WhyIs it mandatory for enterprises to obtain an agency export certificate?

According to the General Administration of Customs’ Announcement No.38 of 2025,the agent’s export certificate isLegaland the necessary documents for applying for a tax refundIn practical operations:

• Cross-borderforeignexchangereceiptsrequiresubmissionoftheoriginalrecordtothebank.
• Thedeclarationmustbeaccompaniedbyacustomsverificationstamp.
• Platformsettlementrequiresverificationofauthenticity.

A certain garment company was unable to collect $2 million in export payments in 2023 due to the lack of an agency certificate.This case serves as a warning about the importance of compliance documents.

How to verify the authenticity of an agency’s certification?

It is recommended to adoptThree-Step Verification Method:

• Logintothe"ChinaInternationalTradeSingleWindow"tochecktherecordnumber.
  • Pleaseenterthe18-digitUnifiedSocialCreditCode.
  • Pleaseverifywhetherthebusinessscopeincludes"import"”
• Request the agent to provide tax payment certificates for the past three months.
• On-site inspection of the original company customs registration certificate

What are the new requirements for export agency certificates in the 2025 era?

According to the latest revised "Administrative Measures for Export Tax Rebates":

• NewlyaddedDigitalsignatureverificationFunction(effectivefromJuly1,2025)
• Thesupportingdocumentsmustbeattached.Logisticstrackingverificationcode
• Cross-bordere-commerceB2Bordersmustbelabeledwiththeplatformregistrationnumber.

What should I do if the agency export certificate is lost?

Handle it in two scenarios:

• Notexceedingthedeclarationperiod.:Applytothecompetentcustomsforreissuance(acopyofthecustomsdeclarationformmustbeprovided).
• Exceedingthedeclarationperiod:Itisnecessarytoengageanaccountingfirmtoissueaspecialauditreport.

Please pay special attention to the fact that the time limit for reapplying for a driver’s license will be shortened from 90 days to 60 days starting from 2025.

What is the difference between self-export and agency export certification?

The key differences are reflected in three aspects:

• Legalliability:Undertheagencymodel,theresponsibleentityistheagencycompany.
• Taxrefundcycle：Theaveragedelayforagencyexportsis15workingdays.
• Documentrequirements：Forexportbyproxy,anotarizedpowerofattorneymustbeadditionallyprovided.

How to choose a reliable export agency service provider?

Consider Five Key Dimensions:

• CustomsAEOcertificationlevel(prioritygiventoAdvancedCertifiedEnterprises)
• Bankcreditline(recommendednolessthan50millionyuan)
• HistoricalDisputeResolutionRecords(JudicialDocumentsAvailableUponRequest)
• Informationsystemintegrationcapability(supportsEDIdataexchange)
• Industryserviceexperience(specializedincategoriesfornolessthan3years)

What are the hidden risks involved in an export agency certificate?

Special attention should be paid to three risk points:

• Exchangeratelocktrap:Someagentsmaychargeunreasonableexchangeratelockingfees.
• Jointtaxliability:Theagencycompany’sissuanceoffalseinvoiceswillbetracedbacktotheclient.
• IntellectualPropertyRisk：Infringementofcustomsdeclarationproductnamesmayresultintheinvalidationofcertificates.

It is recommended to clearly stipulate in contractsLiability Allocation Clause for Fault,and require the agent to purchase professional liability insurance.

What materials are required for processing an export agency certificate?

2025 Latest Requirements for Materials List:

• NotarizedPowerofAttorneyAgreement(ChineseandEnglishversions)
• ExportgoodsHSCodeAdvanceRulingNotice
• Thepayerandpayee’sCRSTaxResidentDeclaration
• IssuedbythelogisticscompanyShipmentVerificationReport