1.What are the main charging methods for export agency companies?

According to the data from the General Administration of Customs in 2024,the following three mainstream charging models are used in China’s agency export business:

• FixedServiceFeeRateSystem:Chargedat0.5%-1.2%oftheexportamount,suitableforlong-termstablecooperation.
• Tieredpricingsystem:Feesarecalculatedintiersbasedonexportvalue,with1%foramountsbelow$1millionandareducedrateof0.3%forportionsexceeding$5million.
• Projectlump-sumsystem:Includesafullrangeofservicessuchascustomsclearance,logistics,anddocumentation,withasingle-ticketfeerangingfrom3,000to8,000yuan.

II.How exactly does the payment process for export agency work?

TypicalThe agency payment collection process consists of five key steps:

• Signatripartiteagreement(factory-agent-overseasbuyer)
• Theoverseasbuyerremitsforeignexchangetotheagentcompany’saccount.
• Theagencyhascompletedthetask.andVATrefunddeclaration
• Afterdeductingservicefeesandadvancedpayments,paythefactory’sinvoiceamount.
• ProvideacompletesetVoucher(averageprocessingtime:45workingdays)

III.How to Prevent Foreign Exchange Settlement Risks?

Agency companies typically employ three risk control measures:

• AdvancePaymentGuarantee:Theorderwillbeinitiatedafter30%depositisreceived.
• Documentreview:TheprofessionalteamreviewstheL/Cterms.Accordingtothedatafrom2024,theerrorrateindocumentreviewhasdroppedto0.08%.
• Creditinsurancecoverage：ByinsuringthroughSinosure,upto90%ofthepaymentlosscanbecovered.

IV.How to handle VAT refunds?

Special attention should be paid to the tax refund procedures for export agency:

• Customsdeclarationmustbefiledundertheletterheadoftheagencycompany.
• Thefactoryisrequiredtoissueaspecialvalue-addedtaxinvoicetotheagencycompany.
• Thetaxrefundcycleisinfluencedbytheproduct’sHScode,withmechanicalandelectricalproductsaveraging15daysfasterthantextiles.
• Startingfrom2025,theelectronicrefundsystemwillbefullyimplemented,andthetimeforfundstoarriveintheaccountwillbeshortenedtowithin20workingdays

V.What hidden costs are included in the service fee?

In addition to the explicitly stated service fees,special attention should be paid to:

• Bankhandlingfee(usually0.1%oftheremittanceamount)
• Abnormalsituationhandlingfee(e.g.amendmentofdeclaration,deletionandre-declaration)
• Warehousedetentionfee(0.5RMBpercubicmeterperdayafterthefreestorageperiod).
• Foreignexchangeratelockingservicefee(a0.3%marginisrequiredforforwardexchangesettlement).

6.How to Choose a Reliable Agency?

It is recommended to focus on evaluating the following five dimensions:

• CustomsAEOcertificationlevel(prioritygiventoAdvancedCertifiedEnterprises)
• ClassificationLeveloftheStateAdministrationofForeignExchange(FundflowsforClassAenterprisesareunrestricted)
• Professionalfieldmatchingdegree(e.g.hazardouschemicalsrequirehazardousmaterialsoperationqualifications)
• Levelofinformatizationsystem(real-timebusinessprogressqueryavailable)
• RiskResponseCaseDatabase(requiresprovidingmorethan3disputeresolutionexamples)

7.How are special trade methods charged?

Special attention should be paid to different trade modes:

• :Anadditionaloverseaswarehousesystemintegrationfeeisrequired(approximately5,000RMBperinstance).
• Processingtrade:Themanualwrite-offservicefeestartsat2,000yuanperticket.
• Marketprocurement:Underthe1039modelThehandlingfeeisincreasedby0.2%.
• Offshoretrade:Afinancialhandlingfeeof1‰willbechargedfortransactionsinvolvingmulti-partysettlements.