Tourists claiming value-added tax refunds of less than NT$1,000 (US$35) on goods under NT$50,000 will soon be exempt from producing the items for customs inspection upon departing Taiwan, a news report said, quoting a government official.
The official said the new policy, which is expected to take effect in April, will shorten waiting times at customs and encourage overseas visitors to spend more while shopping, according to Taiwan Today.
He noted that since the introduction of the minimum tax refund policy in July 2011, only 1.2 percent, or 1,947, of inspections have revealed fraudulent claims.
Customs administration statistics showed that the number of tourists claiming VAT refunds on departure reached 400,578 in 2012, up 45.5 percent from a year earlier. Refunds amounted to NT$690.86 million, a record rise of 46.5 percent from 2011.
The official said the new policy, which is expected to take effect in April, will shorten waiting times at customs and encourage overseas visitors to spend more while shopping, according to Taiwan Today.
He noted that since the introduction of the minimum tax refund policy in July 2011, only 1.2 percent, or 1,947, of inspections have revealed fraudulent claims.
Customs administration statistics showed that the number of tourists claiming VAT refunds on departure reached 400,578 in 2012, up 45.5 percent from a year earlier. Refunds amounted to NT$690.86 million, a record rise of 46.5 percent from 2011.
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