China Departure Tax Refund: Same Store, Same Day, ¥200—and Customs Before You Fly#

China Haul content sells the empty suitcase. This chapter sells the boring half that actually gets you money back: departure tax refund (离境退税)—VAT on eligible goods bought at designated stores, claimed when you leave the Chinese mainland through a designated port.

I’m not inventing success rates or forever fee tables. Numbers below follow the Shanghai Municipal Tax Service guide for overseas visitors (updated 18 Sep 2026 on that page) and the national threshold cut to ¥200. Airport counters and the form in your hand win if they disagree. For paying in malls, see Alipay card binding and essential apps. Online platforms are a different animal—Taobao / JD guide—and usually not this airport VAT loop.