How to refund the tax when shopping in Korea?

Shopping in Korea is absolutely indispensable. Since there is shopping, there will definitely be relevant precautions about taxation. The following small series is here to tell you about the tax rebate strategy. You should remember to refund the tax and abide by the regulations here.

Matters needing attention

Where can I get a shopping tax refund?

Tax-free businesses can enjoy the tax refund policy, and some shops will put the tax refund sign in an obvious position to attract customers.

Am I eligible for a tax refund?

For tourists, the requirement of tax refund is that tourists who enter the country with short-term tourist visas (individual visas and group visas are not limited) can enjoy tax refund. Therefore, even if your visa is for three or even five years, as long as it is a short-term tourist visa, you are eligible for tax refund.

Amount and limit of tax refund

Tax refund amount

When issuing a tax refund form, it is required to spend more than 30,000 won and less than 200,000 won, and the total consumption during the tour in South Korea shall not exceed 6,543.8+0,000 won.

Can the total consumption be combined?

When shopping in a comprehensive shopping mall, if you can "combine" the tax refund form, you don't need to spend more than 30 thousand won for a single shopping, as long as the amount shown on the tax refund form exceeds the minimum standard. Therefore, before shopping, you must consult the merchants whether you can combine the tax refund forms.

It should be noted that if the store can issue a tax refund form for combined consumption, it also needs to be the consumption of the day. Therefore, it is necessary to open a tax refund form in time after consumption.

The goods cannot be opened for use.

Goods that need tax refund at the airport should be used unopened during their stay in Korea. After understanding your tax refund demand, the store will use special customs pockets to plastic-seal the tax refund products. You only need to hand over the goods and plastic bags to the customs for inspection, and you can get the tax refund stamp confirmed by the customs.

And carry the files that need to be saved.

When shopping, you need to carry your passport with you. When you issue a tax refund form, the merchant will board the plane for inspection.

If you use Alipay for tax refund, you need to provide the mobile phone number bound to Alipay account.

Please keep the original shopping receipt (different from the tax refund form) properly, and the customs will ask for it.

Tax refund method

At present, there are many ways for South Korea to choose tax refund. Divided into airport cash tax refund, Alipay tax refund, Kiosk tax refund machine, cash tax refund in the same city, and 20 16 on-site tax refund.

Tax refund process

In addition to on-site tax refund, other tax refund methods need to be stamped and confirmed at the airport customs.

Tax refund process of airport cash, credit card, Alipay and airport kiosks

Alipay tax refund:

South Korea cannot provide Alipay tax rebate, and only global tax exemption can provide Alipay tax rebate.

Please pay attention to whether there is Alipay logo when filling out the tax refund form.

Luggage consignment:

When you enter the airport, you need to check in first. Don't check the goods with tax refund. If you need to check (such as liquid, excessive volume, etc.). ).), explain to the counter staff, and check in after customs inspection.

Documents and certificates required for airport handling:

When inspecting the tax refund, the customs shall carry the original passport, tax refund form, shopping receipt and unopened tax refund items;

Self-service customs tax refund process:

At present, Incheon International Airport in Seoul provides self-service tax refund service at the customs step. You need to scan your passport and the receipt of tax refund products on the machine, but be sure to ask the staff if the tax refund form needs to be stamped. If not, you can directly start the security check and enter the boarding hall;

Tax refund is not an exit office:

Although they are all called "customs", the customs staff responsible for checking the tax refund goods are not exported at the airport. The tax refund can only leave the country after inspection and seal.

Cash tax refund may need to be queued:

The cash refund window may take a long time to queue up, so please control the time to go to the airport reasonably in advance.

Airport self-service tax refund machine:

At present, the airport KIOSK tax refund machine only provides services at Incheon International Airport in Seoul.

Credit card and Alipay tax refund:

Just put the stamped tax refund form into the corresponding tax refund mailbox and complete the tax refund process at the airport. The tax refund will be remitted to the account you provided within about 10 working days.

Cash tax refund in urban areas can be completed through banks, tax refund counters and KIOSK self-service tax refund machines in urban areas, and tax refund can be obtained immediately. However, when tourists get a tax refund, their credit cards will be frozen. Only after airport inspection and customs stamp will the credit card freeze be lifted.

Requirements for using credit cards:

Try to use VISA and MASTER credit cards to freeze the corresponding amount. The frozen amount is not consumption. As long as the seal confirmed by the customs is successfully obtained, no cost will be incurred.

Whether UnionPay cards can be used for freezing depends on the company that operates the tax refund.

Cash refund points in urban areas:

At present, the online shop of cash tax refund in the city is concentrated in Seoul.

On-site refund

Since 20 16, some shops in Korea support on-site tax refund, that is, they can directly pay the price after deducting the tax refund by providing their passports when shopping.

superiority

You don't have to go to the airport for tax refund, and you can directly enjoy the price equivalent to duty-free goods.

Disadvantaged

Only some merchants support on-site tax refund, and may need to use the established cashier. However, the scale of enterprises on these lists is still expanding.