Tax-free shopping in Shanghai saw a surge last year. The city witnessed a nearly four-fold increase in tax refund applications from overseas visitors, while both tax-free goods sales and total refund amounts rose by 80 percent, according to the Shanghai Municipal Tax Service of the State Taxation Administration.

To keep up with the growth, Shanghai has expanded its network of registered tax-refund shops to over 1,800, marking a 140 percent increase compared with the end of 2024.

The city has set up nine citywide tax refund counters, 17 mall-specific tax refund counters, and multiple individual-store refund points to make it easier for overseas visitors to claim tax refunds.

In November, the city's first hotel-based tax refund point opened at the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai on Jiujiang Road in Huangpu district.

Now, after shopping at any tax-refund store, overseas visitors can submit refund applications at the hotel's business service center with the required documents. Refunds can be reviewed, pre-authorized and processed on the spot.

Shanghai is also promoting cross-city tax refund service with Suzhou in Jiangsu province and Beijing. This allows overseas visitors who make purchases and apply for tax refunds in Shanghai to complete the refund process even if they exit China through ports outside the city.

Source: Jiefang Daily