On August 8th, Hong Kong visitor Mr. Li entered the BURBERRY store on the second floor of Wuhan's Henglong Plaza. He purchased a jacket priced at over RMB 10,000. As this outlet displays the "instant tax refund upon purchase" label, Mr. Li signed a service agreement and completed a credit card pre-authorization on-site with staff assistance. Within minutes, RMB 1,125 in prepaid funds was credited to his account. Upon his departure next week, after completing customs verification and other procedures, the tax refund agency will release the pre-authorization, converting the prepaid amount into actual tax refund funds.
The "instant tax refund upon purchase" policy for departure tax refunds enables international travelers to receive tax rebates immediately through credit card pre-authorization when purchasing eligible goods at designated stores. The full refund process is finalized after customs verification during departure, creating a streamlined service model that enhances shopping convenience.
Since July 1st, Hubei Province has officially implemented its exit tax refund policy. The "instant tax refund upon purchase" initiative, serving as an enhanced service measure that upgrades and optimizes the existing tax refund framework, aims to provide international travelers with more convenient and diversified refund options.
Hubei Provincial Tax Service officials remind that foreign nationals and Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan compatriots applying for the "instant tax refund upon purchase" service must personally carry or check in their purchased tax-refundable items within 17 days (inclusive) from the date of purchase, and exit through designated ports. According to regulations, tax-refundable items must not be opened or consumed before customs verification. Hubei has established exit tax refund ports at Terminal 3 of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Terminal 1 of Yichang Three Gorges International Airport, and the international terminal of Enshi Xujiaping International Airport. International travelers utilizing the "instant tax refund upon purchase" service in Wuhan must depart through Wuhan Tianhe Airport as stipulated.
Previously, Hubei announced the first batch of 57 tax-refundable stores across 8 cities including Wuhan, Yichang, Enshi, Huanggang, Xiaogan, Tianmen, Huangshi and Ezhou. The second batch of candidate stores is currently under solicitation. Per the State Administration of Taxation's "Announcement on Promoting 'Instant Tax Refund Upon Purchase' Services for International Travelers," stores wishing to provide this service can become certified "instant tax refund" outlets after reaching agreement with local tax refund agents. To date, 32 stores in Wuhan have joined the "instant tax refund upon purchase" network, with ongoing expansion of the tax refund service coverage.
