Why Chinese Consumers Leave without Tax Refunds

　　Media reports have revealed that after shopping in Europe, many Chinese consumers gave up tax refunds² amounting to as much as 800 million yuan per year. Why do so many Chinese consumers leave the airport without tax refunds? Is it because they don't care about the money or are there other reasons?

 

　　Zhang Wan³ finds out.

 

　　In 2012, the total amount of tax refunds for Chinese consumers reached a record high of 3 billion Euros, or about 24 billion yuan. That means each consumer spends 875 Euros on average or about 7,100 yuan when shopping abroad.

 

　　Based on the average tax refund¹ rate of 10 percent, the total amount of tax refunds for Chinese consumers should total 2.4 billion yuan in 2012. However, nearly one third of that amount was not refunded⁴.

 

　　Why are there so many Chinese consumers giving up their tax refund which could save them money? Some consumers talk about their concerns.

 

　　"The procedure of getting a tax refund is very complicated. Consumers are required to fill out various application forms, however, you also have to go through the check-in at the airport, and tax refunds usually take more time than you expect. Once, I missed my flight because of a tax refund."

 

　　Most consumers say they are aware of tax refunds, however, some say they don't bother to go through the relevant procedures as they are too complicated and usually take too much time. Other consumers say they have no credit card which would allow them to claim the refund.

 

　　Zhang Wei, senior manager of the marketing⁵ department at Global Blue explains.

 

　　"Some consumers apply for tax refunds with their debit⁶ cards or payment cards; however, we only support international credit cards during tax refunds or standard China UnionPay credit cards, with numbers starting with 62."

 

　　Apart from concerns related to the amount of time and effort required for a tax refund at the airport, other consumers say they don't want to apply for tax refunds but find that they are not entitled to such a refund.

 

　　"Tax refunds given out by some small shops have no validity at all; meaning consumers would not get a tax refund. Or there is another possibility: consumers might not see the small notice on the tax refund form given out by some small shops in Italy for example; which states that consumers may only get tax refunds upon leaving Italy."

 

　　Meanwhile, there are also some people who say that they have wrapped up their shopping items perfectly⁷ in order to give as gifts to friends and family back home and therefore they don't want customs at the airport to open for checking purposes, hence why they refrain from getting a tax refund.

 

　　There are several tips related to tax refunds: First, you should shop at stores with tax-free signs, which mean consumers can get a tax refund on the items they buy. However, there are some items without value added tax which may not be eligible⁸ for a tax refund, such as books and children's costumes. Second, make sure that you have enough time to carry out the procedure of claiming a tax refund at the airport, as the procedure usually takes at least one hour. Last but not least, ask for the necessary stamps on these tax refund forms from the local customs office before you leave the airport if you want to process the tax refund back in your home country.

 

　　For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.

1 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。

2 refunds   

n.归还，偿还额，退款( refund的名词复数 )v.归还，退还( refund的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Tomorrow he would return them to the store and claim refunds. 明天他要把它们退还给商店并要求退款。 来自辞典例句
• The new method means that taxpayers get refunds much faster. 这种新办法意味着纳税人可以较快地领到退还款。 来自辞典例句

3 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

4 refunded   

v.归还，退还( refund的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Postage costs will be refunded (to you). 邮费将退还（给你）。 来自辞典例句
• Yes, it will be refunded to you at the expiration of the lease. 是的，租约期满时，押金退回。 来自无师自通 校园英语会话

5 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

6 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

7 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

8 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。