Overseas visitors are now eligible for the departure tax refund policy in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province. Three shops, included in the first batch of tax refund shops in Zhejiang, started operating in the city on Dec 1.

The stores are ICMall Binwang Store, ICMall Airport Store and Yintai Shopping Mall.

According to the policy, tourists from overseas and those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who are departing the Chinese mainland can be refunded VAT they paid for goods at these tax refund shops. The goods eligible for tax refunds are those with 13 percent and 14 percent tax rates. The refund tax rates are 11 percent and 8 percent respectively.

There are four requirements for tax refund eligibility: The amount of tax refundable items purchased by the same overseas tourist in the same tax refund shop on the same day costs at least 500 yuan ($76); Tax refundable items have not been activated and consumed; The departure date is not more than 90 days from the purchase date of the tax refundable goods; When leaving the Chinese mainland, the purchaser must carry the purchased goods himself/herself or check them in with their luggage.

Overseas tourists should obtain the refund application form from the tax refund shops using their valid identity documents and the VAT invoices for tax refund items (issued by the upgraded version of the VAT Invoice System). Overseas visitors' valid identity documents would be verified by Chinese Customs before their departure. Overseas visitors must then submit the verified application form, valid identity documents, and ordinary VAT invoices for tax refund items to the tax refund agencies for tax refunds.

The policy will provide convenience for the foreigners living and doing business in the city and help improve the commercial environment and international image of the city.

IF YOU GO

ICMall Binwang Store

Address: 458 Chouzhou North Road

ICMall Airport Store

Address: Departure terminal at the Yiwu International Airport

Yintai Shopping Mall

Address: 15 Gongren West Road