Not tax advice. Computation tools only. Have a professional check your work before filing.
OpenAccountants/Skills/China VAT (增值税)

China VAT (增值税)

Prepare, review, or classify transactions for a China VAT (增值税 / VAT) return, handle Golden Tax System (金税系统) compliance, classify transactions for Chinese VAT purposes, or advise on VAT registration and filing in China.

ChinaTax year 2025· Last reviewed Apr 13, 2026

Key facts — China, 2025

FieldValue
CountryPeople's Republic of China (中华人民共和国)
Tax增值税 (Zēngzhíshuì / Value Added Tax)
CurrencyCNY (Renminbi 人民币 / RMB) only
Tax yearCalendar year (January–December)
Standard rate13% (goods, processing, repair, leasing of tangible assets)
Reduced rate 9%Agricultural products, utilities, transport, construction, real estate, postal
Reduced rate 6%Financial services, modern services (IT, consulting, R&D), telecom, consumer services
Zero rateExports of goods and services (出口零税率)
Small taxpayer rate3% (小规模纳税人 — currently partially reduced to 1% for some sectors)
Tax authority国家税务总局 State Taxation Administration (STA)
Filing portal电子税务局 (Online Tax Bureau — local provincial portals)
General taxpayer filingMonthly or quarterly; due 15th of following month/quarter
Small taxpayer filingQuarterly; due 15th of month following quarter
Registration threshold (general)CNY 500,000/year (services); CNY 500,000/year (goods) for voluntary registration
Mandatory general taxpayerTaxable sales > CNY 500,000 for service / CNY 500,000 for goods (verify current threshold)
e-Invoice电子发票 (全面推行 — fully rolled out; paper invoices being phased out)
ContributorOpen Accountants Community
Validated byPending — requires sign-off by a China-licensed 注册税务师 (CTA) or 注册会计师 (CPA)
Skill version2.0

Use these rules in your AI

Connect once and your AI follows China VAT (增值税) automatically — it stays current when a rate changes, and hands you to a licensed accountant when you need one. A copied file goes stale the day the law moves.

Use this in your AI

Want a licensed accountant to check your AI-generated return?

Get reviewed

Are you a China accountant? Sign off these rules and put your name on them.

These rules are research-verified. They need a licensed practitioner for China to confirm them and become their named verifier. Reviewing reference rules — not signing returns.

Apply to verify China

About

Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for a China VAT (增值税 / VAT) return, handle Golden Tax System (金税系统) compliance, classify transactions for Chinese VAT purposes, or advise on VAT registration and filing in China. Trigger on phrases like "增值税", "VAT return China", "增值税申报", "增值税专用发票", "金税系统", "一般纳税人", "小规模纳税人", or any China VAT request. ALWAYS read this skill before touching any China VAT work.

ChinaTax year 2025

Full guide

China VAT (增值税) Skill v2.0


Section 1 — Quick reference

FieldValue
CountryPeople's Republic of China (中华人民共和国)
Tax增值税 (Zēngzhíshuì / Value Added Tax)
CurrencyCNY (Renminbi 人民币 / RMB) only
Tax yearCalendar year (January–December)
Standard rate13% (goods, processing, repair, leasing of tangible assets)
Reduced rate 9%Agricultural products, utilities, transport, construction, real estate, postal
Reduced rate 6%Financial services, modern services (IT, consulting, R&D), telecom, consumer services
Zero rateExports of goods and services (出口零税率)
Small taxpayer rate3% (小规模纳税人 — currently partially reduced to 1% for some sectors)
Tax authority国家税务总局 State Taxation Administration (STA)
Filing portal电子税务局 (Online Tax Bureau — local provincial portals)
General taxpayer filingMonthly or quarterly; due 15th of following month/quarter
Small taxpayer filingQuarterly; due 15th of month following quarter
Registration threshold (general)CNY 500,000/year (services); CNY 500,000/year (goods) for voluntary registration
Mandatory general taxpayerTaxable sales > CNY 500,000 for service / CNY 500,000 for goods (verify current threshold)
e-Invoice电子发票 (全面推行 — fully rolled out; paper invoices being phased out)
ContributorOpen Accountants Community
Validated byPending — requires sign-off by a China-licensed 注册税务师 (CTA) or 注册会计师 (CPA)
Skill version2.0

Key return form lines (增值税申报表)

LineMeaning
1Taxable sales at 13% (应税货物及劳务)
2Taxable sales at 9%
3Taxable sales at 6%
4Zero-rated sales (出口)
5Exempt sales (免税)
6Total output VAT (销项税额合计)
7Total input VAT (进项税额合计)
8Input VAT not deductible (进项税额转出)
9Net input VAT available (7 − 8)
10Net VAT payable (6 − 9)
11VAT reduction/exemption credits
12Excess credit carried forward
13Net VAT payable after credits

Conservative defaults

AmbiguityDefault
Unknown rate on a sale13%
Unknown whether general or small taxpayerGeneral taxpayer (一般纳税人) — more conservative
Unknown counterparty countryDomestic China
Unknown whether special or ordinary invoiceOrdinary invoice — no input credit
Unknown business-use %0% credit
Unknown whether digital service is B2B or B2CB2C — no reverse charge
Unknown export documentation statusNot zero-rated — treat as domestic 13%

Red flag thresholds

ThresholdValue
HIGH single transactionCNY 200,000
HIGH tax delta on single defaultCNY 20,000
MEDIUM counterparty concentration>40% of output or input
MEDIUM conservative default count>4 per period
LOW absolute net VAT positionCNY 100,000

Section 2 — Required inputs and refusal catalogue

Required inputs

Minimum viable — bank statement for the period in CSV, PDF, or pasted text. Confirmation of taxpayer category (一般纳税人 general or 小规模纳税人 small).

Recommended — 增值税专用发票 (special VAT invoices) for all input credits, 税号 (TIN — 纳税人识别号 18-digit), prior period return.

Ideal — complete invoice register from Golden Tax System (金税系统), asset register, full general ledger.

Refusal if minimum is missing — SOFT WARN. No bank statement = hard stop. Without special invoices: "Input VAT credits in China require 增值税专用发票 (special VAT invoices) verified through the Golden Tax System. All input credits are provisional pending invoice verification."

Refusal catalogue

R-CN-1 — Small taxpayer (小规模纳税人) claiming input credits. "Small taxpayers cannot recover input VAT. They apply a simplified 3% rate on gross sales (or 1% under temporary relief). No input credit mechanism applies. This skill can calculate the simplified rate return but cannot process input credits."

R-CN-2 — VAT exemption schemes. "Certain industries have specific VAT exemption or reduction schemes (e.g., software enterprises, agriculture). These require specialist confirmation. Flag for review."

R-CN-3 — Real estate and construction (cross-period projects). "Long-term construction and real estate development projects have complex cross-period VAT rules. Out of scope — escalate to 注册税务师."

R-CN-4 — Cross-border services without clear PE analysis. "Services provided across the China border involving permanent establishment (PE) questions require specialist analysis. Out of scope."

R-CN-5 — Export refund (出口退税). "Export VAT refund claims require separate 出口退税申报 filings and customs documentation. Out of scope for this skill — escalate."

R-CN-6 — Financial institutions. "Banks and insurance companies have separate VAT calculation methods. Out of scope."


Section 3 — Supplier pattern library

Match by case-insensitive substring on counterparty name or transaction reference. Most specific match wins. Fall through to Section 5 if no match.

3.1 Chinese banks — fees and charges (exempt / exclude)

PatternTreatmentNotes
工商银行, ICBC, 中国工商银行EXCLUDE (fee lines)Bank charges — exempt financial service
建设银行, CCB, 中国建设银行EXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
农业银行, ABC, 中国农业银行EXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
中国银行, BOC, BANK OF CHINAEXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
交通银行, BOCOM, 交通银行股份EXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
招商银行, CMB, CHINA MERCHANTSEXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
浦发银行, SPDBEXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
中信银行, CITIC BANKEXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
手续费, 银行手续费EXCLUDEBank transaction fee — exempt
利息, 利息收入, INTERESTEXCLUDEInterest — exempt from VAT

3.2 Digital payment platforms (exclude platform fees)

PatternTreatmentNotes
支付宝, ALIPAYEXCLUDE (fee lines)Payment processing — exempt
微信支付, WECHAT PAY, 财付通EXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
云闪付, UNIONPAYEXCLUDE (fee lines)Same
京东支付, JD PAYEXCLUDE (fee lines)Same

3.3 Chinese government and statutory (exclude)

PatternTreatmentNotes
国家税务总局, 税务局, STAEXCLUDETax payment — not a supply
增值税, 企业所得税, 个人所得税EXCLUDETax remittance
社会保险, 社保, SOCIAL INSURANCEEXCLUDEStatutory contribution
公积金, 住房公积金EXCLUDEHousing provident fund
海关, 关税, CUSTOMSEXCLUDECustoms duty (but import VAT handled separately)
工商局, 市场监管EXCLUDERegistration fees — government sovereign acts

3.4 Chinese utilities (taxable)

PatternTreatmentRateNotes
国家电网, STATE GRID, 国网Input 9%9%Electricity — reduced rate
南方电网, CSG, 南网Input 9%9%Electricity — reduced rate
中国石油, CNPC, 中石油, PETROCHINAInput 9%/13%9%/13%Gas distribution 9%; crude/refined 13%
中国石化, SINOPEC, 中石化Input 13%13%Fuel — standard rate
城市燃气, 天然气公司Input 9%9%Gas — reduced rate
自来水, 供水公司Input 9%9%Water — reduced rate
中国移动, CHINA MOBILE, 移动通信Input 6%6%Telecom — modern services rate
中国联通, CHINA UNICOMInput 6%6%Telecom — modern services rate
中国电信, CHINA TELECOMInput 6%6%Telecom — modern services rate

3.5 Transport and logistics (taxable)

PatternTreatmentRateNotes
顺丰速运, SF EXPRESS, 顺丰控股Input 9%9%Domestic transport — reduced rate
京东物流, JD LOGISTICSInput 9%9%Transport — reduced rate
中通快递, ZTO EXPRESSInput 9%9%Transport — reduced rate
圆通快递, YTO EXPRESSInput 9%9%Transport — reduced rate
申通快递, STO EXPRESSInput 9%9%Transport — reduced rate
韵达快递, YUNDA EXPRESSInput 9%9%Transport — reduced rate
邮政EMS, CHINA POST EMSInput 9%9%Postal transport — reduced rate
滴滴出行, DIDIInput 6%6%Ride-hailing — modern service rate
中国国航, AIR CHINA, 国航Input 9%/0%9%/0%Domestic 9%; international 0%
中国东航, CHINA EASTERNInput 9%/0%9%/0%Same
南方航空, CHINA SOUTHERNInput 9%/0%9%/0%Same
高铁, 铁路, CHINA RAILWAY, 中国铁路Input 9%9%Rail transport — reduced rate

3.6 Food and retail (taxable)

PatternTreatmentRateNotes
盒马, HEMA FRESH, 盒马鲜生Input 9% (food)9%Fresh food retail — agricultural reduced rate
美团, MEITUAN (food delivery)Input 9%9%Food delivery — reduced rate for food items
饿了么, ELEMEInput 9%9%Food delivery — reduced rate
大润发, RT-MARTInput 13%/9%MixedNon-food 13%; food 9%
沃尔玛, WALMART CHINAInput 13%/9%MixedSame
家乐福, CARREFOUR CHINAInput 13%/9%MixedSame
永辉超市, YONGHUIInput 9% (grocery)9%Food supermarket

3.7 SaaS — Chinese suppliers (modern services 6%)

PatternTreatmentRateNotes
用友网络, YONYOUInput 6%6%Chinese ERP — modern services
金蝶软件, KINGDEEInput 6%6%Chinese accounting software
钉钉, DINGTALKInput 6%6%Alibaba groupware
企业微信, WECHAT WORKInput 6%6%Tencent enterprise tool
阿里云, ALIBABA CLOUDInput 6%6%Cloud services — modern services
腾讯云, TENCENT CLOUDInput 6%6%Cloud services
华为云, HUAWEI CLOUDInput 6%6%Cloud services
百度智能云, BAIDU CLOUDInput 6%6%Cloud services

3.8 SaaS — international suppliers (note: many blocked in China)

PatternTreatmentNotes
GOOGLE (Search, Workspace, Ads)BLOCKED in ChinaGoogle services not available without VPN — flag if appearing
FACEBOOK, META ADSBLOCKED in ChinaNot available — flag if appearing
TWITTER, XBLOCKED in ChinaNot available — flag if appearing
MICROSOFT (365, Azure)Input 6% via China entityMicrosoft operates via local China entity — standard 6% VAT invoiced
MICROSOFT 中国Input 6%Microsoft (China) Co. Ltd. — modern services
SAP CHINAInput 6%SAP licensed via China entity
ORACLE CHINAInput 6%Same
ADOBE (China entity)Input 6%If via China entity — check invoice

3.9 Internal transfers and exclusions

PatternTreatmentNotes
内部转账, 账户间转账EXCLUDEInternal transfer
借款, 贷款, 还款EXCLUDELoan principal
工资, 薪资, 薪酬EXCLUDEPayroll — out of VAT scope
股利, 分红, DIVIDENDEXCLUDEDividend — out of VAT scope
押金, 保证金EXCLUDEDeposit — out of VAT scope until applied

Section 4 — Worked examples

Six classifications from a hypothetical bank statement of a Shanghai-based IT consulting firm. Format: 招商银行 (CMB) CSV export.

Example 1 — Domestic B2B service revenue (6%)

Input line: 2025-04-15 转账收入 北京科技有限公司 发票号: INV-2025-041 +530,000.00 CNY

Reasoning: Incoming CNY 530,000 from a Beijing company for IT consulting. IT consulting is a "modern service" (现代服务) taxed at 6%. If the invoice is CNY 530,000 gross: net = CNY 500,000 (销项税基) + CNY 30,000 output VAT (6%). The 增值税专用发票 must be issued through the Golden Tax System showing the 6% rate. Report on line 3 (6% sales).

Classification: Output VAT at 6% — CNY 30,000. Net sales: CNY 500,000.

Example 2 — Goods purchase (13%, input credit requires special invoice)

Input line: 2025-04-10 转账支出 联想集团有限公司 采购笔记本电脑10台 -113,000.00 CNY

Reasoning: Purchase of 10 laptops from Lenovo. Goods at standard rate 13%. Gross CNY 113,000. Net = CNY 100,000 + CNY 13,000 input VAT. Input credit of CNY 13,000 available ONLY if a valid 增值税专用发票 (special VAT invoice) is obtained from Lenovo and verified in the Golden Tax System. If only an ordinary invoice (普通发票) is held, no input credit.

Classification: Input VAT 13% — CNY 13,000 (provisional, pending special invoice verification).

Example 3 — Export services (zero-rated)

Input line: 2025-04-22 外汇收入 ACME CORPORATION USA 技术服务费 Q1 2025 +700,000.00 CNY

Reasoning: Incoming CNY 700,000 (USD equivalent) from a US company for technical services. If the service qualifies as "exported services" (completely consumed outside China, provided to a foreign entity), it is zero-rated. Evidence required: signed contract, foreign payment records, proof service was consumed abroad. Report on line 4 (zero-rated). If export qualification uncertain — apply 6% default until confirmed.

Classification: Zero-rated export sales — CNY 700,000. Output VAT: CNY 0 (if confirmed). Conservative default: 6% (CNY 42,000) pending confirmation.

Example 4 — Freight/logistics (9% reduced rate)

Input line: 2025-04-08 转账支出 顺丰速运股份有限公司 快递费 2025年3月 -9,540.00 CNY

Reasoning: Payment to SF Express for domestic courier services. Transport is taxed at 9% reduced rate. Gross CNY 9,540. Net = CNY 8,752 + CNY 788 input VAT at 9%. Input credit requires a special invoice (增值税专用发票) from SF Express — they are a QIS equivalent registered supplier.

Classification: Input VAT 9% — CNY 788. Net expense: CNY 8,752.

Example 5 — Cloud services from Chinese provider (6%)

Input line: 2025-04-01 代扣 阿里云计算有限公司 云服务器费用 2025-04 -10,600.00 CNY

Reasoning: Monthly cloud hosting from Alibaba Cloud (阿里云). Cloud/IT services = modern services at 6%. CNY 10,600 gross. Net = CNY 10,000 + CNY 600 input VAT. Alibaba Cloud issues 增值税专用发票 — input credit available. Fully deductible for income tax purposes as well.

Classification: Input VAT 6% — CNY 600. Net expense: CNY 10,000.

Example 6 — Payroll (outside VAT scope)

Input line: 2025-04-25 工资发放 员工薪酬 2025年4月工资 -850,000.00 CNY

Reasoning: Payroll payment. Wages and salaries are outside VAT scope entirely — not a supply of goods or services. No VAT input or output. EXCLUDE from the VAT return. This will appear in income tax calculations but not VAT.

Classification: EXCLUDE from VAT return entirely. Out of scope (不征税).


Section 5 — Tier 1 rules (compressed)

5.1 Standard rate 13%

Default rate for taxable supply of goods, processing, repair and replacement services, and leasing of tangible movable property. Legislation: VAT Law (增值税法) Article 2; 财税[2016]36号.

5.2 Reduced rate 9%

Agricultural products (农产品), tap water, heating, cooling, gas, coal (household), books/newspapers, animal feed, agricultural machinery, fertilizer; transport services; postal services; construction and real estate. Legislation: 增值税税率 Schedule; 财税[2016]36号 附件1.

5.3 Reduced rate 6%

Financial services (金融服务), modern services (现代服务: IT, consulting, R&D, advertising, design, logistics support), telecom services, life services (生活服务: catering, accommodation, tourism, entertainment, consumer services). Legislation: 财税[2016]36号.

5.4 Zero rate — exports

Exports of goods and eligible exported services (完全在境外消费 — consumed entirely outside China). Evidence: customs export declaration for goods; contracts and payment proof for services. Legislation: 增值税法 Article 2(3).

5.5 Exempt supplies

Medical and healthcare, education, childcare, elderly care, financial services (some), cultural services, residential rent, certain agricultural self-produced goods. No output VAT; no input credit on exempt revenues. Legislation: 增值税法 Article 13; 营改增 exemption list.

5.6 Input VAT credit rules

Input VAT is deductible only when:

  • A valid 增值税专用发票 (or customs import VAT certificate) is held
  • The invoice is verified in the Golden Tax System (金税系统)
  • The purchase relates to taxable (not exempt) business activities
  • Invoice is within the 360-day certification window

Ordinary invoices (普通发票) do NOT generate input credits.

5.7 Small taxpayer (小规模纳税人) simplified calculation

Rate: 3% on gross sales (currently reduced to 1% for some sectors — verify current policy). No input credit. No special invoices issued (only ordinary invoices unless authorised). Filing: quarterly. Gross sales × 3% (or 1%) = VAT payable.

5.8 Filing deadlines

Filer typePeriodDue date
General taxpayer (monthly)Monthly15th of following month
General taxpayer (quarterly)Quarterly15th of month following quarter
Small taxpayerQuarterly15th of month following quarter
Annual reconciliationCalendar year31 March following year

5.9 Penalties

OffencePenalty
Late filingCNY 2,000–10,000 fine
Late payment (滞纳金)0.05% per day of unpaid tax
Understatement50%–500% of tax evaded
False invoicing (虚开发票)Criminal liability possible

Section 6 — Tier 2 catalogue

6.1 Export service qualification (境外消费确认)

What it shows: Revenue from a foreign client. What's missing: Whether the service was consumed entirely outside China (required for zero-rating). Conservative default: 6% domestic rate. Question to ask: "Was this service fully consumed outside China? Can you provide the contract and evidence that the service output was used abroad?"

6.2 Mixed-rate retail purchases (supermarket)

What it shows: Supermarket debit (Walmart, Carrefour, RT-Mart China). What's missing: Split between food items (9%) and non-food (13%). Conservative default: 13% (standard rate). Question to ask: "Do you have the itemised receipt showing food vs. non-food items?"

6.3 Invoice type — special vs. ordinary

What it shows: Payment to a supplier. What's missing: Whether a 增值税专用发票 (special) or 普通发票 (ordinary) was received. Conservative default: No input credit (assume ordinary invoice). Question to ask: "Did you receive a 增值税专用发票 from this supplier, verified in the Golden Tax System?"

6.4 Foreign SaaS / tech services (non-blocked)

What it shows: Payment to an international software company accessible in China (Microsoft, Oracle, SAP via China entity). What's missing: Whether invoice is from China local entity (6% VAT invoiced) or foreign entity (withholding tax / no VAT credit). Conservative default: No input credit until invoice confirmed. Question to ask: "Is the invoice from a Chinese registered entity? Does it show a Chinese 税号 (TIN)?"

6.5 Partial exempt proration

What it shows: Business makes both taxable and exempt sales. What's missing: The proration ratio for input VAT allocation. Conservative default: 0% credit on shared costs. Question to ask: "What proportion of your sales are taxable vs. exempt? Provide monthly breakdown."


Section 7 — Excel working paper template

CHINA VAT WORKING PAPER — 增值税计算表
Period: ____________  Entity: ____________  TIN: ____________

A. OUTPUT VAT (销项税额)
  A1. Sales at 13% (net)                      ___________
  A2. Sales at 9% (net)                       ___________
  A3. Sales at 6% (net)                       ___________
  A4. Zero-rated exports (net)                ___________
  A5. Exempt sales (net)                      ___________
  A6. Total output VAT (A1×13% + A2×9% + A3×6%)  _______

B. INPUT VAT (进项税额)
  B1. Purchases — special invoices 13% (net)  ___________
  B2. Purchases — special invoices 9% (net)   ___________
  B3. Purchases — special invoices 6% (net)   ___________
  B4. Import VAT certificates (net)           ___________
  B5. Total input VAT (B1×13% + B2×9% + B3×6% + B4)  ____
  B6. Input VAT not deductible (转出)         ___________
  B7. Net input VAT (B5 − B6)                 ___________

C. NET VAT PAYABLE
  C1. Net VAT (A6 − B7)                       ___________
  C2. VAT reduction credits                   ___________
  C3. Prior period excess credit              ___________
  C4. Net payable / (refund) (C1 − C2 − C3)  ___________

REVIEWER FLAGS:
  [ ] All special invoices verified in Golden Tax System?
  [ ] Export qualification confirmed for zero-rated sales?
  [ ] Small taxpayer threshold check (CNY 500,000)?
  [ ] Any blocked/international SaaS invoice type confirmed?
  [ ] Proration calculated for any exempt sales?

Section 8 — Bank statement reading guide

Common Chinese bank CSV formats

BankKey columnsDate formatAmount format
招商银行 CMB交易日期, 摘要, 交易金额, 账户余额YYYY-MM-DDCNY with 2 decimals
工商银行 ICBC记账日期, 交易摘要, 收入金额, 支出金额, 账户余额YYYYMMDDCNY
建设银行 CCB记账日期, 对方户名, 交易金额, 余额YYYY-MM-DDCNY
中国银行 BOC交易日期, 摘要, 贷方金额, 借方金额, 余额YYYY/MM/DDCNY
支付宝 Alipay交易时间, 交易对方, 商品说明, 收/支, 金额YYYY-MM-DD HH:MMCNY
微信支付 WeChat交易时间, 交易类型, 交易对方, 金额YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SSCNY

Key Chinese banking terms

ChineseMeaningClassification hint
转账收入Incoming transferPotential revenue
转账支出Outgoing transferPotential expense
代扣Direct debit / auto-deductionSubscription expense
手续费Handling feeBank charge — exempt
利息InterestExempt
余额BalanceRunning balance — ignore
摘要Description/narrativeKey classification field
对方户名Counterparty nameKey identification field
外汇收入Foreign currency receiptPotential export
工资发放Payroll disbursementOut of VAT scope

Section 9 — Onboarding fallback

If the client provides a bank statement but cannot immediately answer all questions:

  1. Classify using the pattern library (Section 3)
  2. Apply conservative defaults (Section 1)
  3. Mark all Tier 2 items as "PENDING — reviewer must confirm"
  4. Generate working paper with flags
CHINA VAT ONBOARDING — MINIMUM QUESTIONS
1. Are you a 一般纳税人 (general taxpayer) or 小规模纳税人 (small taxpayer)?
2. Your 纳税人识别号 (TIN / 18-digit tax registration number)?
3. Filing frequency: monthly or quarterly?
4. Do you make any export sales (zero-rated)?
   If yes: do you have customs declarations or foreign payment evidence?
5. Do you make any exempt sales (e.g. financial services, residential rent)?
6. For all large purchases: do you hold 增值税专用发票 verified in 金税系统?
7. Any international SaaS subscriptions? Which ones and are invoices from China entities?

Section 10 — Reference material

Key legislation

TopicReference
VAT Law增值税法 (effective 2026) / 增值税暂行条例 (Provisional Regulations)
VAT rates财税[2016]36号; 财税[2018]32号 (rate reductions)
Exemptions增值税法 Article 13
Input credit rules增值税法 Article 14; 财税[2016]36号 附件1
Export zero-rating增值税法 Article 2(3); 财税[2012]196号
e-Invoice税总发[2020]124号; 全面推行 nationwide rollout circulars
Small taxpayer增值税法 Article 17; 小规模纳税人免税政策
Penalties税收征管法 (Tax Collection Administration Law)

Known gaps

  • VAT refund for exporters (出口退税) — out of scope; requires separate filing
  • Real estate and construction cross-period rules — escalate
  • Financial institution simplified VAT — escalate
  • Transfer pricing adjustments affecting VAT base — escalate
  • Cultural/media VAT exemptions — verify current policy

Self-check before filing

  • All special invoices (专用发票) verified in Golden Tax System
  • Export sales supported by customs/payment evidence
  • Small taxpayer threshold confirmed
  • Input VAT not deductible (转出) calculated for exempt activities
  • Prior period excess credit applied correctly

Changelog

VersionDateChange
1.02024Initial release
2.0April 2026Full v2.0 rewrite: pattern library, worked examples, no inline tier tags

Prohibitions

  • NEVER claim input credit from an ordinary invoice (普通发票) — special invoice required
  • NEVER apply 13% to transport or agricultural services — these are 9%
  • NEVER apply 6% to goods sales — goods are 13% (or 9% for agricultural)
  • NEVER allow small taxpayer (小规模) to claim input credits
  • NEVER zero-rate a service without confirming it was consumed entirely outside China
  • NEVER present calculations as definitive — direct to a 注册税务师 (CTA) for confirmation

Disclaimer

This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes. All outputs must be reviewed by a qualified professional (注册税务师 or 注册会计师) before filing.

The most up-to-date version is maintained at openaccountants.com.

More China tax skills

Other China computations in the OpenAccountants library.

See all China skills →

4 of 12 in the CN workflow: