An overseas traveler accesses the instant tax refund services by simply scanning a QR code. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

April marked the first anniversary of the full implementation of the "instant tax refund upon purchase" service for overseas tourists' departure tax rebates. Some 69 stores in Xiamen now reportedly offer this service, accounting for 45 percent of all departure tax refund stores in the city.

To further improve the shopping experience for overseas travelers, Xiamen's tax authorities have been enhancing the convenience of the departure tax rebate process.

Since April 1, the tax authorities of Guangdong and Fujian provinces, as well as those of the cities of Xiamen and Shenzhen, have launched a cross-regional mutual recognition agreement for the instant tax refund service.

Under this arrangement, eligible overseas tourists who make purchases at any designated tax-free store in either province can choose to complete the refund verification process at any departure tax rebate port within both jurisdictions.

This removes a previous restriction that required travelers to claim their refund at the same port where the purchases were made.

The shop assistant guides a foreign traveler through the tax refund process. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

Building upon the "instant tax refund" service, Xiamen has also piloted a "one receipt, one package, one code" convenient customs clearance model. This digital approach integrates tax refund receipts, product packaging, and verification QR codes, enabling a paperless and seal-free customs verification process.

This reduces the verification time from 15 minutes to under five minutes, effectively addressing the cumbersome tax refund verification process for overseas tourists.