What is a China Tax Registration Certificate?

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What is a China Tax Registration Certificate?

Hi 🙂 Today’s post is about China China Tax Registration Certificates and how they can help you take your business to the next level. 

If you are serious about sourcing from China, there is a good chance you will have seen at least a copy of a China Tax Registration Certificate. 

All legitimate China companies must have a China Tax Registration Certificate.

Who We Are?

China Verification is a service for finding and verifying China suppliers. We have verified hundreds of China companies.  

China Tax Registration Certificates are one useful source of information about China suppliers. 

Depending on how deep you want to go with your verification process, you may find yourself looking at and trying to understand a China Tax Registration Certificate. 

At China Verification we are both serious and passionate about helping our clients. That is why we prepared this post to help hardworking entrepreneurs, just like you. We want to help you make the best use of the China Tax Registration Certificate.

We are going to show you:

  • What does a China Tax Registration Certificate look like?
  • What information can I find in a China Tax Registration Certificate?
  • Who Issues a China Tax Registration Certificate?
  • Who Uses the China Tax Registration Certificate?
  • How can you get your supplier’s China Tax Registration Certificate?

What Does a China Tax Registration Certificate Look Like?

Here is an example of what you can expect your supplier’s tax registration certificate to look like. 

Of course, if you read Chinese you will have already noticed that there is no specific information on this document. It is just an example!

At the top of the certificate is China’s national emblem  and the text "税务登记证" which means "tax registration certificate".

What Information Can I Find in a China Tax Registration Certificate?

Starting on the left side of the document, you can see that there is a whole bunch of potentially useful information. From top to bottom the items covered on the certificate’s left side are as follows:

  • Taxpayer Name (纳税人名称)
  • Legal Representative / Responsible Person (法定代表人/负责人)
  • Registration Type (登记注册类型)
  • Business Scope (经营范围)
  • Approval Authority (批准设立机关)
  • Issuing Tax Authority (发证税务机关)

Many of the items specified are consistent with details found on the China business license.

As with all Chinese documents, you’ll want to ensure that it is an official, legitimate document. Unfortunately, forgeries and alterations are common.

Who Issues a China Tax Registration Certificate?

In China, there are two separate tax systems responsible for different tax collection scopes:  the state tax bureau system and the local tax bureau system.

The authorities under the state system are called the Offices of SAT (State Administration of Taxation) and administered by State Administration of Taxation directly, while others are called Local Taxation Bureaus which are under the administration of both related tax departments and local governments.

They usually operate separately and companies only need to choose one for their tax registration certificate.  If a company’s tax collection scopes involves both systems, stamps of authorities in both systems will be shown on this one certificate.

Who Uses the China Tax Registration Certificate?

Anyone who engages in the production of goods and business operations is obligated by law to pay tax to their local tax authority.

China companies are required to apply for this certificate within 30 days after receiving their Business License. However, some parties such as government offices, individuals and mobile vendors are excluded.

The China tax registration certificate is typically used in the following situations:

  • For opening a company bank account
  • Application for tax reduction, tax exemption or tax refunds
  • To receive and purchase tax invoices
  • When dealing with the suspension and discontinuation of business
  • Other related tax issues

There is no exact expiry date on the certificate. Note that use of the China tax registration certificate has recently decreased following the introduction of a new 18-digit Chinese business registration number. 

The new China business license certificate combines information from the tax registration certificate leading to it becoming obsolete.

Getting Your Supplier’s China Tax Registration Certificate

Ok. Now it gets interesting.

Just about every Mainland China-registered company should have a tax registration certificate.

When you are starting to negotiate with a Chinese company, do not be surprised if your new partner wants to show you this document as proof that it is legit. Even if your new best friend does not volunteer their certificate, it  might be worth asking to take a look.

Simply the fact that they are prepared to send you a document is kinda sorta an indication that they are not a complete scam. That said, you are still gonna need to read the thing. 

If the Chinese entity cannot present a tax registration certificate, then you should really start asking yourself some serious questions about your ‘supplier’.

If the information the Chinese entity already gave you does not match up with  the tax registration certificate, then  again you should really start asking yourself some serious questions about your ‘supplier’.

What’s Next?

Guys 🙂 I really hope you found today’s post to be an assistance . 

Like you know, we are serious and passionate about assisting hardworking entrepreneurs. If you have any questions about finding the right supplier in China, we are here to help.

Just drop a message below. This offer definitely includes questions about any Chinese tax registration certificates. You can count on us.


Tags

China; Tax Registration Certificate; Certificate; Supplier; Verification; Identification; Tax Registration; Document Verification


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