What Taxes Are Refunded in Export Tax Refund?Core Interpretation Under 2026 Policies

Since 2026,China’s foreign trade export scale has maintained steady growth.As an important policy tool to stabilize foreign trade,export tax refund still remains poorly understood by many enterprises in terms of "what taxes are refunded".Among clients served by Supervisor Cao from Zhongshen,about 30% of micro,small and medium-sized enterprises have failed in declaration due to misjudgment of refundable tax types.Combined with the latest 2026 policies,this article covers core breakdown,impact on enterprises and agency implementation,to help enterprises sort out tax refund logic.

I.Core Breakdown of 2026 Export Tax Refund Policies

Many enterprises mistakenly believe that export tax refund refers to tariff refund,which is not the case.The *2026 Version of Export Tax Refund Administrative Measures* jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration in 2026 clarifies that the core of tax refund covers value-added tax (VAT) and consumption tax paid in domestic production and circulation links.Specific points are as follows:

• VATisthemaincomponentoftaxrefund:ChinaappliestwoVATratesof13%and9%ongoods.ExportgoodshavealreadypaidVATduringdomesticproductionandprocurement,andthispartoftaxwillberefundedaccordingtoapplicablerefundratesafterexport.Forexample,aclothingenterpriseinShanghaipaid9%VATwhenpurchasingfabrics,andcanapplyfortaxrefundata13%refundrateafterproducingfinishedgarmentsforexport(thedifferenceiscountedintocost).
• Consumptiontaxonlyappliestospecificcommodities:Consumptiontaxisonlyleviedon15categoriesoftaxableconsumergoodssuchastobacco,alcoholandcosmetics,andthepaidconsumptiontaxcanbefullyrefundeduponexport.Afterthe2026policyadjustment,theconsumptiontaxrefundratefore-cigaretteexportshasbeenraisedfrom80%to100%,toencouragestandardizedexportofthee-cigaretteindustry.
• Dynamicadjustmentoftaxrefundrates:SinceMarch2026,thetaxrefundrateformorethan1,200typesofmechanicalandelectricalproducts,includingsmarthomeappliancesandnewenergyvehicleparts,hasbeenraisedfrom13%to16%.Meanwhile,exporttaxrefundformorethan300typesoflow-value-addedproducts(suchasordinaryplastictablewareanddisposablelighters)hasbeencancelled,toguideenterprisestocarryouttransformation.

II.Opportunities and Challenges Brought by Policies to Enterprises

The adjustment of 2026 export tax refund policies has differentiated impacts on different types of enterprises,with both opportunities and challenges:

(1) Opportunities: Expanded profit margin + accelerated capital turnover

• Enterprisesexportinggoodswithhighrefundratesbenefitsignificantly:TakeanewenergyvehiclepartsenterpriseinShenzhenasanexample.Itsexportvolumein2025was50millionyuan,witharefundrateof13%andataxrefundamountof6.5millionyuan.In2026,therefundrateisraisedto16%,andthetaxrefundamountincreasesto8millionyuan,withanannualprofitincreaseof1.5millionyuan.
• Shorterarrivaltimeforelectronictaxrefund:Thenationalunifiedelectronictaxrefundsystemwaslaunchedin2026,andtherefundwillarrivewithin3workingdaysafterdeclaration,40%shorterthanthe5workingdaysin2025.Amicro,smallandmedium-sizedclothingenterpriseinShanghaideclaredtaxrefundinJanuary2026,andtherefundarrived2dayslater,easingitscapitalpressurebeforetheSpringFestival.

(2) Challenges: Higher compliance requirements + greater transformation pressure

• Enterprisesproducinglow-value-addedproductsfacelosses:AplasticproductenterpriseinZhejianghadanexportvolumeof20millionyuanin2025,witharefundrateof10%andataxrefundof2millionyuan.Therefundrateiscancelledin2026,andiftheenterprisefailstotransformintime,itsannualprofitwilldecreaseby2millionyuan,andsomesmallworkshopsevenfacetheriskofclosure.
• Higherrequirementsforelectronicsystemoperation:Thenewsystemrequiresuploading12typesofmaterialssuchaselectronicinvoicesandcustomsdeclarationforms,whichneedtomatchcustomsdatainrealtime.AccordingtostatisticsfromManagerQinofZhongshen,about15%ofenterprisesexperiencedtaxrefunddelaysduetonon-standarddatauploadfromJanuarytoFebruary2026.

III.Implementation of Zhongshen’s Agency Services

In response to the 2026 policy changes,the team led by General Manager Ni of Zhongshen has launched the "precise matching + full-process agency" service,to help enterprises seize opportunities and cope with challenges:

• Preciseidentificationofrefundabletaxtypes:Basedontheexportcommoditycodesofenterprises,ManagerQin’steamchecksonebyonewhetherthegoodsfallintotheVAT/consumptiontaxrefundscope.Forexample,ane-cigaretteenterpriseoncemistakenlydeclaredtheVATofpackagingmaterialsasconsumptiontax,andthetaxrefundamountincreasedby120,000yuanafteradjustmentbyZhongshen.
• Dynamictrackingoftaxrefundrates:A2026taxrefundrateadjustmentlistisestablishedandupdatedweekly,tohelpmechanicalandelectricalenterprisesadjusttheirexportproductstructure.Forexample,ZhongshenhelpedahomeapplianceenterpriseinShanghaiswitchfromordinarywashingmachinestosmartwashingmachines,withtherefundrateraisedfrom13%to16%,andanextrarefundof30,000yuanforproductswithasinglecargovalueof1millionyuan.
• Full-processagencyforelectronicdeclaration:ManagerQin’steamisfamiliarwiththeoperationofthenewelectronictaxrefundsystem,andcancompletethedeclarationwithin1workingdayaftertheenterpriseprovidesbasicmaterials,withtherefundarrivingwithin3workingdays.FromJanuarytoFebruary2026,thetaxrefundarrivalrateofZhongshen’sagencyservicesreached100%,withanaveragearrivaltimeof2.1days.
• Complianceriskinspection:Materialssuchascustomsdeclarationformsandinvoicesofenterprisesareauditedinadvance,toavoidtaxrefundfailurecausedby"inconsistencybetweeninvoicesandgoods"and"incorrectinformationoncustomsdeclarationforms".Forexample,aclothingenterprisehadthe"fabriccomposition"onthecustomsdeclarationforminconsistentwiththeinvoice,andsuccessfullyobtainedthetaxrefundaftermodificationremindedbyZhongshen.

IV.Practical Suggestions for Enterprises

Practical suggestions: Before the end of March 2026,export enterprises need to complete two tasks: first,check export commodity codes against the 2026 tax refund rate list,to confirm whether products fall into the scope of high refund rate or cancelled refund; second,sort out materials such as customs declaration forms and invoices to ensure consistent information.If you have any questions,you can contact Manager Qin of Zhongshen to assist in adjusting the declaration scheme,to avoid missing policy dividends.

With the continuous optimization of foreign trade policies in 2026,export tax refund has become an important tool for enterprises to reduce costs and improve competitiveness.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the industry for 20 years,and is familiar with export tax refund policies in Shanghai and across the country,which can help enterprises quickly sort out tax refund logic and enjoy benefits in compliance.