New tax rebate rates for exports from China

Last 15 November 2024, China’s Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration released the Announcement No. 15 on the Adjustment of Export Tax Rebate Policies, effective from 1 December. It is set to impact the future business planning of local and foreign companies involved in export operations from China to foreign countries, especially in terms of higher costs and lower export volumes.

Two different sets of adjustments were introduced on China’s export tax rebate, incentive system started in 1985 through which refunds are given to exporters on VAT and consumption tax (CT) paid before the export of their products abroad. The first set provides for the cancellation of the tax rebate on 59 items, including copper and aluminium products (plates, sheets, bars etc.), chemically modified oils and fats, and other kinds of metals.

The second set includes a reduction of the VAT rebate rate from 13% (which entailed a full refund of VAT on purchases, being 13% in China) to 9% for 209 items. Refined oils, batteries, photovoltaic products are among the affected categories.

Seen since its inception as a strategic policy to improve the competitiveness of exported goods in the international market, the VAT Tax Rebate (出口退税) system allows exporters to recover VAT on goods intended for export, receiving the VAT paid on purchases (in full or in part, based on the specific VAT refund percentage defined for each customs code) directly into the company bank account, in a relatively short time (1-2 months) from the submission of the necessary documentation relating to export. The Tax Rebate system is applicable both to companies that carry out trading activities and to the manufacturing companies, with different application rules.