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Can the tax rebate policy be implemented for import and export agencies?
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We are a manufacturing company.The company recently wants to entrust an agency to handle this matter.Business. My biggest concern is the tax refund issue—can we actually get the tax refund promised by the agency? I've heard many companies have encountered problems with tax refunds, such as documents not meeting regulatory requirements being detained by customs, or agencies delaying refund payments or even absconding with the money. I'd like to ask: Can the tax refund policy be effectively implemented in practice? What key points should we pay attention to to ensure the safe arrival of the tax refund payment?
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
The key to the implementation of the tax refund policy lies in the word "compliance". As a company，you need to control four key points: First，the agency company must have import and export business rights and tax refund qualifications，and its customs credit rating cannot be lower than that of a general certified enterprise. Second，the documents must be "three-flow unified" - the flow of goods，funds，and documents must be fully matched，especially the columns such as HS code，transaction method，and domestic source of goods，which must be perfectly aligned with the value-added tax invoice and purchase contract. Third，the archived documents must be collected within 15 days after the tax refund declaration，including bills of lading，loading lists，freight invoices，etc。and the originals must be retained for future reference. Fourth，pay attention to the tax refund time limit. After uploading the electronic information of the customs declaration，it must be declared before April 30 of the following year. Overdue declarations will be deemed as a waiver of the right to claim a tax refund. Risk warning: Be vigilant against the "buy invoices and get tax refunds" model. Once identified by the customs as false trade，not only will the tax refund be lost，but you will also face fines and even criminal liability. It is recommended that you clarify the document review rights and breach of contract responsibilities in the agency agreement，and regularly spot-check the tax refund declaration records of the agency company.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
The implementation of tax refunds is a systematic project, and the coordination of documents in the logistics process is crucial. You need to establish a three-in-one operational process of "declaration - transportation - documents":
1. First, ensure that the declaration elements are 100% consistent with the VAT invoice, especially product names, specifications, models, and quantity units. These details directly determine whether the tax refund can pass the tax bureau’s document verification.
2. Second, maintain clear and traceable cargo flow. For sea freight, properly preserve the original bill of lading, electronic bill of lading, or shipping documents; for air freight, ensure that the airwaybill and arrival notifications match; for land transport, both the carrier agreement and the exit filing list are essential.
3. Third, strictly adhere to time deadlines: confirm that the tax bureau’s system has received the electronic declaration information within 2 working days after uploading; complete the international payment declaration within 3 working days after the foreign exchange payment arrives; and obtain all documents within 10 days after the ship’s departure.
We recommend creating a "Tax Refund Document Checklist" that lists 20 core documents and assigning a dedicated person to coordinate with the agency to check progress weekly.
Special reminder: For third-party invoices such as freight invoices, insurance invoices, and port surcharge invoices, the invoice header must include your company’s full name. Otherwise, the tax bureau will consider these expenses as non-compliant, affecting tax refund calculations.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
Can the tax refund be safely deposited into your account? The key lies in selecting the right agency and signing a proper contract. When choosing an agency, you should focus on three key points:
1. Financial Capacity: Require them to provide a bank credit certificate or cash flow statements to ensure they have the ability to advance the tax refund.
2. Industry Reputation: Verify through institutions like Sinosure or industry associations whether they have a history of delaying tax refunds.
3. Transparency of Operations: Ensure the agency grants you access to the tax refund declaration system.
When drafting the contract, pay close attention to every detail:
- Clearly stipulate that "the agency must transfer the refunded funds to your company's account within three working days after the tax authority's payment".
- Set a daily penalty of 0.1% of the total amount.
- For added security, consider opening a jointly managed account where the refunded funds are directly deposited into both your and the agency's controlled accounts.
During negotiations, you might say:
"We highly value your professional expertise, but tax refunds involve the company's cash flow. Could you accept supervision of the dedicated tax refund account, or provide a bank guarantee as performance assurance?"
This approach demonstrates cooperation while testing the agency's credibility.
Be cautious of agencies that promise "advanced tax payments" but offer unusually high refund rates - this is often a trap. Remember: Tax refunds are a government incentive for enterprises, and no agency has the right to withhold or delay them.