A TRAVEL agency and currency exchange have joined hands to offer Chinese travellers the option of submitting their overseas shopping tax claims through more than 40 of the former’s outlets in Beijing, with rebates remitted within one week.
Since July, the collaboration between Beijing Caissa International Travel Service and Tianjin Bohai TransForex has reduced the waiting time and risks of losing receipts in tax rebate services.
Caissa’s spokesperson commented that the scheme’s biggest draw is the provision of Mandarin services within China rather than at overseas airports. Rebates in Chinese yuan also shields consumers from exchange rate fluctuations. Common refund procedures, via cash or credit card card, involve lengthy, complicated procedures that discourage some from claiming refunds.
Partners in the scheme include more than 50 countries and 30 million merchants worldwide, representing more than 90 per cent of the participants in global tax rebate shopping.
Currently available only at Caissa’s Beijing outlets, the service will be offered country-wide in future.
Meanwhile, Chinese consumers can also opt to receive tax rebates through Internet payment provider Alipay.
Users simply state their personal and contact details on receipts of participating merchants, obtain verification from customs officers, and submit their claims at international airports. It takes at least 10 working days for the rebates to be credited into consumers’ Alipay accounts in yuan.
One Shanghai tourism industry player noted Alipay’s significant subscription rate in China, plus its relatively short waiting time for refunds compared to credit cards.
At the moment, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and South Korea are currently participating in this new scheme.
Article by Jessie Liu. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG China e-Daily, September 2, 2014 article.
