Duty-free goods in Hainan easier to pick up

Consumers browse products at the Haikou International Duty Free City in Hainan province in October. SU BIKUN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Hainan province will add two methods for picking up offshore duty-free goods starting on April 1, according to an announcement on Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs, Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation.

Tourists from outside Hainan who purchase duty-free goods in physical duty-free stores using a valid identity or travel documents and information on leaving the province can pick up their goods in the designated areas of airports, railway stations or wharfs, or choose delivery to their door.

To support the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and further enhance the offshore duty-free shopping experience, tourists under the new trial policy will soon have two more options — "guaranteed pick-up" and "buy and pick-up". Customers who choose these two methods are required to leave Hainan within 30 days from the date of purchase.

Tourists who purchase duty-free products with a unit price at and above 50,000 yuan ($7,259) before each departure from the island can choose the "guaranteed pick up" method, which means that in addition to paying for the goods, customers can pick up the goods on site after submitting a guarantee equivalent to the import tax on imported goods to Customs.

If the customer wants to return the guarantee for the purchased goods when leaving the island, they need to apply to Customs for verification of the duty-free goods that have not yet been used or consumed, and submit the proof of purchase of the goods, along with valid identity or travel documents. After verification by Customs, if the duty-free goods submitted by the customer are consistent with the shopping information, the Customs will confirm the signature on the proof.

When purchasing duty-free goods in 15 categories listed in the annex list of the announcement, which includes cosmetics, perfume, sunglasses, clothing, silk scarves, shoes, hats, bags, before each departure from the island, customers can choose the "buy and pick-up" method for duty-free goods with a unit price of less than 20,000 yuan. After paying for the goods, they can pick up the goods on site, and Customs will not inspect the physical goods upon departure.

Duty-free goods purchased under these two new methods are classified as final commodities for consumers' personal use and must be carried off the island at once, the announcement said.