Overseas businesspeople hoping to join the 2016 China International Fair for Investment & Trade can now enjoy tax refunds from fair’s host city, Xiamen.
The policy, which came into effect on January 1, will allow tax rebates on purchases at 21 tax free consumer sites in Xiamen. The sites include department stores and retailing stores for local specialties.
As of June 30, there have been 30 tax refunds submitted for goods worth 241,200 yuan ($36,167.34).
The tax rebate rate is set at 11 percent and a 2-percent poundage fee will be charged by either Industrial Bank or Xiamen Bank – the two appointed agencies for handling the drawback procedure.
Overseas travellers who have stayed on the Chinese mainland for no more than 183 days and spent at least 500 yuan at one individual store no more than 90 days in advance of a departure date are eligible for the reimbursement policy.
Unpacked or used commodities are not valid for refunds. Purchased goods must be carried by travellers in person or in their checked luggage when departing the mainland via the Gaoqi International Airport or Wutong passenger ferry port, which mainly serves traffic between Xiamen and Kinmen county of Taiwan.
China has decided to extend its visa waiver policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom starting from Feb 17.
Forty-one new port-of-entry duty-free shops have been established nationwide, with Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, and Xiamen International Cruise Center included on the list.
