Tax refunds for overseas travelers to China surge 97% in the first 9 months

Amid optimized tax refund policies and steadily improving facilitation measures, the number of overseas visitors applying for tax refunds in China surged by 229.8 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of this year, the State Taxation Administration said on Tuesday.

During the same period, the actual amount refunded increased by 97.4 percent compared to one year earlier.

The continuous optimization of tax refund policies and the enhancement of facilitation measures have effectively stimulated spending by inbound tourists, the tax authority noted in a post seen on its official website.

The release of this data follows a statement from China's Ministry of Commerce on Monday, which highlighted that shopping in China has grown increasingly popular among foreign travelers in September. This trend is driven by the combined effects of multiple policies, including visa-free transit, convenient payment methods, and departure tax refunds.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, total spending by inbound tourists in China reached $94.2 billion in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 77.8 percent.