As the Chinese city with the most customs ports offering the tax-refund-upon-departure service, Shenzhen recently launched an additional “instant tax refund” centralized service point at the K11 ECOAST Art and Cultural District by the Sea, further streamlining the tax refund process for both foreigners and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

At present, some brands within the K11 ECOAST Art and Cultural District by the Sea are able to offer instant tax refund service to eligible shoppers.

The “instant tax refund” policy is a service that allows eligible visitors to claim their tax refund on purchased items at participating stores, instead of waiting until they depart. After signing an agreement and pre-authorizing a credit card, eligible visitors can receive a cash prepayment in RMB for the full VAT refund amount.

At the end of this April, cross-border buses directly from the urban area of Hong Kong to K11 ECOAST via Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint were officially launched. The “Sheung Wan-Shekou” high-speed passenger ferry route has also added more services, significantly improving the transportation convenience and connectivity between the two places.

The launch of the tax refund service at the K11 ECOAST Art and Cultural District by the Sea is expected to facilitate compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao, as well as foreigners to travel and shop in Shenzhen, boosting inbound consumption in Shekou and the broader Shenzhen.