Real-time Departure Tax Refund to Enhance Inbound Consumption

Sichuan taxation authorities have recently launched the “Scan & Refund”, a streamlined online service aiming to better serve international visitors and further boost inbound consumption that supports the real-time tax refund processing by scanning the QR code on the platform, which has covered more than ten tax refund stores at Chengdu Taikoo Li, Yintai Mall, Sanxingdui Museum and other scenic spots.

The “Scan & Refund” program, based on technologies such as image-text recognition, rule validation and web scraping, integrates the online services for the tax refund application, prepaid tax refund, customs inspection and verification.
“Scan & Refund” is a mini-program that does not require downloading or registration. After shopping, tourists need only to take photos of the purchased goods and upload documents, receipts, and sign for confirmation, and the system will then automatically identify and verify the information on the documents. The prepayment will be forwarded to the account of the tourists immediately after they sign the agreement and pre-authorization online for the confirmation at background service.
When overseas tourists leave China for customs inspection and verification within the agreed time, the system will automatically feed back the results and complete the process to ensure the "throughout tax refund at the finger touch" with easy operations and without time or location restrictions.
Sichuan taxation authorities will further improve the simplicity, convenience and friendliness of the “Scan & Refund” service and expand the coverage of service on more tax refund stores in core business districts tourist attractions and characteristic blocks across the province, in order to better serve overseas tourists with improved travel and shopping experience.
Source:HominChengdu