News from CCTV: According to the Ministry of Commerce, six departments including the Ministry of Commerce issued a notice on optimizing departure tax refund measures to expand inbound consumption.

In order to further optimize departure tax refund measures and further facilitate and expand inbound consumption, with the consent of the State Council, the relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:

1. Increase the coverage of tax refund shops. Encourage more qualified stores to register as tax refund stores and scientifically optimize store layout. Support localities to select a group of key business districts, scenic spots, markets, and ports with a large number of overseas tourists, and achieve basically full coverage of tax refund shops in key places.

2. Implement a small-amount random inspection system. Starting from July 1, 2026, tax refund application forms with tax refund sales of less than 10,000 yuan will be randomly selected according to a certain proportion for physical verification. Tax refund applications with tax refund sales of 10,000 yuan or more will still be physically inspected one by one.

3. Optimize the "buy now and return now" service. Further optimize the "buy now and return" service and promote the mutual recognition of "buy now and return" in different places. Passengers who handle the "buy now and return" business can handle departure tax refund services at ports in different places. The "buy now and return" departure period requirements in various places have been uniformly extended to 28 days.

4. Promote paperless processing of tax refunds. Starting from July 1, 2026, customs and agencies will be allowed to confirm online tax refund application forms and sales invoices for tax refund items and handle tax refunds, realizing paperless processing of the entire tax refund process.

5. Create an exhibition tax refund service platform. Set up departure tax refund service areas at important exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, China Import and Export Fair, and China International Consumer Goods Expo to facilitate shopping and tax refunds for merchants.

6. Optimize the inbound consumption environment. International consumption center cities and pilot cities for the construction of an international consumption environment will intensify departure tax refund work, improve payment facilitation, and create a number of influential international consumption clusters. Further promote the increase of international passenger routes and flights to facilitate the entry of tourists.

7. Strengthen policy publicity. Produce various forms of departure tax refund promotional materials and distribute them through inbound flights, airports, hotels, media and other channels to facilitate overseas passengers to obtain tax refund information.

8. Carry out overseas promotion. Combined with building the "Buy in China" brand, we will carry out publicity and promotion overseas to further enhance the international awareness of the policy.

Relevant departments should refine specific implementation plans based on the division of responsibilities, work closely together, strengthen information sharing, and promote the implementation of various measures. All regions must improve working mechanisms, innovate work measures, and continuously improve the quality and level of departure tax refund services. If the relevant regulations previously issued by relevant departments and local people's governments are inconsistent with this notice, this notice shall prevail.