Refund-upon-purchase has been promoted nationwide, but only qualified stores in participating regions apply, with credit-card preauthorization, customs verification and departure through a designated port. An ordinary ceramic receipt is not automatically a tax-refund document.

Check store status before estimating a refund

The State Taxation Administration says refund-upon-purchase is offered by qualified stores in regions already operating departure tax refunds. An eligible overseas visitor signs an agreement and completes credit-card preauthorization before receiving a RMB advance equal to the estimated refund.

Before buying ceramics in Jingdezhen, confirm that the store is currently authorized for departure tax refunds, whether it offers the immediate service and which goods qualify. A normal invoice from an unqualified shop does not create refund eligibility.

Keep three sets of records together

Retain the valid travel document, purchase invoice, refund application material, agreement, payment and card-preauthorization record. Keep ceramics available for customs inspection, with labels, documents and packing traceable to each order.

Valuable, commissioned, old or unclear-provenance pieces also raise authentication, delivery and export questions. A consumer tax-refund rule alone cannot establish whether an object may leave China; verify separately with seller, carrier and customs.

Completion happens at departure

The announcement requires departure through a designated port within the agreed period and successful customs verification before preauthorization is released and the process completes. If conditions are not met, the advance may be recovered through the card authorization. When Jingdezhen is not the final international exit, leave time at the actual departure port.

This guide does not claim that any named Jingdezhen shop is authorized and cannot replace tax, customs or refund-agency decisions. A multilingual guide may help ask questions and organize papers; official processing determines eligibility and amount.