商店，14家支持“即买即退”。

The store processes a credit car pre-authorization, issues the “Aplication Form for Tax Refunds on Departure for Overseas Travelers” and pays the advance payment on the spot.

由商店为境外旅客办理信用卡预授权手续,开具《境外旅客购物离境退税申请单》并现场支付预付金。

*Credit card pre-authorization /信用卡预授权

The credit card pre-authorization refers to the process where a store or agency pays the advance money to overseas travelers who are eligible for "Instant Tax Refund”upon departure, while freezing the corresponding amount in their credit cards.

信用卡预授权，是指商店或代理机构将预付金支付给享受离境退税“即买即退”的境外旅客，并在其信用卡冻结相应额度。

Step2:Customs to conduct verification/ 海关确认核验

Overseas travelers who are eligible for the "Instant Tax Refund” for departure tax refund must present the tax refund items, the “Application Form for Departure Tax Refund for Overseas Travelers” and the invoice for the purchase of the tax-free items and vaild personal identification documents to declare to customs and undergo customs verification.

享受离境退税“即买即退”的境外旅客，在离境时应当持有：退税物品;

《境外旅客购物离境退税申请单》;退税物品销售发票;本人有效身份证件向海关申报并接受海关核验。

Step3:Review by the tax refund agency/ 退税代理机构审核

Overseas travelers should submit their valid identification documents such as passports,customs verification stamped “Application Form for Departure Tax Refund for Overseas Travelers” and the sales invoice for the tax refund items to the tax refund agency located in the departure port’s isolation area.The tax refund agency will review the relevant materials and information

境外旅客应将本人护照等有效身份证件，海关核验签章的《境外旅客购物离境退税申请单》，退税物品销售发票提交给离境口岸隔离区内的退税代理机构，退税代理机构对相关材料信息进行审核

If the traveler meets the terms of the agreement by departing within the promised time frame at the designed port and complies with the current departure tax refund policy, the tax refund agency will release the credit card pre-authorization and complete the tax refund process.

对旅客按照协议书约定在承诺期限内于指定口岸离境，且符合现行离境退税政策规定的，退税代理机构为其解除信用卡预授权,办结退税事项,预付金视为已退税款。