East China's Zhejiang province implemented tax refund policies for overseas shoppers exiting the Chinese border there starting Dec 1, a move that was approved by the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration and the General Administration of Customs, according to local officials.

They said the value-added tax, or VAT, refund on consumer goods is an effective 11 or 8 percent of total invoiced amount.

The policy targets residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan – as well as foreign nationals – whose stay in the Chinese mainland is shorter than 183 consecutive days.

To get the refunds, they have to spend at least 500 yuan ($76.20) shopping in a store in a single day, less than 90 days from when they exit the border. The products they have bought must not have been used and must be carried in person, when claiming the tax refunds.

Currently, the province's only facility to handle the tax refund is located opposite Gate 3 of the departing floor of the T2 terminal building at Hangzhou International Airport. Personal identity certificates, airport ticket orders, sale invoices and tax refund application forms must be shown to customs staff there when going through the procedure.

The Zhejiang Provincial Tax Service, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism have published a list of the province's first group of 41 shopping sites that are applicable to the tax refund policy. They are located in Hangzhou, Taizhou, Jinhua, Jiaxing, Huzhou and Zhoushan.