China's tourists account for largest share of tax free refunds in Russia

Russia's Federal Customs Service reported tourists from China accounted for 80% of total foreign citizens using the tax free system in Russia (TASS/Izvestia, 14-Jun-2018). Citizens of Latvia and Azerbaijan accounted for the next largest shares of tax free refunds. 60% of refunds were claimed at the Sheremetyevo customs service. As previously reported by CAPA, Russia launched the tax free system pilot project on 10-Apr-2018.