After the implementation of Document No.3 of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in 2026,87% of the foreign exchange transactions were conducted through banks.The company is acting as an agent forThe bank returned the documents due to non-standardized paperwork in the settlement process,and the traditional "invoice + contract" model can no longer meet the requirements of penetrative supervision.

I.The six core modules of the settlement list and the regulatory logic

The import and export settlement list is not simply a "document summary",but a three-dimensional verification system of "trade flow - goods flow - capital flow".The new regulations in 2026 require banks to conduct "through-audit" for each transaction,and enterprises need to reconstruct the logic of the settlement list from the following dimensions:

II.Practical SOP for Import and Export Settlement: 5-Step Risk Closed-Loop Process

Step 1: Core Document Preparation (Three-Flows-In-One Matrix)

Output:

It is necessary to synchronously organize three types of vouchers and form a correlation matrix:

• Tradeflow:Contract(includingcommission/exchangerateterms),proformainvoice(whichneedstoindicatetheHScodeandtradeterms)
• Logisticsandfreight:Billoflading(forelectronicrelease,aletterofguaranteeandtheconsignee’sidentitycertificatearerequired),customsdeclarationform(tochecktheconsistencyofthedeclaredinformation)
• Fundflow:Bankwaterbill(withanoteonthetransactionreferencenumber,whichshouldbeconsistentwiththecontractnumber)

Tool: Use the "Document Correlation Verification Table" to cross-check the "number/amount/date" of each type of document (you can obtain the template via private message).

Step 2: Check each of the six major modules one by one (with risk levels attached)

Output:

Check each module one by one and mark the risk level (high/medium/low):

• ExchangeRateModule:Lock-inexchangeratecertificates(suchasforwardforeignexchangesettlementagreements)orfloatingexchangeratecalculationformulas(whichrequirebothparties’stampconfirmation)
• Commissionmodule:Isitinaccordancewiththerequirementthat"eachtransactionshallnotexceed5%ofthecontractamount"(specialindustriessuchaspharmaceuticalsneedtoberegisteredinadvance)?
• Taxrefundmodule:Theconsistencyoftheproductname/quantity/amountwiththevalue-addedtaxinvoice(withanerrorof≤0.3%)
• SpecialProvisions:Softclauses(suchas"paymentaftertheclientsignsandacceptsthegoods")andtheriskoftakingdeliveryrightsinthecaseofcollectionunderD/Pterms
• Country-specifictrade:ThesuperimposedimpactoftherulesoforiginoftheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP)ontariffs(needtoprovideevidence)Tradedisputesettlementmechanisms
• FundingCompliance:IsthecounterpartyontheOFACsensitivelistofthecentralbank(updatedandcheckedmonthly)?

Step 3: Three key actions for bank-side integration

Output:

Communicate with the client manager in advance to shorten the processing time:

• Submitthe"Self-ChecklistforCompliancewithSettlementList"(includingtheresultsofmodulevalidationandariskdescription)
• Explanationofthetransactionbackground:Forexample,"Forthe"9710model",youneedtoprovideadditionalscreenshotsoftheplatformordersandlogisticstrackinginformation.
• Disputeresolution:Preparea"DefensePlanforNon-Conformance",citingtheprovisionsofUCP600orURC522asthebasis

Step 4: Tax Declaration Linkage Mechanism

Output:

Ensure the closed-loop of tax and remittance data:

• TheexporttaxrebatedeclarationandsettlementlistTheamounterrorshallbe≤0.5%(otherwise,itwilltriggerataxaudit).
• Whenthecommissionexpenditureexceeds$50,000,itisnecessarytoobtainthe"TaxRegistrationFormforForeignPaymentsonServicesTradeandOtherItems".
• Usethe"TaxRemittanceDataMatchingTool"(recommendedplug-inoftheStateTaxationAdministration’sElectronicTaxBureau)toautomaticallyverifythedata

Step 5: Dynamic Optimization Mechanism (Quarterly Review)

Output:

Establish health indicators for the settlement list:

• Statisticsonthe"documentreturnrate"(target≤5%)andthe"bankprocessingefficiency"(target≤3workingdays)
• Updatethe"RiskChecklist"everysixmonths,referringtothelatestcasenotificationsissuedbytheStateAdministrationofForeignExchange(suchasthe"FakeBillofLading"caseinthesecondbatchofnotificationsin2026).
• Carryoutspecialoptimizationforhigh-riskmodules(suchasexchangerates/specialterms)andintroducelegal/taxadvisorsforreview

III.Three invisible risk points that 90% of enterprises overlook

1.The timing of locking in the exchange rate: Don’t wait until after customs declaration to lock in the exchange rate.Instead,you should lock in the exchange rate range at the time of signing the contract (it is recommended to use a combination of "forward contracts + options" to reduce the risk of fluctuations).

2.DDP Clause Traps: The import-related taxes must be separately listed in the settlement invoice,otherwise,they will be deemed as "undervalued prices" by the customs (refer to the Announcement No.17 of the General Administration of Customs in 2026).

3.Compliance with Related-Party Transactions: The settlement of agency transactions between parent and subsidiary companies requires providing a proof of the "independent transaction principle" (such as a quotation sheet for similar services from a third party).Otherwise,they may face anti-tax avoidance investigations.

IV.Three actions that can be carried out today

• Action1:Organizethe2026versionofthe"AgentImportandExportSettlementDocumentTemplatePackage",andaddfieldssuchas"Three-FlowCorrelationNumber"and"ExchangeRateDescription"requiredbythenewregulations.
• Action2:Conducta"riskaudit"ofthesettlementdocumentsforthepastsixmonths,withafocusonverifyingthecomplianceoftheexchangeratemoduleandcommissionclauses.
• Action3:Bookaplaceforthebank’s"ComplianceOperationsTraining"(anewpracticalcourseon"through-the-looking-glasssupervision"addedin2026,includingcaseanalysis).