Changning company, Shanghai Customs collaborate for a streamlined tax refund experience

The Shanghai Customs has pioneered a new remote verification model called "Buy and Verify Immediately" in China. Tourists can apply for customs tax refund verification procedures through the "Smart Traveler Self-Service Terminal" in the store, which provides tourists with a one-stop convenient service.

At present, this model is being piloted in the tax refund store of the Changning-based Sunnyshare Company located in the isolation area of the departure port of Terminal 2 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

In the Sunnyshare tax refund store near Gate D75 in the isolation area of the departure port of Terminal 2 at Pudong airport, a foreign tourist purchased several handicrafts and specialties. With the assistance of the store staff, they applied for customs tax refund verification procedures through the "Smart Traveler Self-Service Terminal" and completed the verification procedures in less than five minutes. Then, the store staff led the tourist to the Bank of China's departure tax refund window near Gate D83 to handle the tax refund. From checking out to completing the tax refund, the entire process took about 20 minutes.

"Tourists who needed to handle departure tax refunds originally had to pass through three checkpoints of customs border inspection and security checks, traveling back and forth between the store, customs declaration window and bank. When there was a large flow of people, they also had to wait in line, which took a long time," a staff member at the Sunnyshare tax refund store said.

To enhance the experience of "shopping + tax refund" for overseas tourists at the airport, based on the original departure tax refund business, Shanghai Customs has tailored the "Buy and Verify Immediately" remote verification model, in collaboration with banks and stores to pilot the "pre-audit + remote verification + ticket re-audit" three-step approval operation for tax refund items.

The "Smart Traveler Self-Service Terminal" installed in the Sunnyshare tax refund store in Pudong T2, equipped with high-definition audio and video self-service devices and easy-to-operate software systems, effectively breaks the spatial limitations, saves time costs, and while creating a good business environment, enhances the service function for tourists and promotes consumption.

At present, customers who apply for customs tax refund verification procedures through the "Smart Traveler Self-Service Terminal" can complete the procedures within 10 minutes. Many overseas tourists said that the "Buy and Verify Immediately" remote verification model of the customs has provided them with convenience and they are more satisfied with their shopping experience.