From July 1st, 2015, overseas tourists visiting Beijing and Shanghai can get tax refunds on purchases made at select stores in the two cities.

Foreign tourists and those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who stay on the Chinese mainland for fewer than 183 days can get a rebate of up to 11-percent on goods bought at designated department stores. Currently there are 86 such stores in Beijing and 27 in Shanghai.

The minimum purchase for the rebate is 500 yuan (about US$80) at one store in one day. The rebate covers everything, apart from items which cannot be taken overseas. A pilot tax refund program started on the southern island province of Hainan on Jan. 1, 2011, where the minimum purchase was 800 yuan and covered only 324 items.

Tourists must submit a tax refund application, invoices and a valid ID to customs to receive the rebate.

Foreign tourists will be given the refund in RMB. Both a cash refund and account transfer are allowed for refunds below 10,000 yuan (about US$1,612), while higher amounts will be transferred.

Shopping in China