Special Benefits for Foreign Travelers on shopping Tax Refunds.4 Tips to Keep in Mind for Tax Refunds on Shopping
The National Taxation Bureau of the Northern Area（NTBNA）, Ministry of Finance, expressed that our country continues to implement various tourism promotion initiatives to attract foreign travelers to shop and spend during their visits. To enhance the friendliness and convenience of the tax refund environment for foreign travelers, our country has adopted international practices and commissioned private operators to provide electronic tax refund services since May 1, 2016.
The NTBNA would like to remind foreign travelers visiting Taiwan to apply for a VAT refund through private tax refund operators before departing Taiwan. Important notes regarding tax refunds are outlined as follows:
1. Eligible Applicants: Foreign travelers who enter the R.O.C. with passport of a country other than the R.O.C., or a Republic of China (Taiwan) passport without a National Identification Card number, and stay for no more than 183 days from the date of arrival.
2. Goods Eligible for Tax-refund: Goods purchased at designated TRS-labeled stores and will be carried out of the R.O.C. by the departing foreign travelers （i.e. selected goods eligible for VAT refund）.
3. Minimum Purchase Amount Eligible for Tax Refund: Foreign travelers, who spend NTD 2,000 or more on goods at one single authorized TRS-labeled store on the same day, are eligible to show their entry document to the shop assistant on the purchase date to request for the tax refund form.
4. Tax Refund Methods: Foreign travelers can choose from three options for applying for VAT refunds – tax refund service at airport/port, in-store small-amount refund service, and authorized downtown refunds.
The NTBNA further indicates that the operation of electronic VAT refunds services for foreign travelers is designated to Chunghwa Telecom Enterprise Business Group. Foreign travelers will be charged a processing fee equivalent to 20％ of the refundable VAT amount when applying for a tax refund. For further information, please visit the tax refund website https://www.taxrefund.net.tw, or dial the toll-free hot-line 0800-880-288.
〔Contact Person : Section Head Wang of Sales Tax Division；Tel：（03）3396789 ext. 1250〕
Reference URL：https://www.mof.gov.tw/Eng/singlehtml/f48d641f159a4866b1d31c0916fbcc71?cntId=c7010995a0e64e58a44e44721e1947b5