Author: Steven Chin

Undoubtedly, shopping is one of the must-do wherever you're travelling, as there are always so many interesting, nice, and most importantly cheap items you usually don't find locally! However, it is annoying that you are charged for consumption or other similar tax like the locals, even though you are foreigner on a vacation.

You need to be aware that many countries offer tax refunds for travellers! Unfamiliar with the processes? We're here to help. Check out the list below of tax refund requirements and procedures for three of the best shopping heavens of Southeast Asia – Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

Korea

Eligible amount:

• 30,000 won to 300,000 won, after discount and tax included, on the spot at tax free store.
• Total purchase amount less than 1,000,000 won, after discount and tax included, for the entire duration of stay, at Downtown Cash Refund or the airport.

For the second tax refund procedure, there are two locations where you can get your tax refund:

Place 1: Korean Downtown Cash Refund

Pay attention to these logos and signs around shopping areas, these are where tax refunds can be done.

Here's how you get your tax refunds at Downtown:

1. Ask for tax refund slips at the cashier during payment

2. Visit the Downtown cash refund booths and branches

• bring along your passport, receipts, tax refund slips, and credit cards
• cash refund amount + surcharge for guarantee will be charged on your credit card for the cash refund
• the guarantee will be released once your passport is scanned at the airport custom kiosk

3. Airport custom electronic approval

• check-in your luggage before heading for custom electronic approval
• you don’t have to scan any receipts and tax refund slips if you had done all your Downtown tax refund
• but please inform the check-in counter staff if you have purchased more than 1,000,000 won or the tax refund amount is more than 75,000 won, they will guide you from there with your luggage

Place 2: Airport Cash Refund

Aside from Downtown, you can get your tax refunded at airport tax refund service counters, just follow these steps:

1. Ask for tax refund slips

2. Airport custom electronic approval

• check in your luggage before going through the custom electronic approval, unless your purchase is more than 1,000,000 won or the tax refund amount is more than 75,000 won
• scan your tax refund slips along with your passport

3. Airport cash refund at booth

• airport cash refund booth is at Gate 27-28 in the transit hall

It's all up to you whether you choose to do your tax refund at Downtown or the airport, as doing it at Downtown will save you some time to catch your flight, or if you have a late night flight where the tax refund booth at the airport will be close. But if you have plenty of time before your flight then you don't have to worry about finding a Downtown branch while you're busy shopping!

Japan

Eligible amount: 5,000 yen or more in the same shop, on the same day, INCLUDING discount and EXCLUDING tax.

Precaution: NEVER combine your purchase of general items and consumables, i.e. the tax refund is only eligible for 5,000 yen of general items only or consumables only.

Product eligible for tax refund: consumables (foods, drinks, medicines, cosmetics),

There are two types of tax refund procedures in Japan, you either:

(a) show your passport and pay the redacted price directly at the cashier

(b) pay the full price with the consumption tax, then go to the tax refund counter on the same day

At the store

1. Find the tax-refund counter at the shop

2. Show your passport

3. Ask the cashier or staff at the tax refund counter for a record of purchase

• be careful not to lose these slips, as it will be taken by the airport custom officials when you leave Japan

4. Sign the purchaser’s pledge

5. Refund collection – for (b) only

At the Airport

1. Submit your record of purchase

• The custom staffs will check your passport, record of purchase, and your purchase.

Taiwan

Eligible amount: at least NT$2,000 from the same shop, on the same day.

Tax refund in Taiwan can be done at three places– the airport, designated tax refund counters, or on-the-spot at the shop. Here's the procedure for all three different places.

Method 1: At the airport

1. Request for “Application Form for VAT Refunds” from the authorised tax refund stores

2. Before your departure, take your passport and go to the E-VAT Refund machine or visit the tax refund service counter to verify if the goods need to go through customs or not

3. Choose how you'd like to receive your tax refund:

i. Cash: receive your tax refund at the cash counter

ii. Credit card: proceed to step 5

iii. Check: get the tax refund envelope at the service counter, fill in your mailing address, and put it into the tax check refund mailbox

4. If the goods are proved qualified at the customs or don’t need to go through the customs the VAT refund assessment form will be printed out

5. Depart Taiwan

Method 2: Designated counter at contracted regions

1. Request for the “Application Form for VAT Refunds” from the authorised tax refund stores

2. Present the entry documents, original copies of uniform invoices, VAT refund application form, and credit card to the Tax Refund Service (TRS) Counter

3. Make a credit card security deposit payment (7% of the total purchase amount including tax)

4. Request for “Passenger Prepaid VAT Refund Application Form” and get the cashback at the service counters located in the designated TRS-labeled stores outside of airports

5. Before your departure, take your passport and go to the E-VAT Refund machine or visit the tax refund service counter to verify if the goods need to go through customs or not

6. After being verified that the goods are not required to go through examination or customs, the tax refund service counter staff will cancel the advance security payment, and offer the printed VAT refund assessment form

7. Depart Taiwan

Method 3: On-site for small amounts

1. Ensure the purchased goods cost between NT$2,000 to 48,000 (including tax) on the same date in the same store

2. Request for the “Application Form for VAT Refunds” from the authorised tax refund stores and claim the tax refund

3. Depart Taiwan