Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) Taiwan will expand its downtown value-added tax (VAT) refund service for foreign visitors, starting next month, as part its tourism promotion efforts, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday.
From Sept. 1, the four VAT refund counters in downtown Taipei and Kaohsiung will accept applications from foreign visitors who have purchased NT$2,000 (US$66) or more at any of the more than 1,800 Tax Refund Shopping-labeled stores around Taiwan, according to Yeh Hui-chuan, a section chief at the ministry's Taxation Administration.
The counters are located in Taipei 101 Mall, SOGO's Taipei Zhongxiao store, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi's Taipei Xinyi A8 store, and Kaohsiung's Hanshin Department Store.
At present, the counters accept VAT refund applications only for purchases made at those department stores.