Photo shows the terminal building of the Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo/China News Service)
(ECNS) -- A mini-program on China’s popular social media app WeChat will make tax refunds much easier for foreign passengers departing from Beijing Daxing International Airport.
WeChat mini-programs work like “sub-applications” within the WeChat ecosystem, providing users with a great variety of features, such as e-commerce and task management capabilities.
The newly launched WeTaxfree Pass mini-program means travelers could receive an instant tax refund, such as 10,000 yuan ($1,400), to their WeChat Wallet. Traditionally, travelers receive the refund in either cash or as a transfer to their bank account, a process that could take up to five working days.
The mini-program has been launched as more and more foreigners visit China and also choose to use the app WeChat.
The typical process for receiving the tax refund is to obtain an application form when purchasing goods in a store, then have the document verified by customs at the exit airport, before submitting at the tax refund counter, before finally using the QR code in the mini-program to receive the money.
With information also available in English, the mini-program was first used at Beijing Capital International Airport and has processed 457 tax refunds for overseas travelers, most of whom chose to receive the refund via their WeChat Wallet.
